In a bright cafe off Leith Walk in Edinburgh, a group of young people gathers around a table with fabric scraps, beads and crochet hooks. This is the Girls Craft Club, founded earlier this year by art history graduate Gabby after an ADHD diagnosis left her feeling isolated. 'We were all going through life problems,' she says. 'We decided to make something beautiful out of it.'
Across the UK, Gen Z is embracing hobbies once associated with grandparents: crochet, knitting, pottery, mahjong and supper clubs. These 'slow' pastimes offer connection, purpose and respite from digital fatigue. Britain's teenagers are among the unhappiest in Europe, with over 25% of 15-year-olds reporting low life satisfaction, according to the Children's Society.
The cost of living crisis and lockdowns have driven young people to affordable, screen-free activities. Emma, 23, from London, says craft sessions undercut the price of a night at the pub. James Chapman, a regular at dog life drawing events, says: 'There's something so special and unpredictable about it.'
The therapeutic benefits are key. Sarah P Corbett of the Craftivist Collective says: 'The process forces you to slow down and use your hands in a meditative way.' Professor Daisy Fancourt of UCL adds: 'Gen Z have a proactive focus on mental health and recognise the role of art in regulating stress.'
In Belfast, supper clubs have emerged as a community builder. Fiona Fitwi started Cooking With Friends Archives in 2022 to make friends, cooking meals in art galleries for groups of 12 to 20. Gabby sums up the appeal: 'You get something real, you make genuine connections, and you switch off.'
