Have students in groups identify current fashion trends they think might become classics in the future. Challenge them to predict the political, social, and economic conditions necessary for these fashions to endure. Invite students to write reports, present plays, or create models to express their ideas. Ask each student to research a clothing item that has cultural importance and to explain its origins and relevance. Then have each student create a 20-cm quilted square incorporating a cultural design that is personally significant.
Students then combine all the squares to produce a class wall hanging.
Invite students to create portfolios or slide shows of textile items from various culture s, including their own. For each item, have them document the manufacturing method, raw materials used, costs in terms of time and money, and cultural and historical significance. Suggested Assessment Strategies Work with students to develop criteria for their representations of clothing of particular decades or countries. Suggest that they use recycled fabrics or clothing to create textile items that reflect the historical era. Have them submit sketches and explanations of the clothing they construct.