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A Rant A Ramble & An Explanation
Abi Jackson grew up in Daventry and as one of it’s
only two punks had a very sad time of it sitting outside
Merret’s Newsagents on a Saturday morning in her
bondage trousers and stolen toilet chains listening to
The Buzzcocks on the cassette player. She would sit in
her bedroom colouring the Sex Pistol’s anarchy flag
onto an old sheet with biros and attaching together
with hundreds of safety pins. After a disappointing visit
with the careers advisor - where she was promptly
rebuffed for wanting to join the women’s Israeli Army
Abi headed off to art school in Northampton for a stint
of pattern cutting, illustration and fashion.
Leaving art school in the early 80’s she headed off to
Coventry to open a clothing shop called ‘Jitterbug’ with
A DJ called The Rhythm Doctor. An Exciting foray
into the world of music and clothing followed.
only two punks had a very sad time of it sitting outside
Merret’s Newsagents on a Saturday morning in her
bondage trousers and stolen toilet chains listening to
The Buzzcocks on the cassette player. She would sit in
her bedroom colouring the Sex Pistol’s anarchy flag
onto an old sheet with biros and attaching together
with hundreds of safety pins. After a disappointing visit
with the careers advisor -
Abi headed off to art school in Northampton for a stint
of pattern cutting, illustration and fashion.
Leaving art school in the early 80’s she headed off to
Coventry to open a clothing shop called ‘Jitterbug’ with
A DJ called The Rhythm Doctor. An Exciting foray
into the world of music and clothing followed.
Abi’s world has always been fashion but lately she’s been wondering about her definition of
fashion and particularly the world of ‘ high street’ fashion. The things she sees there say
nothing to her about her life. Is she becoming an ‘old fogey’? I don’t think so. She’s had
almost thirty years of working and watching and it’s in the past decade that the carcass of
fashion is slowly being picked apart and hung out to dry.
There are some clothing ranges and fabrics which are of such poor quality that they have a
built in life of approximately 3 months. This is a deliberate move on the manufacturer’s part
to get you to buy more clothing. That clothing will literally turn to rags before your eyes.
You can buy an entire outfit now for less than £20 but everybody looks the same because
they’ve all been to the same shop and bought the same outfit. Even ‘looks’ like ‘Charity Shop
Chic’ have been adopted, branded and copied by the high street so that everyone can look like
a reject from an Oxfam poster. In times of economic recession it’s even worse because
manufacturers will play safe. They won’t risk putting new designs on the rails and will stick to
tried and tested best sellers in safe colours. You only have to stand in a shop doorway and
view the ocean of brow, black and beige before you to see that they’re taking no chances.
There is no simple solution. It does however get easier when you learn to sew and make your
own clothes. There is a freedom in having more ability to express yourself.
fashion and particularly the world of ‘ high street’ fashion. The things she sees there say
nothing to her about her life. Is she becoming an ‘old fogey’? I don’t think so. She’s had
almost thirty years of working and watching and it’s in the past decade that the carcass of
fashion is slowly being picked apart and hung out to dry.
There are some clothing ranges and fabrics which are of such poor quality that they have a
built in life of approximately 3 months. This is a deliberate move on the manufacturer’s part
to get you to buy more clothing. That clothing will literally turn to rags before your eyes.
You can buy an entire outfit now for less than £20 but everybody looks the same because
they’ve all been to the same shop and bought the same outfit. Even ‘looks’ like ‘Charity Shop
Chic’ have been adopted, branded and copied by the high street so that everyone can look like
a reject from an Oxfam poster. In times of economic recession it’s even worse because
manufacturers will play safe. They won’t risk putting new designs on the rails and will stick to
tried and tested best sellers in safe colours. You only have to stand in a shop doorway and
view the ocean of brow, black and beige before you to see that they’re taking no chances.
There is no simple solution. It does however get easier when you learn to sew and make your
own clothes. There is a freedom in having more ability to express yourself.