It has been eight years since I sent my call for change to the world via LinkedIn and which was subsequently published by FashionUnited. Although much of the content seems like it was written yesterday, the time is ripe for a sequel. Not just in words but, as I did then, in deeds. Looking ahead with the knowledge of today, but especially from history and our own past.
Ellen Haeser is a specialist in diversity, a messenger and connector with textiles as her medium. She collects, filters and visualizes what she sees and intuitively feels in society. By adding knowledge and skills, she gives meaning to insights and translates them into vision for the fashion business and education in the changing fashion landscape.
Progress has certainly been made, many in fact. There is research and data about what we throw away, it is known what the social impact is for makers in low-wage countries and there is innovation in the field of recycling. [Het artikel van Esmee Blaazer](https://fashionunited.nl/nieuws/mode/waar-blijft-de-systeem Change-in de-modebranche/2024071861489) was a key moment for me to take new steps and contribute to what moves and moves me most. ; the necessity of how we as consumers look at clothing, fashion, trends. In short: a change in behavior. The article mentions innovative sustainable developments and connects the situation of fast fashion with, among other things, the food industry. It presents the problem realistically: big players create and dominate the temptation to buy a lot for little money. Esmee also refers to the book and movement ‘Moral Ambition’ by Rutger Bregmans as ‘the will to drastically improve the world’. His message to the reader: “work on your ideals.”
As I wrote in 2017;
Fashion has become a means of consumption, but we have also allowed the sense of value (both material and meaning) to fade away. ‘It costs almost nothing, so it can’t be much’ is the general idea. Everything has been eroded in the system to allow clothing and shoes to become cheaper and cheaper.
In recent years I have moved my field of work to (vocational) education. Because where better to explore the fashion landscape and discover what the possibilities are than with young professionals “in the making”? Learning to investigate, interpret and give meaning and to do the right thing from the as yet unknown future; multidisciplinary collaboration, experimenting and “learning by doing”.
- aesthetic: enchanting by beauty (craftsmanship and quality).
- psychological; Through scientific research we know that clothing can change how you look, how you feel, how you view yourself, how you behave and that clothing can influence how you perform. (Enclothed Cognition by Adam Golinsky)
- socially: by contributing to the transition.
The fashion industry is part of the problem and is also struggling with its own identity. Fashion has become flat, polluting and cries out for a radically different role and approach in order to be enchanting, controversial and meaningful again.
It’s time we give clothing a voice.
A meaningful garment is born from raw material, made, processed, made more beautiful by hands and machines…. and provided with a heart and soul. This determines the starting value of the product, but this increases due to the stories that the garment literally carries.
The recently published book ‘Textiles from Dutch soil’ by Martine Benoit-Teunissen and Marijn Stolk works as a new history book containing research into historical clothing and archaeological finds. It brings history to life and thus awareness about what goes into creating a garment. It was already a huge process then, but what is it like now? That observation forms a bridge to the insane fashion industry of today.
Unknown makes unloved. There is work to be done for all generations, from Gen Alpha to Boomers. They still learned the manual skills at school and at home. At that time, 3 out of 4 households had a sewing machine. Subsequent generations did not grow up with those values and education, so we have to portray it and transfer it from then to now. With new technology and enthusiasm, and that can be done in small steps, but the time is right.
- MANUALS that entice consumers to consciously buy and be positive about thrift.
- MANUALS that allow you as a consumer to further develop your knowledge and dexterity using technology and skills.
- MANUALS that are supplied with semi-finished products, for example, together with specific services and services applicable to the product and its use.
