A pair of jeans with tiny pockets may seem like a small inconvenience, but to many women it poses the question: is women’s clothing designed for real life, or is it solely built for appearance?
Historically, women’s fashion has favored aesthetics and social expectations rather than practicality. Today, consumers expect comfort and functionality, but are left disappointed searching for reliable brands.
“Women’s clothing (is) not made with the intention to be functional for the woman, but more to please the people (around her),” Delphine Wadlund, a junior and member of the Berkeley High School Fashion Club, said. Wadlund had to wear suits to a Youth and Government event. Out of the four suits she brought, not a single blazer had pockets. “I’m trying to be a businesswoman walking around and I can’t even put my pen in my pocket,” she said. Outside of formal wear, Wadlund struggles to find adequate clothing that meets her needs. “Trying to find affordable and functional clothing for women that has good quality materials, it feels pretty much impossible,” she said.
One must also consider why these problems of functionality exist. “People feel like the clothes aren’t really designed to be used,” BHS junior Mire Vu-Beavers, an independent seamstress, said. “Especially recently with so many micro-trends, people feel like the clothes are just kind of designed to be put out as fast as possible and not made to last,” Vu-Beavers said. Huge fast fashion labels like Zara and Shein use rapid production cycles and are known for their low cost and low quality clothing. These practices lead to issues like poor material, fit, and lifespan, which often contributes to clothing waste. “The main purpose is just profit and not functionality or longevity, or just sustainability,” she said.
BHS English teacher Kate Rosen summarizes this, “Female fashion depends on trends more than men, so we have to continuously replace our wardrobes … the companies are taking advantage and making inferior products, which then leads to the need for replacements when the clothes fall apart. It’s a vicious cycle,” she said.
The best remedies for these issues come from addressing the simplest parts of the problem. Those in fashion club with clothing-making experience can tailor pieces to Wadlund’s exact desires. “My favorite pieces of clothing have honestly been ones designed by my friends,” she said.
While none of these temporary solutions unearth the root of the problem, the final and most effective strategy is to push against the norm, to speak up and fight back. “Women tended to accept the status quo when I was growing up, and now, we are much louder about what we want and what we need,” Rosen said.