Fast Fashion Trends Taking Over Michigan’s Winter

Puffer coats a thing of the past? Students reintroduce it to the fashion industry in an eye-catching way.

Through many brutal Michigan winters, my mom would bundle up my sisters and me in puffer coats. Though we were warm, I recall feeling like I resembled the Michelin man. I envied my friends in pea coats, which happened to be the trend at the time.

I do not own a puffer coat, as I am not one to quickly jump on every trend; especially when I already own a nice shearling coat. Yet, I now have a new-found appreciation for puffer coats and the comeback they have made in recent years.

Where did it begin?

Each day about 15 or more puffer coats can be spotted wherever you are on the University of Michigan campus. Callie, a junior, and puffer coat owner at the University says, “The baggy vibes [started the puffer coat trend], everyone wants to wear oversized clothes and streetwear, the puffer trend goes with that.” Piecing together how a single clothing item went from only a few owners to thousands is a confusing phenomenon. But as we know, in the social media age trends are bound to pick up in less time than in the past. Coriante’, also a junior, mentions that “the Detroit area started the trend… but I see it more here [in Ann Arbor].” Considering Ann Arbor is only 45 miles away, it’s no surprise that the trend has been traveling all over Michigan.

These coats are a piece of winter apparel that puffs out like a puffer fish hence the name “puffer,” though originally called the ‘down’ jacket. It has been a trendy coat on and off since 1936, when Eddie Bauer first made the historic fashion piece, after a near-death experience. In 2016, the coat made a huge comeback by hitting major runways and appearing in every fast fashion store. Since then the coat has been the must-have winter piece, now in over one-hundred styles and colors.

Before any trend hits the public sphere, it must first make a statement on the largest runways. In the 2016 Paris Fashion week, puffer style clothing, including coats and dresses, hit the stage. DeLorean, a junior who owns a puffer coat and pays close attention to fashion, says “I was inspired by Rihanna’s Moschino puffer coat from the nineties show… My coat is reminiscent of Missy Elliot’s “I can’t stand the rain” suit.” Vogue’s chief critic Sarah Mower explains that current trends are just past trends brought back to life. The puffer coat largely reflects the style of the nineties, but as a new trend that continues to be used as a statement to any wearers outfit.

Following the Trend

Students are collecting these coats for a number of reasons, and warmth is not the top priority.

Malikah, a sophomore, explains that she just bought her puffer coat this year, “I bought it because how cute it was… I have a [generic] pink one, a black one, and a bright red North face.”  As students bear the cold weather, many would assume that students are purchasing coats with warmth in mind. Though Callie states, “mine [puffer coat] is more about fashion because it is not that warm, I don’t wear it to walk to class.” While Coriante’ explains, “mine [Tommy Hilfiger] is more about warmth, but I still consider fashion to be extremely important. If I saw a nice coat and it was not warm I wouldn’t get it, but if I saw a warm coat and it was not fashionable I still wouldn’t get it.”

The trend at the University of Michigan may be credited to the Black community in the metro-Detroit area when it comes to the fast fashion brand coats. Typically, shorter lines, brighter colors, and puffer outer layer are common when shopping fast fashion puffers. Yet most students would say that the infamous Canada Goose jacket became the common puffer coat around campus first, and then from there, many other forms of the puffer coat appeared. Canada Goose is definitely not fast fashion though is facing ethical issues regarding its manufacturing process. This coat is a staple on the Ann Arbor campus because of its ability to keep students warm and be a part of the trend. With the high price point, a large number of students stray away from the infamous Canada Goose jacket and follow the trend in a student budget-friendly way.

With puffer style coats taking over campus, it could be imagined that it is hard to stand out when nearly every student has the same coat. “Though it is difficult, I find ways around it. Mine has a hood with fur on it, and a lot of puffer coats don’t have hoods,” says Coriante’. Students all over campus are finding ways to make the trend their own.

The puffed-up truth

Many students at the University of Michigan have taken up the puffer trend in different forms to match their own style. When looking at this trend it is important to realize the differences in each coat, referring to quality and the price point.

Fast fashion is large companies keeping up with the demand of customers to stay trendy while paying workers low wages and forcing them to work in terrible conditions. Once the trend is out of season these companies contribute to a large amount of waste. It’s a good idea to avoid these stores as the clothing is made from a cheap product that won’t last past winter semester.

“Clothing waste is something everyone has to be mindful about,” Jasmine, a clothing designer shared. Following the puffer coat trend (once they go out of style,) it will result in a ton of waste. Most puffer coats today are made from polyester and filled with synthetic fibers which can take up to 200 years to break down. Though the trend allows students to express their styles, it is contributing to landfills piled high with clothing waste.

Jasmine also thinks that “a lot of times if people just think about things not only in fashion but in terms of how useful it will be in the long term then we can minimize [clothing waste]. Puffer coats are a cyclical trend, I hope there will be less waste as people continue to keep and use them for multiple seasons.” The truth is the only puffer coats worth keeping for multiple seasons are the more expensive coats made with higher quality material. Honestly, most students are not looking to pay the price.

A designer takes on the trend

Jasmine Smith, a junior and fashion designer on campus and owner of Hi-Gloss apparel, gave her thoughts on the puffer coat trend. Jasmine says, “I like the trend because I feel like there are so many ways it can be utilized.”

Jasmine, like many other students, looks, at the puffer coat trend as an opportunity to express their individual style with a common piece. Though she also says, “I don’t think they [puffer coats] as a concept are unique…but I think it’s more about how you wear them and utilizing the aesthetic to achieve a unique look. This outlook on the coat is interesting because each student that was interviewed had a completely different puffer coat. When looking at such a universal piece as a trend, Jasmine is right, it has to match your style. Whether it be paired with other baggy clothing as Callie suggests, or skinny jeans in order for the jacket to pop.

When thinking about trends overall, many people think dressing “trendy” is wrong and takes away from personal style. For many, it is hard to avoid trends in the first place, and that is why Jasmine thinks that “they [fashion trends] are usually good for the consumer as it is so easy to remain on brand.”

Take it from the designer herself; trends can be a good thing to add to your wardrobe. She advises if students want to try out a trend “give it a go, but don’t get too deep into it.” While the puffer coat is a fun piece to wear this winter, she warns that students should still “showcase their own style while fitting in with the crowd”. In order to do this, students, have to wear what makes them feel comfortable and taking a few items that are on trend like the puffer coat.

Next winter trend: Puffer coats?

Spring is on the horizon, and puffer coats will make their way to the back of the closet; but will they get pulled back out next winter? With fashion trends, it is difficult to know how long it will run its course. Since the puffer coats started its big break in 2016, there is a slim chance that people are still excitedly grabbing them off the rack in 2020. Teddy, shearling, and fur coats have been making their way into the fast fashion rotation, and possibly will be the next big trend.

Most of the students interviewed said, “no” the puffer coat will not be on the trend next year because they will all be looking for the next best fashion item.

Even though students may have to hang up their puffer coats next year, almost everyone can admit that the puffy outerwear made its mark.

Featured Photo, courtesy of DeLorean Slaughter: posing in front of an H&M mirror wearing shiny, below the waist puffer coat

*Please note: This piece was written Winter 19 in Magazine writing course

Update:

I took to Instagram to see who owned a puffer coat, 58% voted yes while 42% voted no. Is my idea on the trend correct? I’ll let you all be the judge.