There is a difference between clothes and fashion. Clothes are the items we wear on our body, fashion (for me) is the moment in time where specific items are popular. This can be clothes, but also accessories, interior items, basically all products or even ways of behaving (like vegetable gardening)
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Currently fashion products are almost treated like food. They have an expiry date that is very short. This means items that are still functional and not broken are tossed away, end up as waste. All the energy, water and materials used to make these items becomes useless.
What can be done?
Owned as long as possible by one user
In both cases it is important that the quality of the products made is high. The items need to be used for a long period of time, by one or multiple users.
A designer could help the users to maintain the quality of the item by providing care instructions. Preferably putting the label in a place it is not cut off, like the backside of a pocket. Or even use special low maintenance materials or techniques that make it possible to separate items from each other so only parts can be washed, like the collar.
A nice movie that shows quality of garments is the movie of Carin Mansfield. She uses specific seams that keep the item in high quality for a long period of time.
- A customer could buy items that he loves longer, that grow together with him and that he cherishes.
- A designer could design the items in such a way that they can be easily repaired with common tools. For example commonly available bolts.
- A business could sell items that are timeless and can be cherished by the user for a long time. And preferably deliver a repair service.
- A customer could buy a subscription to a service. For example clothing library (link lena), car rental or children's toys rental. He has the benefit of using the functionality of the item (wearing clothes, driving a car, playing with toys) and can change the item for example every three months.
- A designer could design items that are in fashion for that moment, but can be altered easily in such a way they can become new items. For example removable prints (link)
- A business could Rent out items that are in fashion for a short period of time, the items can then be used by multiple customers. There are less items needed.
In both cases it is important that the quality of the products made is high. The items need to be used for a long period of time, by one or multiple users.
A designer could help the users to maintain the quality of the item by providing care instructions. Preferably putting the label in a place it is not cut off, like the backside of a pocket. Or even use special low maintenance materials or techniques that make it possible to separate items from each other so only parts can be washed, like the collar.
A nice movie that shows quality of garments is the movie of Carin Mansfield. She uses specific seams that keep the item in high quality for a long period of time.
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