I want to believe you are a nurturing soul who understands the importance of guiding and inspiring the young minds of our generation. As a mother/grandmother myself, I want to discuss a topic that holds tremendous significance for our children and grandchildren—the future of fashion, encompassing both fast and slow fashion.
Today’s world encourages trends to come and go at a lightning pace, where once we could look forward to four collections each year, the industry now produces new ideas weekly. It’s crucial that we equip our children with the knowledge and values necessary to make informed choices about their wardrobes. By embracing both the principles of fast fashion and the essence of slow fashion, we can instill in them a deep understanding of the impact their clothing choices have on themselves and the world around them.
We should be guiding our children toward a conscious relationship with fashion. Here are some reasons why I believe embracing both fast and slow fashion can shape a better future for our kids:
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Instant gratification can mimic addiction. Fast fashion often feeds into the desire for an instant retail fix. That feeling can last only a day before the item is discarded to the back of the wardrobe. How many items in your wardrobe still have a label attached? And yet you are convinced you have nothing to wear. All of this comes at a high cost to the environment and the people involved in the production process. Please start educating your children about the importance of sustainability and the long-lasting benefits of slow fashion, this can start from a young age. New outfits can be saved for birthdays, holidays and other special occasions. Spend a little more on good quality and less on cheap poorly made textiles.
Encourage critical thinking by helping them question the origins and ethics behind their clothes, There are some good apps such as GOOD ON YOU to help them see what suppliers take sustainability seriously.
Let them explore styles that embrace uniqueness, It does not matter that they want to mix up styles and colours. Allowing our children to express their creativity and develop their personal style will help them to value their clothes. Teach them the value of, upcycling, thrifting, and swapping. Don’t let them throw their clothes away until they have taken off buttons and other trimmings. resourcefulness is a great lesson to learn, help them discover the joy of finding treasures in pre-loved items.
Swapping is a great new idea amongst teens. Friends love to swap, Why not encourage them to do a swap party. Hand me downs, from friends who have kids older than yours, Pass the clothes around. Unfortunately with the growth of fast fashion, the life of a garment is lessened. Have you noticed that you still have garments in your wardrobe that are still ok to wear after ten years? yet the items you bought last year are falling to bits. There is a good reason for this. Manufacturers and fashion chains want you to buy more. They do not make clothes to last anymore, so you do not save money by buying cheap. Mindful consumption is the intelligent way forward, teaching our children the importance of this has to be down to parental guidance just the same as teaching your kids the value of healthy eating. We cannot rely on governments or corporations to make our choices. Let’s inspire the next generation to become advocates for change, shaping a future where fashion is a force for good and not bad
Together, let’s sow the seeds of conscious fashion and watch them bloom into a future where both style and compassion reign.
Unfortunately, I have come across many young people who have never learned how to use a sewing machine. Some schools are not teaching this anymore it seems, which I find disheartening.
If you have enjoyed this article can I ask you to visit this link and buy me a coffee? I am raising money to help pay for a sewing teacher in a small school in India, where Mothers are making garments to pay for their children’s education. I would be most grateful and so would they.
