Why is the children's fashion industry stuck in the same loop of familiar motifs (ex: Dinosaurs and Unicorns)

Why is the children's fashion industry stuck in the same loop of familiar motifs (ex: Dinosaurs and Unicorns)

This might a hot take but the children’s fashion industry seems stuck in a loop of familiar motifs—dinosaurs, unicorns, and generic patterns dominate the children's clothing racks.

While these designs are fun and timeless, why don't we have more options for children with different design patterns and design features for children's clothing. This is a question I have asked myself for a long time. The market is saturated with boutique and expensive brands that really aren't thinking about innovation and how we can be cost conscious as producers and consumers.

Clothing is more than just fabric; it tells stories and shapes identity. So why are we stuck on dinosaurs, zoo animals and unicorns for children's clothing designs?

 

Several factors contribute to this lack of diversity:

1. Market Perception: Many brands underestimate the demand for culturally diverse designs, fearing they might alienate broader audiences.

2. Cultural Sensitivity: This is a big one...some companies may avoid cultural motifs to steer clear of accusations of appropriation or misuse. I get it this a huge risk for most large clothing brands but I genuinely believe authenticity and intent is how we overcome this perceived problem.

3. Homogenized Design Trends: Globalization often prioritizes universally recognizable themes over culturally specific ones, sidelining unique traditions.

This is one of our "WHY's" to launching En Route Designs. We did not start this clothing brand for the sake of starting "another" clothing brand. We are passionate about this problem and lack of diversity in children's clothing. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this! Like always, we respect your time as busy parents so we like to keep these short and sweet. We hope these blogs (personal thoughts in writing) help you understand a little more about En Route Designs!

Sincerely, 
Abhishek 

 

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