Updated
Updated · Gulf News · Jul 19
Young People Embrace Grandmacore Hobbies as UAE Workshops Fill With First-Time Crafters
Updated
Updated · Gulf News · Jul 19

Young People Embrace Grandmacore Hobbies as UAE Workshops Fill With First-Time Crafters

3 articles · Updated · Gulf News · Jul 19

Summary

  • Pottery studios, baking workshops and painting classes across the UAE are drawing young people seeking self-care through knitting, sewing, gardening and other old-school hobbies grouped under “grandmacore.”
  • That pull is rooted in a desire to slow down, disconnect from constant notifications and trade screen time for hands-on activities that offer a tangible sense of accomplishment.
  • Homemade crafts and beauty rituals—from lopsided pottery to sidr hair washes and rose-water masks—also tap nostalgia, tradition and the appeal of imperfection over polished social media images.
  • Social media has helped spread the aesthetic, but the broader shift reflects Gen Z and millennials’ growing preference for slower, experience-driven routines over expensive, high-tech wellness trends.

Insights

Will the hands-on craft revival reshape our digital-first education and AI-driven workplaces?
As 'grandma hobbies' become a booming business, can they remain an authentic escape from consumer culture?
Why are some government agencies defunding traditional arts just as young people are flocking to them?