‘Clothes are not a functionality-they are an essential way in which we

express our individuality.’

Write an article for a broadsheet newspaper in which you explain your
views on this statement.

(24 marks for content and organisation

16 marks for technical accuracy)
[40 marks]

In this modern society, you can be fined for indecency in public.

Clothes have always been a necessity to the order of the society,
starting off as a way of protecting our modesty, and then transitioning
into an artform, a way of expressing ourselves. One may argue that it is
a necessity to express yourself, however the functionality of clothing is
something that cannot be argued about.

The perception of fashion and clothing, of it being an expression of

individuality, has allowed a whole different sector to be made and
profited off of, and this in itself is an accomplishment. The expression of
oneself is also an achievement, because self-actualization,
understanding your personal potential and needs, is the highest level of
psychological development and this as a whole could benefit us not
only on a personal level, but also as a worldwide community.

Many people have their own views on clothing, differentiating based on

gender and age. Young girls, and partially boys, tend to have a
materialistic view of clothing, wanting to purchase the latest trends
based on their peer’s perspective, while middle aged men and women
purchase their clothing based on functionality and comfortability,
derived from a working lifestyle, which has prevented them from
forming their own personal style. This reason is why so many view the
younger generation’s recent steps in fashion as laughable, because
personal style is not something that they understand.
Clothing has also become a point of oppression over women, allowing
others to judge them based on how they look and how much they are
wearing. This stereotype that has formed over the years, could have
been opposed by the gradual development of creativity in clothing
designs, which would open up the public’s eyes on their perception of
decency.

Clothing has many uses, but the original function was to act as a layer
of protection over us, and today that original use is still needed. The
practicality of clothing and the idea of it, have developed new ideas of
modesty, and laws, stereotypes and regulations have been created
because of it. Some would say that these are negatives of the regular
use of clothing, and the lack of creativity, because this has allowed us to
become stuck in the mindset of the 19th and 20th centuries, however
clothing can truly act as a shield between you and another person. The
functions of clothing is undebatable in this sense.

I agree that society’s ideas surrounding clothing fashion should

develop, and open up many to the idea of creativity when dressing
themselves, and this could also break down stereotypes around
women’s dressing. However, this does not mean that clothing itself and
the practicality of it should be dismissed, as it has for centuries
benefitted the worldwide economy as a source of income, and personal
problems people have.