‘Chwiballer’ Trend: Young Women Swap Outdoor Runs for Ballet Amid Cold Weather
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
K-pop stars and influencers have popularized hobbyist ballet — nicknamed “chwiballer” (a blend of 취미, meaning hobby, and 발레, ballet) — and the trend has spread among women in their 20s and 30s. Shopping platform Zigzag reported that November searches for “ballet” tripled year‑on‑year, with searches for balletwear and related items rising sharply. Sales of leotards jumped 32‑fold and overall ballet‑wear transactions rose 530%; related accessories such as ballet bags, hair nets, and hairpins also saw large increases. Analysts attribute the surge to colder weather pushing people toward indoor exercise, ballet’s benefits for posture and weight control, and the carryover of “balletcore” fashion into everyday wear. Retailers expect continued growth as ballet attire is also used for yoga and pilates.
