A super-quick guide to teaching fashion in schools

Teaching fashion in schools isn’t a passing fad. Although trends might come and go, fashion has and will always be part of our society, so it’s something that kids need to understand.

There are all sorts of things to love about teaching fashion. It’s a subject that touches on a host of others, such as design, business and manufacturing technology.

Not only this, but teaching fashion in schools helps your students express themselves, improve their career prospects and get to grips with other cultures from around the world.

So, with this in mind, let’s take a look at the fashion topics you could cover, and the equipment you’ll need to get started.

Topics to cover when teaching fashion in schools

These are some of the fashion-related topics that will help your kids learn more about the world:

History of fashion

Teaching the history of fashion gives you scope to answer some important questions, including:

• Why do we wear the type of clothes that we do?
• How did these clothes evolve over time?
• What have been the most significant moments in the history of fashion?
• How have different cultures influenced our fashion?

Key principles of fashion

When discussing the key principles of fashion, you can help your students understand:

• Important design principles
• Classic looks and clothing items
• How to use colour palettes and wheels
• Seasonal design specifics
• Proportional design

Fashion manufacturing

Helping students wrap their heads around fashion manufacturing means introducing them to industrial practices, like knitting, weaving and dyeing.

It’s also a great opportunity to teach them a bit about business; supply chains, logistics, supply and demand, market research and much, much more.

Ethical fashion

Of course, the fashion industry is also one that’s had to undergo massive changes when it comes to ethics.

Teach your students about the ethics of sourcing materials, both in relation to the environment and the people who gather the materials. Also, make sure you discuss working practices in clothing factories.

Equipment required for teaching fashion in schools

The things you’ll need to start teaching fashion in schools fall into four main categories:

1) Sewing machines

Sewing machines are probably the most important part of your fashion teaching kit bag.

A suite of the same machines makes both teaching and maintenance a whole lot easier – as does a five-year parts and labour breakdown warranty.

You’ll want to pick a reliable and robust model that can stand up to life in the classroom. And, one that’s modern enough to be relevant to today’s fashion industry.

2) Mannequins

You’ll also need templates for your students to bring their ideas to life. Pick up a variety of mannequins, including both regular and electronically-programmable options.

3) Materials

You’ll need a bank of materials of different types, colours and patterns to help students fully express their creativity. This includes both woven materials and thread for joining everything together.

4) Accessories

Lastly, make sure you have all the necessary bits and bobs that go into the crafting process. Think about needles, pins, measuring tape, scissors, chalk, thimbles and the like.

That’s our whistle-stop tour of teaching fashion in schools! There’s a lot left to learn, but this should help get you started.

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