Down to earth, fun and eco-friendly: Why 'goblincore' is the latest craze
From cottagecore to mermaidcore, it can be difficult keeping up with the latest 'core' aesthetic taking over social media. The latest Gen Z, TikTok-driven blog trend to wrap your head around? Well, it's an unusual one to say the least - say hello to 'goblincore'.
Read more: How to wear cottagecore in 2021
Far more user-friendly than it sounds, goblincore is less about small mythical creatures and more about embracing a wholesome, woodsy vibe.
The emphasis is on comfort, grounding and nature - but in an earthier, darker and more realistic way than the sweet, idealised and rather twee take on the countryside you find with gingham-and-crockery 'cottagecore' style.
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The goblincore hashtag has 498m views on TikTok, and 345,220 posts on Instagram.
Key motifs include fungi, snails, moss and frogs, and there's a focus on natural fabrics and colours - with, of course, a faint whiff of the supernatural.
Take your inspiration cues from David Bowie in Labyrinth, the Brothers Grimm and anyone who has mud on their well-worn boots.
"Goblincore stemmed from cottagecore, which encapsulates the ideal of escaping the hustle and bustle of society and living off the land - but it's feral," said Lucky Howes, who sells an array of goblincore-themed items from her Etsy shop Little Pink Goblin.
"It’s about rejecting societal norms and beauty standards, and finding the beauty and comfort in nature," she explained. "It’s about wading through streams, finding pretty rocks and making friends with creatures such as frogs and snails.
"It’s about finding beauty, not in the things that are aggressively marketed to us, but in dirt and rain and moss."
Above all else, goblincore provides a space for non-conformists to thrive.
"Goblincore communities are very welcoming of pretty much all cultures and identities - I feel like the 'goblin' friends I have met online are kindred spirits, we were always a bit of a ‘weird kid’ in school, and we now own the label rather than let it hurt us!"
While it's a 'trend', goblincore is also the antithesis of consumer capitalism - perhaps ironically, given that goblins in folklore are traditionally avaricious and obsessed with money and trinkets.
Read more: Mermaidcore is trending but...what is it?
Goblincore-style items are all over the High Street - there's whole forests of toadstool jewellery on ASOS, for example - but to be a true goblincorer you're better off knitting your own jumper, delving into a charity shop or buying something handmade by a small creative collective.
"Goblincore has definitely risen in popularity this year and I get a lot of excited comments when I post a new goblin-themed drawing or product," said Howes.
It's all about making your own, buying from small sellers, reusing and recycling, which is important as we all take more of a stand against the encroaching nightmare of climate change.
Plus, it's mostly about spending time in nature - and if the pandemic has taught us nothing else, it's the value of that.
In fact, Howes isn't surprised that the goblincore ethos is chiming with so many people during this strange and difficult time.
"I saw a rise in the popularity of goblincore in 2020 and I think it being the same year the world really seemed to begin ending is no coincidence," she told Yahoo.
"Things are tough right now with the pandemic, sociopolitical issues and such, so sometimes you've just got to go feral and reject what society expects of you."
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