Why are cloths so important?....

It maybe a simple question, but recently I feel because clothing is something we are so used to and can access so easily we forget it's importance and the difference it can make. They famously say, 'you don't know what you have until it's gone'...I daren't imagine what would happen if everyone lost their cloths!

A few weeks ago I was sat in the shop and a lady came in with a worn jacket which had been her mothers. She had brought some beautiful welsh wool and wanted to repair the jacket with the new wool. When she came to collect the jacket, her emotional response was very touching, in that moment I felt the importance of having her mothers jacket restored to a wearable condition. As she left I started to think, clothing isn't just about FASHION and trends. Clothing is about people, it's about life experiences and it's about having something to wear that supports you through the ups and downs of life. It has the ability to make your body feel complemented, in turn making you feel put together and good about yourself. If we think about it clothing is the first thing we use to communicate who we are without speaking. It's ours, we choose our style, fit and colour palette. We choose what top to put with what trousers and how to accessorise.

Clothing is a way for us to express who we are and what we like - it doesn't matter if you aren't into FASHION, the cloths you choose to wear still set out a visual representation of you. 

Clothing is also something we can hold onto. When my loved one passed away I kept a nightie and a dress because once they held her body, for a time they held her smell and forever they will hold memories.

As a designer I ask myself what if I started to loose the abilities to communicate my clothing choices, what if my mobility changed and I could no longer put on the style of clothing I liked because mainstream FASHION used zips and small buttons. As I design I ask myself how can we create garments that allow people to have those choices for as long as possible so that a condition that brings so many changes doesn't have to affect the clothing they wear? Clothing is important because it dresses people, and people a very important.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas,

Until next time,

Sara x 

Posted in A clothing conversation on 15th December 2021 at 11:56am.

Tags: important clothing