Part 11/13:
In a lighter but related vein, a report from The Times highlighted the decline of traditional skills like sewing and knitting in the UK. Only 27% of Brits can operate a sewing machine, and just 16% are proficient in knitting. Some attribute this decline to outsourcing manufacturing and craft skills overseas, reflecting changing economic and social priorities.
The loss of these skills is viewed by some as symbolic of broader cultural shifts—moving away from practical trades and into an economy increasingly reliant on imported goods and digital, service-based industries. Others see it as a warning sign of reduced self-sufficiency and the erosion of community-based skills.