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Opinons: The Future of British Fashion

by Hannah in Year 7

Is the future of British fashion in crisis? This is not asked by many people. Most people are aware of this industry, but they see it as something superficial and vain. However, the truth is that at a deeper level, fashion is not just about showing off. The fashion industry is a competitive, ever-growing industry with the world’s biggest fashion houses dominating the market. Currently, however, schools do not teach about it and are not aware that many young people have both the talent and vision to be part of this industry. This should be taught at schools, giving pupils an inside look with support from teachers about the business side of fashion.

Currently schools do teach textiles, as the pupils learn how to stitch, sew and learn to make a variety of clothes. But is this enough? Schools should be teaching about running a fashion business, not as business studies but individually focussing on the fashion side of it including; branding, designing, producing, manufacturing, distribution, websites and use of social media and so on. Schools must teach and encourage all students, at a young age by giving them more of a range of creative studies.

Many students have a lack of knowledge of this industry. It seems the ‘business of fashion’ is a complex and well-guarded secret. Even in university, students walk away with lots of creative knowledge, but not so much about the reality of setting up a business. If pupils decide to start a fashion business when they grow up, they would not have an overall understanding and would have to teach themselves and start from scratch, without any knowledge or guidance given in the past. Schools could take students on trips to show them the run way, take them to London Fashion Week, because that gives students inspiration and creates a love for fashion and designing, this would help encourage students.

Schools need to motivate students, we need to carry on creating well-known brands such as: Burberry, Mulberry, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen all these loved brands by many must carry on and of course there must be more created, this depends on this generation of children. The future of British fashion depends on it!

At the moment, the people who own brands and work for them are from elite and wealthy backgrounds who can also, therefore, afford it all. This should not be the case. It should include people from normal, mainstream schools who get a chance. It should be based on creativity and effort, for people with a natural passion and flare for fashion. Studies show that diversity sells. But the people of the elite are not diverse. People want to see themselves being represented and that increases brand value. Pupils from mainstream schools are diverse, especially in London and they should be involved and represented in British fashion.

Overall, for this to happen, schools must be aware and teach pupils about it, just like they have to teach the Sciences, Maths and English. Without any support or guidance students will not go far in fashion and the future or British fashion will not thrive.