Why Polaroid Cameras Are Making A Comeback
Polaroid cameras, thought to have long been a thing of the retro age, are starting to make a significant comeback.
This article is more than 2 years old
Like all fashion, specific trends love to make a comeback every now and then. This year, Y2K apparel like low-rise jeans and cropped shirts made a significant return, with Zoomers posting Instagram pictures of their retro outfits. Tools, appliances, and anachronistic technology also make similar comebacks from time to time. Even though people can take quick and high-definition pictures on their phones, Polaroid cameras are starting to make a substantial return.
To be fair, Polaroid cameras have always been in the fashion ether. From being referenced in Top 40 pop songs or sold at the local Urban Outfitters, they’ve always been accessible to the average person. But despite its vast popularity, the Polaroid camera had a stark decline at the end of the 2000s. Ultimately in 2008, the Polaroid brand discontinued its automatic cameras due to a significant decrease in sales.
The resurgence of Polaroid cameras in the mid-2000s had to do with a trend called indie sleaze. The trend had as much to do with fashion as it did with branding and aesthetics since the time of Polaroid’s Y2K revamp coincided with Myspace and Tumblr. The indie sleaze movement captured a time when teenagers wanted to brand themselves outside the standard mid-2000s aesthetics and couture. Many would use Polaroid cameras for their profile pictures to showcase an edgier but lackadaisical portrait that deviated from modernity. A resurgence of typewriters and cassette players also occurred during this phase, leading teenagers to want to use non-digital cameras.
Since it’s been 15 years since Polaroid discontinued its famous cameras, it would seem likely that the company would continue to remain dormant. But, with many fashion analysts declaring a recent rise in indie sleaze fashion, antiquated technology like typewriters and instant cameras could be coming back. Certain brands at the end of the 2010s tried to cash in on the instant film camera craze, with Fujifilm being the most available replica in the modern market. But, those brands never quite retained a following as Polaroid cameras did. This left an opportunity opening for Polaroid to relaunch their products, which they quietly did by 2020.
The return of indie sleaze and mid-2000s fashion must have galvanized Polaroid to reinstate their renowned film cameras. Alongside relaunching its quintessential instant camera, the company also released a new, miniature one called the Polaroid Go. The tiny instant camera has all the exemplary effects that its predecessor has, popping out a classically vintage photo in minutes. It looks exactly like a regular Polaroid camera but shrunken down to fit easily in your bag or tote. The Polaroid Go comes with a few accessories, like two rolls of film and a carrying strap to take immaculate portraits when you’re on the move.
Unlike other Polaroid cameras, the Polaroid Pro has a few advancements that go perfectly with the 21st century. The camera has a forward-facing mirror so you can produce a selfie for your Instagram or Tinder bio. It also has a flash-charging indicator with an orange blink to notify you when it’s ready to shoot. The new miniature Polaroid is the ideal summer camera for all your riveting summer activities.
