Have you ever wondered what inspired other people’s fashion taste in high school? In the hallways of H-F, fashion is more than just fabric as every identity is stitched into every outfit. From thrifted clothing, to different colored and patterned bags to customized hoodies. 

Today’s high school fashion trends reflect more than popular things that are shown on social media as they reveal values, creativity and awareness of sustainability. One of the most noticeable shifts is the rise of thrift culture. More of the younger generations are shopping at second-hand stores like Depop and more and repurposing older pieces of clothing into something new.

One of the places you can find a world full of fashion connections, and conversations with fashionable people and the latest trends would be in the Clothing Construction class at Homewood Flossmoor High School

Armani Clayton, a sophomore at H-F takes clothing construction. She expressed  that she returns clothes that she doesn’t want and gets her money back.  

“I thrift clothes from Depop and whenever I just get tired of them or don’t fit them anymore, I just resell them on Depop and get my money back. Thrifting to me is like finding my identity or trying out a new identity,” Clayton stated.

For many people, thrifting isn’t just like buying an outfit, it turns into a hobby of finding new styles and buying old vintage things that aren’t being sold or made anymore. 

Fast fashion brands such as Shein have faced criticism for environmental waste and horrible labor practices, according to Yale Climate Connections. 

Yale Climate Connections stated, “These concerns were further amplified by Shein’s third annual sustainability report, released late last month, which revealed a significant rise in the company’s carbon dioxide emissions, nearly doubling between 2022 and 2023.” 

Clearly, fast fashion brands harm the environment. The  younger generations pay attention to that by choosing vintage or second hand clothing. 

Some students feel like they stand out more; no teenager wants to show up somewhere in the same outfit as someone else, so thrifting makes individuality easier to find.  Thrifting contains more clothing that isn’t being sold or made anymore, and it saves more money when shopping. 

But brand influence still plays a big role in shaping a student’s taste in style from major streetwear, athletic brands and trending labels. According to Alyssa Marassa, Clothing Construction teacher at social media is a big influence. 

“I do believe that there are a lot of brands that are very popular and this is often influenced by social media. There are brands that you see worn all around schools like Lululemon, Essentials, Nike and Juicy Couture,” Marassa stated. 

Showing how social media platforms amplify these trends, alongside influencers  and celebrities setting the tone. For some students, wearing certain brands makes them have more confidence.

inside the Clothing Construction classroom, fashion becomes more personal as students who take the class don’t wear trendy clothing, they make them. Students use sewing machines to alter clothes, and experiment with different patterns and textures. 

“The students are very creative in what they wear and how they style their outfits. I have many students that have created their own clothing brands and wear one-of-a-kind pieces,” Marassa said. 

Showing how fashion education allows students to understand how clothes are made and how it makes them think about quality and sustainability, learning how to sew and make clothes in general lets students repair old clothing instead of throwing it away. 

Students involved in fashion have said that designing their own clothing gives them confidence instead of solely relying on brands to define their style. For example, Jasiah Phipps, who makes her own clothing and also takes clothing construction, enjoys making her own clothes or turning clothes that she has bought into something new. 

“It gives me new ideas and it helps me find my style within myself when I make new clothes or redesign clothes I’ve already bought. I think it’s pretty fun and people should give it a try.” quoted by Jasiah

Showing how students can build something that reflects their personality and mood. Ultimately, high school fashion at H-F reflects a generation that values authenticity, whether it’s through thrifted outfits, branded clothing,or handmade clothes. 

Students use clothing to express who they are and what they believe in, so in every stitched and styled outfit an identity is created and on display to be shown, proving that fashion in high school is far more meaningful than it may seem at first look.