Had a customer tell me my design was 'too practical' last weekend

I was at a pop-up market in Austin showing off some utility jackets I made with hidden pockets for tools and phones. This woman picks one up, looks it over for a second, and says 'this is nice but it looks like you designed it for your dad.' She said it like that was a bad thing. Has anyone else had people dismiss functional fashion like it doesn't belong on a runway?

2 comments

2 Comments

bailey.sam1mo ago

Oh man, isn't it wild how some people think practical means boring? I had someone tell me my backpack with all the organizer pockets was 'too much like a hiking bag' like that was somehow an insult. I still wear mine every day and it's the best thing I own.

thea2461mo ago

That bit about "too much like a hiking bag" really got me... because that's exactly the kind of thing I hear too. You gotta take it as a compliment honestly, those hiking bags and my dad's old tool vests are designed to actually work for people who do stuff. I always tell folks that the best fashion is the kind that still looks good after you've used it all day, not just sitting on a hanger. If someone calls it practical, just smile and say "yep, that's the whole point" and watch them walk away confused.