7 retro hobbies that are weirdly becoming Gen Z status symbols

There’s something fascinating about how the youngest, most digital generation is reviving the analog world.

While their parents raced to digitize everything, from music to photos to notes, Gen Z is now turning around and making those “old-school” hobbies cool again.

And not in an ironic way, either. They’re genuinely finding joy, identity, and even status in them.

Let’s dive into seven of the most surprising ones.

1. Collecting vinyl records

Vinyl has made a comeback as a symbol of taste and authenticity.

There was a time when having a massive record collection just meant you hadn’t moved on to CDs.

Now it signals taste, patience, and authenticity. “Vinyl sales have been steadily increasing in recent years.”

I remember when I bought my first record, a secondhand copy of Radiohead’s OK Computer. The store owner told me, “No one buys vinyl because it’s easy. They buy it because it feels real.”

He was right. The act of sliding a record out of its sleeve, setting it on the turntable, and hearing that first crackle demands focus.

And in a world where everything’s instant, focus is luxury.

Gen Z doesn’t see vinyl as a nostalgic throwback but as a meaningful ritual.

It’s about curating something physical that feels theirs in a digital age of algorithms.

2. Film photography

Ask anyone under 25 why they shoot film and they’ll likely say something like, “It just feels more real.”

And honestly, they’re right. Shooting on film forces you to slow down, to compose, to commit. Every click counts.

As someone who’s been dabbling in photography for years, I get the appeal. There’s something grounding about not knowing instantly how your shots turned out.

It’s a reminder that not everything has to be optimized or filtered to perfection.

Gen Z sees film photography as freedom from perfectionism rather than a limitation. The grain, the blur, the unpredictability are all part of the art.

Maybe that’s why film cameras are selling out everywhere.

3. Writing letters and journaling by hand

We spend our days typing and tapping, so it’s no surprise that handwriting feels almost rebellious now.

Handwriting stimulates complex brain connections essential in encoding new information and forming memories. Research suggests that students who take notes by hand score better on tests than those who type.

That might explain why journaling and even letter writing are back, not as productivity hacks but as mindfulness practices.

I’ve kept a handwritten journal for years, and every time I return to it, I realize how different it feels from typing.

There’s an intimacy in ink. You don’t just record your thoughts, you process them.

Gen Z’s twist? Turning journals into aesthetic artifacts. Think washi tape, vintage stationery, wax seals, and the full sensory experience.

And let’s be real, writing a handwritten note to a friend in 2025 feels more thoughtful than sending a text with a heart emoji.

4. Knitting, crocheting, and mending clothes

What was once your grandma’s pastime is now an indie craft movement.

DIY fashion has become a quiet rebellion against fast fashion. Crocheting your own tote bag, upcycling thrifted clothes, or hand-mending a favorite pair of jeans sends a powerful message: “I care where this came from.”

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi called this deep engagement flow, that sweet spot where time disappears because you’re fully immersed in what you’re doing.

He found that activities like crafting and art create an “optimal experience,” one that scrolling can’t replicate.

That’s what Gen Z is tapping into. Crafting isn’t just about making. It’s about feeling.

And in an age of burnout, that’s pure currency.

5. Reading physical books

You’d think e-readers and audiobooks would’ve made paperbacks obsolete. But somehow, they’ve become a badge of authenticity.

There’s something about seeing a worn spine or flipping through dog-eared pages that feels grounding. Bookshelves do more than fill space; they tell your story.

I recently met a 21-year-old who told me she only reads used books because “they have more soul.”

She’s right. Books carry fingerprints, smells, and histories that pixels can’t hold.

Gen Z’s book renaissance isn’t about escaping tech. It’s about finding balance.

And maybe, in a world where attention is the scarcest resource, sitting still with a paperback is the most countercultural move there is.

6. Calligraphy and typewriting

Yes, typewriters are back.

Not as tools, but as symbols of focus.

There’s a certain satisfaction in hearing the mechanical clack of keys, in knowing you can’t hit “delete.” It turns writing into a performance with mistakes and all.

I tried using one during a writing retreat, and I’ll be honest, it was frustrating at first. No spellcheck. No copy-paste.

But eventually, I found a rhythm. A kind of creative honesty that only emerges when you can’t over-edit yourself into paralysis.

It reminds me of a line from Rudá Iandê’s Laughing in the Face of Chaos: “When we let go of the need to be perfect, we free ourselves to live fully, embracing the mess, complexity, and richness of a life that's delightfully real.”

That’s what these retro tools teach us, to value the process more than the perfection.

7. Gardening and growing food

Nothing screams “retro” like planting tomatoes in your backyard. Yet somehow, it’s now a social flex.

For Gen Z, growing your own food or caring for plants has evolved from a survival skill into a lifestyle statement.

It’s a declaration of patience, self-sufficiency, and, ironically, modern values like sustainability and mental health.

I started with one basil plant years ago, and now I’ve got a mini balcony jungle. There’s something humbling about watching life unfold at its own pace. No algorithm, no notifications, just sunlight and time.

It’s as if Gen Z is rediscovering what many of us forgot: real growth doesn’t happen instantly.

The bottom line

Maybe these retro hobbies aren’t about looking backward at all.

Maybe they’re about reclaiming presence and finding status not in speed or followers but in attention, craft, and patience.

The irony is that in chasing “vintage,” Gen Z might actually be living more modernly than the rest of us.

They’ve realized something the rest of us are still learning, that meaning isn’t in what’s newest, but in what’s felt.

And honestly, that’s a revival worth celebrating.