Why macrame is great for 70s style

When you think of macrame, 70s flower pots hanging from the ceiling may first spring to mind. Today, macrame has made quite the comeback amongst bohemian enthusiasts. Let’s take a look at why macrame became popular in the 70s, and why it’s still great for 70s style.

The Peak of it

The 1970s marked the heyday of having a macrame kit, such as the ones you can find at https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/macrame-kits. Along with disco music, macrame exploded in popularity within this ‘me decade’ era. As wars from the previous decade had come to a close, people of this generation were determined to front a more free-spirited take on life.

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This free-spirited approach to life was reflected in people’s houses during this era with macrame. From plant hangers to craft DIY, macrame was a central part of reflecting people’s changing attitudes to life, politics, and society at this time.

Au Naturel

The 70s was the post-hippy era, with a counterculture movement that rejected mass-produced goods, so it’s fair to say that during this time people embraced the ‘back to nature’ aesthetic. Macrame, made with organic materials like jute, rope or cotton, resonated perfectly with this sentiment. People took pride in creating their handcrafted macrame. Macrame became a badge of honour for people rejecting the uniformity of factory-made decor.

Earthy Appeal

The 70 aesthetic leant heavily on earthy tones. Macrame’s intricate knots created a textural interest that reflected this trend beautifully. The natural colours of the materials also fit right in with the popular mustard yellows, browns, and burnt oranges of the decade. See this article from hobbycraft which lists 5 macrame projects for beginners.

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More than just Practical

Finally, macrame became more than just plant hangers in the 70s. Creatives of this era began using macrame to depict geometric shapes, feathers, owls, and other whimsical motifs that embodied their free-flowing creativity.

Throw it back to the 70s with macrame

Macrame was never just a craft in the 70s but an artistic movement to embody the core values of the decade. So, if you too feel like you were born a 70s soldier at heart, then get into macrame.