It is good that the poor have access to cheap fashion; I’m not so sure that it’s good that the rich have access to cheap fashion. And I don’t know what “everyone” will do when there isn’t any cheap fashion any more, but you and I, Final Fashion, will still be stylin’, because we make it ourselves.

And actually yes I understand how an awful lot of that happens because my education (Waldorf) was centered on just those sorts of question. The ones I have less understanding of are environmental regulations and the Middle East (though I am pretty up on my politics). And I am not brighter or more intelligent than your average person, I am simply the product of a very complete education that is made for regular children. Trust me on it, Waldorf education gives you a much more complete and holistic view of the world

Something has to give yes but just because we can’t understand every last detail doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know some of them. I believe in a top-down approach. Give an appreciation for the connections and the big picture and then when you have interest and time fill in the details

This is a noble aim, but I wonder how practical it is in the real world. Do you feel that you understand and appreciate:
– how the electricity industry works, from generation to transmission to distribution
– how your refrigerator works
– how clean drinking water is delivered to your house, from collection to delivery
– how sewage is removed from your house
– how to design enjoyable central city areas
– how to design an energy-efficient building
– how to design effective environmental regulations
– the principles behind the design of robust bridges, roads, buildings
– traffic engineering, e.g. where to place the roads, bridges, etc
– how the internet works
– the pros and cons of health care decisions
– what’s happening in the Middle East
– etc, etc

Our lives are just too complex for everyone to know about everything that is happening. Something is going to give for every one of us.

1. Put your design dreams on hold – possibly permanently – and work for The Man.
2. Reconcile yourself to the possibility of bankruptcy if decide to brave the risky waters of the independent designer.

Yikes.
http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/main/2005/11/tk_black_friday_1.html

Dana, I saw the post on Papier Doll! hysterical!

This reminds me of when people learn I know how to sew and they sometimes want me to make some kind of custom item for them. When I was a little younger I was dumb enough to say yes. They don’t understand that we have to go through design/development… that fabric bought retail is expensive… that it will probably take two fittings at least…. that I need a few days to work on it (about a week to fit it into my crazy life). They have this kooky idea that so-called “home sewing” is cheaper than fast fashion and shouldn’t take that much longer then fast fashion. They don’t get that I spend time drafting and sewing the first prototype, making changes and sewing yet again. And then when I hand them the bill (fabric, other materials, hours, overhead) they scream bloody hell about the price. (The cheapest tops I do I charge at least a hundred dollars… and those are for the simplest knit tops).

This is why I only work for designers now. At least they have a clue that I’m actually working and deserve my pay, not magically waving my magic wand and charging them the shaft…

Now that I’ve ranted, I want to cry over fast fashion. Is it a good thing that the poorest have access to fashion? Or is it a bad thing that the rich now have access to cheap fashion? And what will everyone do when there isn’t any cheap fashion anymore?

All Best,
fizure