In most households, mother stands as the family’s key influencer.
A mother acts as a deliverer, a protector, a nurturer, a teacher, and above all, a role model. It is no secret that our culture is inclined to fetishize motherhood and the concept of pregnancy. The fashion and beauty industries are no different.
Today’s moms are shopping savvy; turning to magazines, sites, and social media to find their latest must-haves. Not only do they compare prices, they also read oodles and oodles of articles. Compelling articles on stylish parenting and endless pap-shots of celebrity offspring permeates the internet and our social media feed non-stop, 24/7.
While exposing those little ones at such an early age might not be the best thing in this whole wide world, nobody is going to stop papping them – or their famous parents – anytime soon.
This well-informed generation of mother wants nothing but to make the most informed decisions on purchases bestowed upon their most prized possessions, their children. And, whether it be direct or non-direct, this constant ballyhoo on fabulous parenthood is fueling society’s demand for a well-styled childhood.
W H A T M R S . F O X T H I N K S
Okay peeps, this one is a tough cookie. Well, kinda.
First of all, you can’t blame the famous ones for wanting to use the situation to their advantage. Second of all, you can’t blame the parents for wanting to make their kids look so darn cute. I mean, who doesn’t?
“But the fashion industry has adapted to make children a prime area for growth as our attitudes adapt and society becomes more child-centric. Whether it’s clothes, parties, after-school activities or education, it’s vital for parents to invest in their kids. Lives are busy, and there’s an expectation of return on investment with our children.” – Estelle Lee (Smallish Magazine Editor-in-Chief)
It is true that marketing to the perceptive (especially millennial) mom requires a lot more thought, and a great deal of creativity, now more than ever. However, the market for childrenswear is one of the most lucrative segments in the global apparel industry. Estimated to hit a value of 173.6 billion dollars by year 2017, this market did not even take a hit from the recent global economy meltdown.
This attractive, enchanting, and supposedly delicate line of business can sometimes make people turn a blind eye on the fundamental principles of textile products or materials intended particularly for youngsters. While most household names have a trustworthy enough quality control, there are big bad manufacturing wolves out there selling malevolent products that are incredibly easy on the eye.
Don’t get me wrong here. These kids, our kids, of course need to be put in the most dapper slash voguish attires. But we need to be extra careful not to sacrifice their health and development at the cost of our vanity. When we doll up our mini me(s) as an extended self image, we tend to get carried away. Point being: while awesome color coordination, winsome prints, stylish cuts, mixes-and-matches yada yada yada are all important, no ritzy clothing in this entire planet could ever replace the importance of our children’s well-being and comfort.
Let us all be more concerned and conscious on what we’re putting on our precious itsy-bitsy angels.
Savvy Wishes from Mrs. Fox, xoxo!
The Savvy Mrs. Fox 