Reading Has Become a Trendy Hobby

I’ve always loved reading, ever since I was a child. Even now, as I approach my 30s, it remains my greatest passion. It’s no coincidence that one of the quotes that best represents me comes from the movie Matilda: “From these books, Matilda found a message of hope and comfort: you are not alone.”

I won’t go into detail listing all the reasons why books are never just “simple” books. Instead, I’d like to explore and justify a thought about the act of reading today. In a world where sharing is everything, having friend groups or social communities passionate about books is a great way to cultivate and expand this love. Reading has almost become a status symbol, a way to “show off,” create discussions, and spark new and stimulating reflections. People have rediscovered the pleasure and beauty of books and want to share it with the world. After all, most of us have an account on Goodreads or similar apps where we track our reading progress.

The beauty of reading today is that it’s not just about the act itself; it creates a social and cultural experience, both before and after reading, that is meant to be shared. The anticipation of a new release, going book shopping with friends, sharing opinions after finishing a book, having an endless TBR list… Reading is no longer just a personal hobby—it has become a collective experience.

In other words, reading is trendy.

Gone are the days when reading was considered a pastime for nerds or outcasts (and thank goodness for that—I’ve personally experienced how ridiculous that categorization was). Books are now cool; they are true objects of desire and design (just think of the countless coffee table books and special editions released almost daily). And by extension, people who read are cool too.

This isn’t about classism—reading will never be a tool for exclusion because it is always tied to the concept of liberation and personal well-being. What I’m trying to say is that, in today’s society, reading has become a way of communicating who we are, who we want to be, and our identity in general. In this sense, it’s comparable to fashion: we dress to express ourselves, to reflect who we are or who we aspire to be. Books have once again become a true means of communication, operating on multiple levels.

And if books have become fashionable, fashion itself has also turned to books with respect and curiosity. The industry is increasingly looking to slow down (partly due to the growing and necessary ecological awareness calling for a more sustainable production and lifestyle), find new ways to express beauty, reinvent the concept of luxury, redefine its relationship with art, and convey deeper values through the narratives that inspire collections. And what better way to do all of this than through books?

Take, for example, the many literary initiatives launched by fashion brands recently. Prada, for instance, commissioned Ottessa Moshfegh (author of My Year of Rest and Relaxation and Lapvona) to write ten short stories inspired by images from their latest campaign featuring Carey Mulligan. This narrative approach adds depth to the campaign’s photos and collection, redefining femininity for both the protagonist and the women Prada seeks to reach. Another noteworthy example is the Miu Miu Literary Club, a series dedicated to revolutionary female writers whose voices need to be heard—voices that, paradoxically, are sometimes forgotten. Beyond Jane Austen, names like Sibilla Aleramo and Alba de Céspedes are rediscovered through feminist discussions, performances, readings, and pop-up events open to the public.

Valentino has also embraced the literary world, both under Pierpaolo Piccioli and Alessandro Michele. Their SS24 menswear collection was inspired by A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, with guests receiving an exclusive edition of the book at the show. Valentino has also launched The Narratives, a project supporting bookstores and authors—both indie and internationally acclaimed—featuring names like Donna Tartt, Lisa Taddeo, André Aciman, and Elif Shafak. Actress Emma Roberts even collaborated as the founder of the Belletrist book club.

Valentino further solidified its literary connection by sponsoring the International Booker Prize 2024 and partnering with booktuber Jake Edwards, who hosted the award ceremony. For Valentine’s Day 2025, the brand teamed up with Dream Baby Press (a literature-focused entertainment platform founded by Matt Starr) to curate Personalized Love Letters, a collection of works by six contemporary authors dedicated to love.

And the list goes on:

The countless times Virginia Woolf’s Orlando has inspired fashion collections (from Fendi to Burberry).
Sonia Rykiel, both a designer and a prolific writer.
Marc Jacobs sharing weekly Instagram selfies under the title The Reading Hour, showcasing his current reads.
Saint Laurent opening Babylone, a bookstore in Paris.
Alaïa curating a selection of archive volumes from Rare Books Paris.
Jacquemus andJoseph Altuzarra, who frequently discuss books and use them as inspiration for their collections.

Fashion and literature, therefore, continue to write new pages together, united by the concept of pleasure: we enjoy what we read, we enjoy what we wear, and—on a broader scale—we enjoy how we live. Both fashion and reading offer people an escape from daily life and social media. While both owe much to the online world, their true essence exists offline, in the purest and most human act of all—meeting in person and talking face-to-face. Fashion and literature serve as channels for humanity, well-being, and connection, working together to remain both current and timeless.