Move over pickleball, everyone will be playing badminton in 2024

Toss your pickelball bats aside, badminton is set to be the hottest sport in 2024 – and not just for the game itself.

If there’s one word that’s defined the aesthetics of the past year, it’s old money style.

Amidst the girlification of trends on TikTok (we’re looking at you tomato girl summer), and the boom of bows in the latter half of the year, one theme that’s run throughout all of 2023 is luxury.

#StealthWealth began trending in around April, with interest in Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s brand The Row spiking, alongside the return of Kelly bags, quarter zip knitwear and ballet flats.

When it came to activewear, logo-laden leggings were swapped out for monochrome Alo styles and tennis skirts, paired with trench coats, Ralph Lauren pullovers and ‘90s-era sunglasses.

Of course one of the other biggest themes of late is dupe culture, meaning the old money aesthetic is more attainable than it was ever meant to be. As such, roleplaying as a member of the upper echelons has become a sport – in more ways than one.

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While fashion makes up a large proportion of quiet luxury, the activities you partake in are a big part of the overall vibe too. And according to data from Pinterest, badminton is the way to go.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, which is not ideal if you’re a journalist, but they certainly provide worthy insight into how people spend their time. And given Pinterest’s 428 million users, it’s a pretty safe bet that their data sheds some light on people’s current state of mind, and what’s growing in popularity, this importance.

The brand’s 2024 trend forecast revealed that badminton is on the rise, with searches for badminton rackets increasing by 80 per cent, badminton bags by 105 per cent, shoes by 50 per cent, outfits by 80 per cent, and the overall ‘playing badminton aesthetic by 45 per cent.

In short, people are smitten with badminton, and everything it stands for: wealth, land, memberships and taste. Basically, all things that can’t be bought, only inherited.

And when we think about it, it makes a whole lot of sense why

Unlike tennis, which requires hours of training to be even slightly good at the sport, and a hell of a lot of sweat, badminton is light. It’s refreshing, classy and light, which means perfectly curated outfits and airwrapped hair fit the bill, without the risk of true physical labour messing it up.

Don’t get us wrong, badminton is an Olympic sport, and to be properly good at it no doubt requires a lot of work. But, compared to tennis which demands a court, a net and a certain level of hand-eye coordination, badminton has quite a low barrier to entry.

Just think: you’re staying at a Saltburn-esque manor in the countryside of Massachusetts, sipping elderflower spritzers on the patio, served with gildas and manchego slices to tie you over until tea.

Pleasantly tipsy and with ample sunlight still left in the early evening, you stroll down to the freshly mown lawns with a couple of racquets and a shuttlecock, and have a hit, over a net strung up between two oak trees.

None of you are particularly good at it, but you’re plenty competitive regardless, running to spike the shuttle over the net with a spritzer in hand and a quip on your lips.

No doubt the country house has a tennis court too, but that’s where the real competitions are held. Badminton offers the chance for a hit around and a chat, rather than sitting in the lounge.

Think Princess Diana’s off-duty style, Marissa Cooper in The OC, and Kathryn Merteuil in Cruel Intentions. All of these wealthy women would play badminton, and they’d look real cute doing it.

Gen Z influencer Milly Rose Bannister is very much on board with the badminton trend, and after seeing it pop up all over social media, is creating her own Pinterest boards and videos to mimic the badminton aesthetic.

“Gen Zs love for badminton has come from several veins of popular culture, mainly lifestyle imagery associated with heritage and classic timeless fashion – think ‘recreation club’,” Bannister tells Body+Soul.

“The iconic ‘tennis skirt’ has come back in a major way over the past few years as Gen Z sought out accessible and offline social activities and comfy outfits.”

But, like we said, badminton is popular for more than just the appeal of mini skirts and gold earrings.

“[It] really hits the mark in terms of accessibility, being low cost, easy to pick up and available anywhere anytime with a few bits of equipment,” Bannister continues.

“Badminton is providing Gen Z with a great opportunity to (very importantly) engage in connection with others and fit enjoyable body movement into their day which is crucial to their mental wellbeing – which we know has taken a hit over the past few years.”

It’s funny that while badminton is deemed an old money activity, it’s relatively cheap to play.

A set of two racquets and shuttlecocks can be bought from Sunnylife for $ 69.99, and even cheaper sets can be picked up from Kmart. Mind you, it won’t be a wooden, hand-bound number, but it’ll certainly get the job done.

And as compared with a pickleball set, aka 2023’s biggest sport obsession? It’s as cheap as chips.

Understandably, many fashion brands are jumping on the badminton bandwagon, creating country club adherent pieces in white and beige, alongside pieces specifically denoting the sport, to wear while you play.

So whether you’re looking to try your hand at the game itself, or merely buy into the fun with the apparel, there’s plenty of badminton fun to be had.