Case Study: Trust Fund Hipter Subculture

Trust Fund Hipsters refers to a specific group of the hipster subculture that depends upon the financial support of their parents while they “find themselves”. In most cases, a trust fund hipster does not literally come from a family of old money; the term simply emphasizes the fact that this specific hipster has ample amount of time to take fashion risks and drink PBR due to the fact that their parents pay for their living.
It proves difficult to pinpoint an exact time when the trust fund hipster subculture was founded since young adults just happened to be blessed with parents capable of financially supporting them, but since trust fund hipster is a subgroup of the hipster culture, it can reasonably be deduced that the subculture became
Trust fund hipster is a subculture that is alive and flourishing in today’s society. Anyone can be a hipster, but the most important factor to being considered a trust fund hipster is that you have the financial support of your parents. Trust-funders are typically young adults in their late teens or twenties that live in cities or urban areas that come from upper middle class or wealthy families. Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York has become known as the trust fund hipster capitol of the world due to its high concentration of trust funders and “indie boutiques, bearded mixologists, [and] artists’ lofts.”6 If trust fund hipsters exist in Chicago they most likely live in the Wicker Park area that is teeming with lofts and independent clothing stores as well as countless hipsters. Trust-funders live a relatively comfortable lifestyle without the worries of bills to pay. Since their parents are paying for their living expenses, trust-funders are free to move into $2,000 a month lofts and explore their creative outlets. Trust fund hipsters have the money to spend on the newest trends or the latest Apple technology. Trust-funders are known for having all of the latest gadgets and technology while still maintaining a relatively unkempt style. The most important rule to being a hipster is spending a lot of time and energy making
Most articles on trust fund hipsters attack the subculture. There are even blogs, such as DieHipster, that allow people to vent about how much they dislike hipsters.8 People are also having a problem with the growth of the hipster population in certain neighborhoods because they taking over the areas of working class families and completely changing the dynamics and former traditions. On the other hand, with the recent economic hardship some trust-funders parents can longer afford the pricey lofts and the trust-funders are being forced to downsize their lavish living or even move back in at home.9 However there are some positive effects of the subculture; trust fund hipster fashion has inspired a Williamsburg Fashion Weekend with runway shows featuring the latest hipster trends.10 Hipster fashion has also transcended to mainstream fashion where there are hints of hipster fashion present (i.e. combat and ankle booties, fake glasses).
What makes the trust fund hipster subculture so appealing is that you can live the ultimate trendy lifestyle and don’t have to worry about paying for your living expenses. As a trust fund hipster, a young adult has all the time in the world to be carefree and discover themselves while living in the city in a stylish