Country Analysis Report Germany

The German Report on fashion as a topic in adult education is now available!

Summary

Methodologically, the report is based on internet supported desk research, project experiences and conference follow-ups.

Fashion plays an important social role, specifically for young grown-ups, who partially define themselves by fashion: This is demonstrated by membership to certain groups of friends or colleagues, to social groups or events and rituals. Any reactions of outsiders of these groups support the self esteem and contribute to the stability of these groups - or vice versa. Because the fashion market is dominated by fashion chains, especially individual fashion items are highly appreciated. Temporary trends are confronted with adaptations and contemporary interpretations of historic patterns, cuts and jewellery.

Formal further education measures – offered in private schools and so called Volkshochschulen (“adult education centres”) – are complemented by informal offers. In both cases the offers are not primarily targeting employment but are closely connected with personal creativity, traditional events or rituals.

However, it seems that as part of the rise of creative industries there are developing new business fields which need high qualifications. This report identified three working field for further education in fashion. None of them is economically and socially explored yet:

§ „Fashion with migrant background“ means fashion trends related to migrant societies. The respective fashion items already have a big business potential.

E.g. connected with the so called „Turkish wedding industries“ it can be shown, that fashion bridges the gap between tradition and present trends. Here, fashion production is organised in an way which allows the participation of all ages. A business potential is clearly visible. This seems to be an extraordinary chance for young people who can act in the framework of two cultures.

§ “Recycling fashion” means innovative re-use of cloth, fabrics, clothes and other fashion items which are created in a new context.

Recycling fashion can have a back ground in a general approach of treating natural resources with care. Here fashion gets social relevance as an expression against materials mainly produced for consumption and the waste bin.

§ In “smart fashion” communication technologies become integrated part of clothes and fashionable gadgets and foster life quality for those wearing them.

Electronic sensors and chips are processed in clothes in order to give information about or for the person who wears these clothes. This can be for health reasons as well as for leisure time activities

Specifically interesting in the working context of Association Culture & Work: The development of business fields happens in all age groups. New, highly innovative and exciting labels are not specifically founded and started by young people only. E.g. women after their family time or at the end of their active business life seem to be quite active in this field. This seems to be a kind of signal that demographic change has reached fashion industries.

Considering this background, Fashion Talk has a unique chance, not only to target young people of different European countries for exchanging experiences in the field of fashion beyond the established education systems. The project also offers the chance to learn more about new possible business fields on the back ground of demographic change.

The integration of people with migrant background as well as demographic change will be important issues of European societies during the next years. In further education for fashion industries this does not play a role yet, but the relevance is clearly evident and can be targeted in Fashion Talk in a most productive way.

 The full report in German is available for download.