Modular fashion brings DIY to Childrenswear

In a bid to get kids thinking sustainably about their clothes whilst also learning practical, crafty skills, Scottish brand Almaborealis’ latest project, Puzzleware, allows them to sew their own pieces in a gamified, yet educational way.

Featuring boldly colourful, interchangeable pieces and a blunt, oversized sewing needle, Puzzleware kits use tactility and playfulness to introduce a new generation (aged 4 to 12) to valuable skills like sewing and knitting.

Kids can construct and reconstruct their own garments according to their preferences – allowing them freedom of expression in the creative process, while also teaching them the art of handcrafting and the value of material possessions. The hope is that arming youngsters with this know-how will benefit not only their personal development but the wider ongoing struggle to educate consumers about sustainability.

The individual pieces are expandable and can be joined onto new ones as the child grows, prolonging the amount of time the product remains in use. The Scottish lambswool is also 100% biodegradable, so the project does a lot to appease burgeoning concerns around the rapid consumption of kids’ clothing.

This focus on craft and skills development is a great evolution of the Analogue trend, where we saw domestic activities and DIY initiatives thrive amongst housebound consumers. Gen Z teens were quick to adopt the back-to-basics feel of DIY fashion, and by keeping Gen Alpha well-versed and interested in practical skills, customisation, and self-expression through art and design, fashion’s future may be a crafty one.