To appease the main character in your life — oh, um, we’re not actually referring to you here btw. Anyone who’s been on the Internet long enough will be appropriately puzzled by Gen Z slang. No cap? Bussin’? Drip? W? Even their use of emojis hits different. No shade though, because there’s so much to love about these digital natives, especially their views on diversity, mental well-being, and humanity’s environmental impact. We’ve got lots to learn (or unlearn), but in the meantime, here’s how to help them slay that fire ‘fit while making conscious choices. We got you fam.
FRANK GREEN CERAMIC REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE
— AU$59.90, available at frankgreen.com.
No Gen Z would be caught un-alived with a single-use plastic bottle, so here’s a gift they’d use. The Aussie label’s water bottle is as stylish as they come, since you get to mix and match the shades of the vessel and its lid, while its hand-polished stainless steel material ensures beverages stay at their optimal temperatures too.
FURLA METROPOLIS REMIX
— $680, available at Furla stores and Lazada.
The Furla Metropolis Remix bag in a bright shade of violet looks particularly Barbiecore, especially since its silhouette is reminiscent of a bow. Made in Italy with ultra-soft leather and with a signature close, this limited edition shoulder bag takes after the original Metropolis design, while the collection’s campaign further supports underrated female talents in the music scene, surely a cause we can all get behind.
PANGAIA 365 HOODIE
— $165, available at pangaia.com.
The Internet’s favourite sustainable clothing brand, known for their monochromatic sweats sets, is a gift fit for our environmentalist kings and queens. Here, this genderless hoodie in copper brown is made of 100% organic cotton, and meant to be worn across all the seasons to make the most of one’s wear.
PLEASING THE SUPER MAGIC FAMILY TIME POLISH SET
— USD93, available at pleasing.com.
Anybody can pull off nail polish, a fact that’s thankfully more normalised due to Harry Styles’ beauty brand, Pleasing. The Super Magic Family Time Set features a nourishing base coat and three vibrant retro-holiday shades in vibrant pink, electric green, and a yummy teal creme, for the ultimate 80s-wallpaper throwback.
APM MONACO SINGLE BABY WONDERLAND YUMMY BEAR EARRING
— $190, available at APM Monaco stores and online.
Have your Gen Z pal rock up to their next concert, party, or mental health-prioritising workplace with this eclectic gummy bear-inspired earring. All fun, no icks. APM Monaco paves theirs with yellow zirconia stones on one side, and lime nanos on the other so one is free to switch them around; while the anti-tarnish APM Yellow Alloy metal is made of 95% recycled material.
TANGLE TEEZER COMPACT STYLER HAIRBRUSH
— $36, available at Sephora.
Centre or side part? This Internet debate might be one of the reasons why there’s such a rift between Gen Zs and older folks (read: millennials), so here’s one way you can get that out of your hair.
COACH LEATHER HEART CROSSBODY
— $595, available at Coach stores.
We can’t tell if this is old-school or new-school, actual 00s-chic or revival-of-the-2000s glam, and honestly does it matter? Have your friend / sister / cousin pair this cute heart-shaped bag with their Winx Club crop top (ironic!) and thrifted corduroy pants for a fire ‘fit.
GLAMCOR SUNRISE PRO KIT
— US$405, available at glamcor.com.
This desktop studio ring light is perfect for professional streaming, videoconferencing, or anything your Gen Z friend needs good lighting for. It can save presets, has Bluetooth connectivity and folds up neatly for travel.
POLAROID P1 MUSIC PLAYER
— $89 (U.P. $99), available at ostsome.com and Shopee.
This trendy music player will liven the mood at any gathering. It’s designed for smaller spaces and intimate gatherings, and comes in the hip Polaroid brand styling, and in four playful and bold colours.
IT’S REAL BLUETOOTH SPEAKER + CASSETTE PLAYER
— From USD97.85 on kickstarter.com.
As Harry Styles puts it, “you know it’s not the same as it was”, but we’ll try anyway. For the friend who loves shooting on film cameras — and then saving and posting the digital photos online — they’ll love this analog throwback of a cassette player that plays actual cassettes, combined with a bluetooth speaker for modern-day convenience. More on its full capabilities in our article here.
FLANEURZ DETACHABLE ROLLER SKATES (CUSTOM)
— From €460, available at flaneurz.com.
Here’s another old-school thing that has become new-cool. Instead of having to lug an entire skateboard or skates around, have them transform their favourite pair of sneakers into on-the-to, 80s-chic roller skates, via Flaneurz’s Ready-To-Roll pack. These can be customised to fit everything from Nike AF1s to the Vega V-12, while the rollers can be clipped — and un-clipped — at whim.
THE PAPER BUNNY PUFFER SHOPPER (PETAL)
— $59, available at The Paper Bunny stores and online.
Soft, fluffy and padded, this puffer shopper feels like a cloud and is just as dreamy, since it holds all their busy-girl essentials. Use it for weekend errands or at work, or as a tennis tote, gym bag, groceries carrier, shopping bag, and more.
LANE EIGHT TRAINER AD 1 (INDIGO)
— $170, available at laneeight.sg.
Eco-friendly sneaker brand LANE EIGHT steps it up with fit-for-exercise sneakers made using recycled plastic bottles that goes into the shoe’s breathable knit upper — one pair is equivalent to 11 single-use plastic bottles. Other responsible materials in the Trainer AD1 include an algae-based BLOOM foam for the midsoles, and a vegan microfibre that replaces leather.
BRAMBE OCEAN PILL TRAY – ROUND COASTER SET
— $45, available at brambe.com.
Fancy some fancy terrazzo-like pill trays and coasters made from — of all things — plastic waste and used coffee grounds? Homegrown label Brambe paves the way for sustainable and zero-waste living, by making it look this beautiful and refined.
STRATHON WORKS D’CASTLE NOTEPAD
— $137.56, available at strathonworks.com.
The perfect gift for young idealists, this is an artistic notepad that looks more dreamy the more you use it. Each sliver of paper, when used, unveils a grand Disney-inspired castle at the very end, which might serve either as a reward for one’s toil, or a reminder of a hero’s epic journey.
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