Are children too young for fashion?

So I was harping on to someone the other day (shock) about ‘ooh back in the day when I was a kid, children were children... it’s so important for children not to grow up too fast; oooh in my day, , ...’ blah blah blah when someone asked me the million pound question: is fashion something that is too grown up for children? An interesting question that has never made it onto my radar. Now albeit a sensitive question with no doubt contrasting views, my answer would be a resounding no and I’ll tell you for why.

Little girls (and of course boys) will always want and need to find inspiration, everything around them they absorb like a sponge and they look for guidance along the way as they develop their characters, so positive inspiration is the order of the day. Fashion in some sense will be a part of our lives as long as we are wearing clothes. It creates identity, reflects our mood and gives us choice.

Enter Figure 1, a little girl I know (and adore) is 6 years old and she gets up in the morning, and picks her own outfit, depending on her mood. She has made an independent choice which makes her feel good and by picking her outfit (selected from a wardrobe of tasteful clothes of course) she is creating her individual identity, which is what fashion is all about. It’s character building. After that, she still goes outside, gets on her bike and gets muddy with her big brothers like kids should, so her fashion choice has not affected her being a child.

The potential problem with fashion reaching young people are the role models. Come on, we all have one, mine at 8 years old was Michael Jackson (try taking my one glove off me and stop me moon walking across the kitchen and wait for the wrath). The press today is dominated by the likes of Rhianna in barely there ripped hotpants grinding in front of 9 year olds gazing back at her lovingly; Lady Gaga, say no more, and Katy Perry who wears 6 inches of makeup, 6 inches of dress and brags about kissing girls and liking it. Right-o. Technology has been a huge contributor to children growing up faster than they ever have before and with one click of their mouse they have access to these ‘fashionable ‘role models.

Kate Middleton is a prime example of role models gone right, all hail Kate. With the mere sight of her, young people (me included) want to ditch the too cool for skool clobber and become young ladies and little girls are following suit. Thanks to Kate, a new generation of little girls should come through with their own sense of style, while emulating her manners, grace and classy catwalk cool. And too right.

Children love to make, create and put their own stamp on things. Whether it’s a custom made birthday card or a painting of a rainbow, creating is learning and when this is put to clothes, unbeknownst to the child, they are creating sustainable fashion. When I was a wee tot I would alter and make my clothes and this is the important point i am getting to. A big part of fashion is creating and designing. I remember begging my mum to let me put an iron-on butterfly onto a jumper and my mum also taught me to knit at a young age. I knitted a scarf that I wore day in day out because I was proud that not only I had made a fashion choice, but also that I had put creativity and effort into making it be.

It is really important we make the move away from ‘fast fashion'. Teaching children, the adults of our future to design, knit and sow is priceless, in the hope that when they get their pocket money they aren’t going straight to Primark to buy their first sequin mini skirt. instead they will know the way forward in sustainable, creative, self respecting fashion. So, are children too young for fashion? my answer is they are already a part of it, its just up to us to make it positive.