Textiles, connection and meaning

A garment with cultural significance purchased whilst on holiday has an emotional advantage over a cheap poorly made garment purchased on a whim during lunch hour. The holiday purchase becomes a nostalgic reminder of travels, experiences and people. The cheap disposable garment has an immediate purpose, to protect, or to project an awareness and acceptance of fashion. Fast fashion is consumed in a similar way to fast food. Its job is to satisfy immediate needs, not to nourish long term. Opportunity shops are currently overwhelmed with cheap disposable fashion due to a continual wave of desire and disappointment. If designers can connect with people on multiple levels the desire for quantity over quality may be reversed and relieve the drain on resources.