Why Fashion In Family Heirlooms Is Significant Today
With the rise of shopping second hand and vintage, family heirlooms have become popular in fashion, especially with generation Z. Pieces passed down from generation to generation have always been meaningful, but gen Z’s interest in sustainability and vintage pieces have added greater value to these items. People are wearing their grandmother’s high-quality jewelry and parents' concert tee shirts, allowing them to add an element of individuality to their style, while practicing sustainable fashion habits.
When a clothing or jewelry piece holds family memories, the item becomes significant in the wearer’s life, as their family member will come to mind whenever the wearer reaches for it. Many women wear their mother’s or grandmother’s jewelry, a common tradition in families. Pearl necklaces and fine gold jewelry are popular heirloom items and can make one feel as if she is in the presence of a family member, while looking fashionable.
Shopping second hand or vintage is extremely popular with younger generations, and family heirlooms spark the interest of gen Z for similar reasons. Teenagers today value uniqueness and individualism in fashion, especially after the coronavirus pandemic eliminated so many opportunities for self-expression. Family heirlooms are one of a kind, so adding a unique statement piece from another decade to your closet sets your style apart from others. Pieces like vintage fur and leather coats, chunky clip-on earrings, and worn-out denim add a unique flare to any outfit.
As practicing sustainability is becoming more important in the fashion industry, younger generations have increased an interest in sustainable fashion. Textile waste represents a significant cause of harm to our planet. According to The True Cost movie, the United States alone produces more than eleven million tons of textile waste, a leading cause of this being overconsumption of fashion. Overconsumption has become a substantial habit of fashion consumers, as fast fashion allows consumers to buy trendy, low quality pieces at an extremely low price, get rid of them, and repeat the process. Because keeping fashion pieces in the family doesn’t generate any new items and waste, it is a sustainable practice. Instead of purchasing a cheap necklace that will tarnish and break after one wear, handing down jewelry is a much more environmentally friendly way to accessorize. When somebody wears a passed down clothing item, they aren’t creating any demand for new pieces, therefore limiting textile waste.
In summary, keeping fashion in the family isn’t a new trend, but any effort we can take to reduce waste and help the planet is especially important right now. Luckily, consumers are starting to value sustainable fashion, along with having an interest in distinctive vintage aesthetics, so wearing family heirlooms will continue to stay trendy.
Written By Sophia Renda, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Lekha Samala, Graphic Design Intern, PhotoBook Magazine
