ATTN Knick-Knack Lovers: Anik-Anik Is a Sentimental TikTok Trend That Gives Clutter a Good Name

The hottest new TikTok trend? It could be braided bungee cord. Or it could be a dangling designer logo. Or it could be both, as well as what’s displayed in the more than 18 thousand posts displaying creators’ “anik-anik,” usually charms hung off their handbags or keychains and inexpensive trinkets saved to be pasted into a journal or repurposed as accessories.

The words are a Filipino term roughly translated as “any-any,” and it basically means trinkets and charms that serve no real purpose (besides sparking joy) and may even be a tiny bit clutter-y. Think a keychain in the shape of a stuffie. Or a tooled-leather dog. Or cherries. Or a wine glass.

I’m all in on the concept, since it’s the perfect Venn diagram bullseye of the bag charms trend, Sonny Angels fandom and the scrapbooking comeback. Think of this as  “loud garbage,” an anti-quiet luxury aesthetic that embraces exuberant colors, layered accessories and frankly, a pinch of bad taste. According to Tiktok creator girlbossinred, displaying these things signals to onlookers that “you’re an anik-anik girlie, you’re creative, you’re expressive.” Sign me up!

Here are five fun ways to hop on the anik-anik trend. After all: More is more!

What’s more fun than enjoying anik-anik myself? Stocking up on items to gift to family members and friends, of course. Granted, so far I’ve only had the courage to give Sonny Angels and little keychains to college- and elementary-school girls and gays, but I’m hoping some of the more tasteful grown-ass women in my cohort will soon enjoy festooning their tasteful minimalist lives with garish Asian stuffies and neon lanyards. Because life is short, but my log of Etsy purchases need not be.