In recent years, controversy has shrouded the image of teenagers working in fashion.
The idea of children as young as 12 and 13 working on high end fashion campaigns wearing pieces and often underwear meant for fully grown women, is not without it’s queries.
But while commentators, designers and the general public debate what terrible message this is sending to other ‘ordinary’ girls, with words including ‘sexualisation’ as their focal point, a ray of hope and reality is being beamed from an unlikely source.
George for ASDA has recently found four forward thinking fashionistas to help them design their newest tween collection for the supermarket chain.
Did I mention said fashionistas are only young teens themselves?
Personally, I think that this is a brilliant way to include younger generations in the dynamic, creative, not to mention competitive fashion industry. Not only does it go a long way to offer invaluable experience to the girls who won their ‘Style Scout’ contest, but the designing team learnt a thing or two about what their intended market and age demographic would like to see from fashion.
It would be unfair to suggest that ‘girls as young as 14 don’t know what they’re doing’ as I’ve read on numerous occasion since sparks flew over recent fashion campaigns seeing Hailee Steinfeld and Elle Fanning strike their pose in ‘mature’ outfits for Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs respectively, in which both look beautiful, professional and more importantly, their age.
And while you may not agree with the image that it portrays, ASDA have gone a long way to show that teenagers can also send out a positive and helpful message to their own age group.
One of the main differences between these examples is the clothes that the girls were modelling (the ASDA girls also helped model the range they had helped design).
But I have to ask, is it the clothing causing the hysteria or the pose in which it is being illustrated?
Because they are two entirely different issues…
Jen.xox
