Forum Topic

Why the Further Education System is Failing the Fashion & Textile Industry

https://ukft.org/fe-what-needs-to-change/Can't thread a needle?  Can't sew a button on or turn on an electric sewing machine?Whatever happened?  My parents generation could all do this - men and women.  In the army you had to be able to do this but you shouldn't need to join to learn!When I was young I was taught some these skills by parents and grandparents as well as at school.  What happened?I had a boss who threw away his shirts if they lost a button rather than sewing one on or paying or even just finding someone to do this.   What an unbelievable waste of resources!So now we have nametapes to be sewn on or names embroidered on games kit as new uniforms are prepared for a new year and parents who can't do this.  We also have youngsters going off to university who not only don't know how to do this but also still don't know how to look after their clothing ie doing zips up before putting washable clothes in a washing machine so that an open zip doesn't damage any other clothing especially knits...There used to be valuable advice in WRAP's Love Your Clothes Campaign...   

Philippa Bond ● 17d6 Comments

That’s right. YouTube usually does the trick.

Steve Taylor ● 16d

You can learn most things on-line now, whearas I had to use books for crochet etc., and teach myself, I was making my own clothes from an early age. But as Philippa said we had needlework at school but I found that boring and slow.

Janice Evans ● 16d

Schools don’t have time for that anymore. They spend the time on diversity, inclusion, gender recognition and teaching basic articulation and verbal communication.

Steve Taylor ● 16d

Most materials are easy care now.

Janice Evans ● 16d

On looking at labels and thinking about what your clothes are made out and how you should wash them and what and whether you should put them in a hot dryer to dry - YES - where is that common sense!Here's another old comment on the lack of skills:https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2017/june/bhf-exposes-uk-sewing-skills-shortage-to-launch-the-big-stitch-camapaignAnd a whole load more youngsters are off to uni skilled at pressing buttons on their mobile to order and pay for a pizza online but unable to make a healthy meal for themselves or anyone else!

Philippa Bond ● 17d

What's lacking these days is common sense, it seems at all levels.

Janice Evans ● 17d