Drink up! Reusable water bottles clench your thirst for fashion

From Hydroflasks to Owalas, choosing a water bottle has become Gen Z’s modern-day Sophie’s Choice. (Photo Credit: Water Bottle Advisor)

In recent years, Gen Z has embraced a wide range of self-expression outside the usual avenues. 

In elementary school, we came equipped with our cartoon-themed backpacks, glittery pencil cases, and erasers of all colors, shapes and sizes—each piece offering a tiny insight into our unique personalities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we went a step further with the masks that were meant only to protect us—when we wanted to show what our facial expressions couldn’t, we used the masks to fashion unique patterns or even to make political statements. As the world reopened and people fell back into routine, 2020 saw the quiet entry of a new multi-million dollar industry. Reusable water bottles have become a staple in modern-day pop culture, perhaps because they’re both functional and fashionable. 

Elena Fallow, a sophomore studying broadcast journalism and political science, is no stranger to the reusable water bottle—she currently uses a 24 oz. Owala, though she’s previously flitted between Hydroflasks and Stanleys. 

“My family [is] very environmentally conscious which is why reusable water bottles have been a staple in our home,” said Elena. “I am also a very active person and have been playing sports since I was three years old, so having a good and reliable water bottle that is going to keep my water cold is a must.”

Of the several she’s tried, the Stanley was her favorite, though she found it a bit “impractical” for day-to-day life. “They’re so big and clunky,” she explained. “Especially with the handle sticking out.”

Reusable water bottles, of their very nature, were originally created to serve an environmental purpose. They’re more sustainable and are far kinder to the environment than their plastic counterparts.

According to the Container Recycling Institute, 86% of disposable water bottles utilized in the United States go on to add to the 38 billion disposable water bottles littering U.S. landfills. OfficeH20 goes on to add that those disposable water bottles often wash into the ocean, killing over 1 million marine animals annually. 

The Hydroflask—which arguably started the whole cultural phenomenon—first skyrocketed to fame through the 2019 VSCO girl aesthetic. Paired with the water bottle, the VSCO girl was most easily identifiable as an environmentally conscious tween, and they were synonymous with the “save the turtles” movement. 

While water bottles have progressed past exclusively marketing surrounding environmental concerns, other brands have since tried to replicate that influential distribution. In fact, perhaps one reason this trend has remained consistent for so many years is how strongly they’ve solidified their branding, as noted by Matt Navarro, the Global President of Stanley. In an interview for Forbes, he attributed the brand’s growing success to “product interest taking hold through our early adopter affiliates, influencer, and tastemaker approach.”

In today’s influencer culture, brand deals are quite transactional—influencers get paid, and businesses get exposure. Stanley collaborated with country music star Lainey Wilson to create a limited edition “Country Gold” Quencher and pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo to create a tumbler that captures the star’s signature purple, Ocean Bottle grew to fame through coverage by sustainable living influencers such as Immy Lucas (@sustainably_living) and Lucy Lismore (@lucylismore), and Frank Green’s water bottles have frequently been featured in TikTok hauls or “what’s-in-my-bag” videos, to name a few. 

Even Lululemon descended into the water bottle trend, pairing water bottles with activewear. Lululemon currently sells more than 30 different styles of water bottle, ranging from insulated tumblers to straw lids to classic sport bottles. The brand has even expanded to sell crossbodies made specifically for carrying your water bottle. 

That’s right—the water bottle industry has descended far past water bottles alone. Consumers have taken to accessorizing the bottles even further with a la carte sleeves, straws, charms and stickers. 

“For me…it’s more of a reflection of my personality,” said Nyah Strahm, a sophomore who covers her Takeya head to toe in stickers. “The stickers that I choose to put on my water bottle and walk around with show a huge part of who I am and what’s important to me.”

Where the water bottle industry will venture next, we can’t say for sure—but one thing’s certain: these vessels of fluid and flair are here to stay. In an age where virtually everything we do is some type of statement, what we choose to sip from is no exception.