Fashion passion: the line divide between the “cool” and the “square”

It is a trademark of the cool, and those without a good sense of style get left behind

Conner Larsen, Staff Writer|March 23, 2022

Fashion passion: the line divide between the “cool” and the “square”
 Here at Jenison highschool style is an important attribute. When it comes to fashion, most of the school is wearing top dollar brands. There seems to be a barrier that divides most of us and it needs recognition. This “fashion barrier” is not only in our generation, either. Our parents remember a time when it was the same way at their school. Some regular students had their own opinions on the new style they see everyday.
 
“Well, styles are based on other people,” says Elaina Frollo. “Most people see their other styles on social media.” With the rapid expansion of the internet it is no wonder this is where we have ended up. Many different styles have come from social media, but the past is coming back in fashion. Elaina goes on to point out older styles resurfacing with, “Just look at my jeans.” With more and more people having access to other’s ideas on style, we get a melting pot of brands and new ideas. But this is not the complete story on style.
 
The line drawn is with cold hard cash. With so many advertisements on the web for 500$ shoes, or 1000$ jackets, we tend to think that it is for the wealthy. Most of these clothing items made were in far away countries for pennies on the dollar, using child labor to lower costs. UNICEF states that there are over 170 million children working in textiles for Europe, the US, and beyond. Companies take advantage of our belief that fashion is expensive to rack up the price and lower the cost.

 The problem with misinformation

Most Americans are blindly following these companys, without knowing the facts. The many Ads for fashion have blinded us for a long time and made us think that child labor is something of the past. “When I was a kid, I don’t think most people were thinking about it,” says Corey Larsen, my father. “I can’t say I understand fashion now or back then, but it’s become an important thing.” Today’s fashion is even harder to follow, with past styles coming back.
 
Then again, fashion is an undying industry. Without products to consume, consumerism would not exist. Asa Martinez, a student here at Jenison says, “I think with a few modifications, we could see some change. The more we do to tell people how these brands use them, the more they’ll think twice before putting it on.” For many people at Jenison, fashion is a must have no matter the cost. Where are our prioritys when we spend time in the morning picking out an outfit worth over 500$? It is a trademark of the cool, and Those without a good sense of style get left behind.
 
The goal was never to kill fashion, because in the end fashion is part of our everyday life. Recognizing the barriers it puts around us is a way to make us more cautious about what to believe. The mindset of many in my generation will determine the future of our style, and fashion to come.