Parenting Perspective 

When trends define what is ‘cool’, children often feel that belonging requires constant buying. The fear is simple: If I do not match the look, I will lose the group. Your job is to give your child steady words, small habits, and a values lens so they can maintain friendships without letting fashion control their heart or your budget. 

Naming the Pressure, Protecting the Identity 

Help your child translate the peer script—which often sounds like, ‘Dress like us or be left out.’ Tell your child directly, “Clothes are signals, not your worth.” When they recognise that trend pressure is about the group’s comfort in conformity rather than their actual quality, the sting eases. Reinforce that kindness, effort, and reliability are their real, durable shine in any social circle. 

Teaching Brief Boundary Lines 

Rehearse short replies that effectively end the push without criticising the friends: 

• Boundary Scripts: 

• ‘I am happy with what I have.’ 

• ‘Comfort and quality first for me.’ 

• ‘Not my priority this month.’ 

• ‘I am saving for something else.’ 

• ‘We buy when needed, not for status.’ 

Coach a calm tone and a small smile. If friends persist, use the ‘gentle repeat’: say the same line once, then change the topic or step away. 

Making a Clear Family Plan 

Predictability kills arguments. Agree on the basics together: how many outfits per season, replacement rules (only when outgrown or worn out), and a simple budget. If your child wants a pricier, non-essential item, invite them to contribute the difference from their own pocket money or savings. This maintains their dignity and teaches financial agency without surrendering to market hype. 

Building Inner Anchoring After Hard Days 

If your child is teased, start by addressing the feelings first, then restore the perspective: ‘It hurt. You still chose your values.’ Praise their composure, not just the decision. Create weekly habits that stabilise their identity beyond their clothes: family walks, worship rhythms, gratitude lists, and one quiet act of service. Children who feel deeply valued at home need far less external validation. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam re-centres value on Taqwa (God-consciousness) and sufficiency, not on designer labels or the latest release. While enjoying Halal (permissible) clothing is allowed, chasing status through adornment drains the heart. The noble Quran invites believers to live with balance, gratitude, and freedom from show. 

Ayah from the noble Quran 

The Quran powerfully unmasks the fleeting nature of materialism: 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hadeed (57), Verses 20: 

‘Note that indeed, the life of this world is only: a drama; and amusement; and ostentatious; and superficial bragging between yourselves; and unbridled desire for capitalism and offspring…’ 

This ayah reveals the fashion race as a spiritual diversion: adornment and boasting that fade quickly. Teach your child to ask, “Is this need or noise?” Choosing clothing for function, modesty, and durability aligns spending with worship. When they choose balance over bragging rights, they keep both peace and spiritual purpose. 

Hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned against the danger of losing one’s identity through imitation: 

It is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 4031, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘He who copies any people is one of them.’ 

This Hadith Shareef is not about fashion rules; it warns against letting one’s core identity dissolve into whatever a crowd worships. Explain to your child: following beauty and cleanliness is Sunnah; following vanity and imitation is a trap. Real friends will respect a boundary that says, ‘I choose what serves me, not what rules me.’ 

Help your child carry a simple script and a quiet ethic: enjoy what is Halal, avoid extravagance, buy with intention, and never measure people by price tags. In a culture that sells worth by wardrobe, a believer’s calm contentment is a rare light. Keeping friendships while keeping values is not only possible, it is a signature strength that Allah Almighty honours.