Crossword Genius

Became established as a clique, being fashionable (3,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

set in

'became established' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'a clique being fashionable' is the wordplay.
'a clique' becomes 'set' (a clique is a social set).
'being fashionable' becomes 'in' (in can mean fashionable or trendy).
'set'+'in'='SET-IN'

'as' is the link.

(Another definition for set in that I've seen is " Become established".)

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