Ever noticed how finding a dress, skirt, or even pants with pockets feels like hitting the jackpot? You’re not alone. The lack of pockets in women’s clothing has sparked outrage online, and the reasons behind it are as old as fashion itself.
Around 400 years ago, pockets began appearing in men’s clothing. Meanwhile, women were left pocketless to maintain a slimmer silhouette. The idea was that carrying items in pockets would create unflattering bulges. But that’s not the only theory.
Some believe that by depriving women of pockets, fashion designers were keeping them dependent and powerless. Others also believe that it’s a ploy to sell more handbags.
The Rational Dress Society challenged this absurdity back in 1891 by sewing pockets into dresses, signaling the start of a pocket revolution. Despite these efforts, the fashion industry remains hesitant to fully embrace functional women’s clothing.
Today, the economic incentive is clear: removing pockets reduces production costs and increases profit margins, sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars globally. This profit-driven approach often leaves women with stylish but impractical clothing.
One Reddit user asks the online community ‘why do clothing brands insist on women’s pants only having fake pockets, when virtually every single woman hates it?’
One user commented in response stating “I worked at a major US fashion company corporate HQ and regularly interacted with designers. Women don’t buy them. They tried it, it hurt sales. Faux pockets outsell real pockets by a large enough margin that faux pockets are the better financial decision.”
So, if you’re tired of pocketless fashion, your best bet might be to support small designers who prioritise practicality over profit.
