Kenyan Gen-Zs are bypassing global luxury labels in favor of their grandparents’ wardrobes, fueling a trend known as Grandma Core or Grannycore.
Designers in Kenya are embracing the Grandma Core trend to express their identity and cultural heritage.
In addition, the trend is used to highlight the blend of sophisticated visual language and aesthetics while maintaining history and status.
“Fashion is not just about clothes. In Kenya, it’s about identity, it’s political, it’s spiritual, it’s who we are,” Kenyan designer Aulgah Nato stated during an interview with NTV.
Rise of the Grandma Core Trend
As of 2026, the young generations have taken an interest in the fashion trends and styles that were popular in the previous decades.
Designers and brands are incorporating the 1960s to 1980s style into the modern styles to come up with Grannycore trends in the current fashion trends preferences.
Architectural student Fernandez Maina adopted the Grannycore trend after discovering his father’s old photo albums.
Fashion designer George Ouma Nyonje explained that the young generations want designs and styles that bring out meaning, history, quality, and comfort.
“They don’t want anything that will make them uncomfortable; they want something that brings them comfort. That is why they look at the old-days design, and then they take it as a good style,” George Ouma elaborated on the rise of Grannycore trends among the youths.
Following the interest in his father’s dress code of high-waisted shorts and “tight” silhouettes from the past decade of fashion, the architecture student ventured into the Grannycore trend.
In addition, an 80-year-old Zambian, Margaret Chola, who is famously known as the Legendary Glamma, became a global fashion icon after her daughter styled her in vintage pieces.
Also Read: Nairobi Street Style Trends Defining Fashion in 2026
Grannycore Design Composition
Among the Gen Z, the Grannycore trend is often a composition of dandy vintage that involves dressing in a casual and official blended style.
Additionally, the trend involves designers and stylists creating pieces that can be used in professional settings as well as at social events.
Chunky sweaters, floral dresses, bell-bottom trousers, baggy pants, and loafers characterize the general look.
Stylists whose clothing lines focus on the Grannycore trend have embraced the use of secondhand clothing from local markets, including Gikomba and Toi, as the primary source of unique vintage items.
The popularity of the local market among designers and stylists, especially in Nairobi, stems from its budget-friendly materials and variety of vintage items.
Also Read: 2026 Women’s Fashion Trends: Kitenge, Upcycled Denim and Bold Style
Digital Platforms on Promotion of Grannycore Trends
According to fashion content creator Fiona Mbithe, Grannycore trends started as TikTok challenges and led to the discovery of trendy, budget-friendly fashion.
Further, through the use of digital spaces, stylists and designers can showcase their designs and turn their innovations into national trends.
Events such as Thrift Social Nairobi also provide platforms to showcase the Grannycore trend, blending vintage aesthetics with modern Kenyan urban culture.
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