Saturday 19 February 2011

My Campaign to Encourage the Use of Inner Pockets

Hello my name is David Pemberton-Webb and I am here to write about my campaign to encourage the use of the pockets of which are on the inside of coats, jackets and various other garments (hereafter called inner pockets). In this essay, I will talk about the following topics regarding my campaign.
  • The definition of an inner pocket
  • The benefits of the inner pocket
  • The overall aims and goals of the campaign
  •  How you can help



What is an ‘Inner Pocket’?


According to the reputable website Wikipedia, the definition of a pocket is a bag- or envelope-like receptacle either fastened to or inserted in an article of clothing to hold small items”. After studying this definition, I can conclude that an inner pocket is a typical pocket of which is concealed to onlookers on the inside of the said clothing. The British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) claims that the initial idea of the inner pocket was first conceived by cautious people who intended to “deter the pickpockets by making the theft more difficult.” Those men and women were geniuses.

The three main types of the inner pocket are:
  • The Inner Breast Pocket –Usually found on the inside of a gentlemen’s jacket, this pocket is often assigned to the task of carrying wallets or perhaps passports and other similar legal documents
  • The Ticket Pocket –This pocket is perhaps one of the more controversial ones and perhaps does not fall under the term ‘inner pocket’. The reasoning for this is that it is positioned inside an outer pocket. However for educational reasons, I will let it slip by. As the name suggests, the ticket pocket was originally used to hold tickets for easy access. In these modern days, the ticket pocket is still used to keep tickets but it is not uncommon to find similar documents such as business cards or perhaps other light objects
  • The Coin Pocket -Much like the ticket pocket, it is debatable as to whether this can fall under the definition of an inner pocket as it lies inside another outer pocket. Often found on jeans in the right hip pocket, this tight pocket is usually used to store coins. It is clever because it keeps the coins separated from other objects and provides easy access to them

                
After intensive research, I have found evidence that would suggest that most inner pockets can be found on a variety of both formal and informal jackets and indeed coats. It is rare to find pockets similar to inner breast pocket on t-shirts, shirts, trousers and underwear, but it is not unheard of.


The many benefits of the Inner Pocket:
          
      
Undoubtedly, there are many, many benefits of the use of inner pockets. I am however sad to confirm that many of said benefits go largely unnoticed to the common person.
               
One major benefit of the inner pocket is that it provides major protection against most pick pockets and various other thieves. This can only be a good thing! This is mainly due to the location of the pocket itself; as inner pockets are mostly placed on the inside of the front of the jacket, it is difficult for a pickpocket to stealthily gain access without the proprietor of the garment noticing. For this reason, many thieves such as the pickpocket often do not take the risk of breaching the inner pocket.
                
A second benefit to the use of the inner pocket is a rarely noticed one, even by the fans of the inner pocket. On a cold day when you are out shopping, you would be unwise to have gone out not wearing a jacket or coat to keep you warm. However, jackets and coats do not keep your hands warm and as gloves can be inconvenient as they can handicap the use of your fingers. Thus, if you have ventured out without gloves, your hands will be cold. Now, imagine this: You are about to reach into your inner breast pocket to locate your mobile phone/cell phone. You brush your hand against your shirt which is warm due to the protection of the cold provided by the jacket. You locate your mobile device and return your now warm hand out. That warmth is glorious and you would not experience it if you were to keep your mobile/cell phone in an outer pocket, and I urge you to try it out when it is next cold.
                
Moreover, the inner pocket is incredibly useful to conceal and hide objects, legal documents or other papers and more from your enemies or other people. This brilliant ability can be used in a variety of instances. For example, whilst out shopping with his girlfriend, he could quickly pop out to the jewellery shop to purchase a ring of which he could propose to her with, concealing it in his inner pocket until the time is right. Alternatively, being given the task of delivering a top secret and confidential letter or document to a specified contact, by using the inner breast pocket one could conceal said document from view to enhance its security. Not only this, but think about how cool and hip you would look when reaching inside your inner pocket and revealing said document.
                
Although many people may arguable that inner pockets are unsightly and unfashionable, I argue that they are not for the following reasons: Firstly, as the name states, inner pockets are well, inner. This single fact alone contradicts the argument that inner pockets are ‘unsightly and unfashionable’ as they are unseen and hidden from view. Surely this alone means that inner pockets are not subject to the ever-changing and strict laws of fashion and should always be present in garments.


The Overall Aims and Goals of the Campaign and How They Will Be Achieved:


The main goal of this campaign is to raise awareness of the inner pocket and its many benefits of which largely go unnoticed. After raising awareness, we aim on largely increasing the amount of inner pockets until the ratio is 2:1 of inner pockets to outer pockets.

The steps we will take to actually raise awareness are simple ones. Starting off small, we intend on establishing a ‘fan base’ of followers. This will give us gravitas and perhaps a larger amount of power of which we may be able to use to manipulate the media. To achieve a larger fan base, we will create a twitter account and also start a facebook campaign as there is a large amount of evidence to suggest that these ALWAYS work. We will also put up posters and pictures of inner jackets on the lampposts of heavily populated cities to raise awareness as this can only help. We will ask for donations in order to make and publish a series of television advertisements promoting this campaign

After we have gained a large fan base, we will start an online petition and aim for around 10,000 signatures. We will then send a letter to major clothes manufacturers detailing the aims of this campaign and send them a copy of the petition. We hope this will result in them addressing the issue by adding more inside pockets for us, the public to take advantage of.
                
Of course, there is the slight possibility that the fashion industry will decline our proposition. In the event of this happening, we will start another facebook campaign and twitter account as well as another petition directed at the governments of major countries intending to get them to outlaw outer pockets. This ingenious idea will force the fashion industry to manufacture clothes with inner pockets and we will achieve our main aim!


How YOU Can Help

                
In this section, I answer the question you are dying to ask: What can I do to help? There are many ways you can do this; small and large. The small things that can be done, are writing a well-documented article on Wikipedia. This simple step that may seem insignificant may gain at least one supporter, which would make it incredibly worthwhile. Alternatively, starting a public protest amongst you and your friends could do wonders for the campaign, however I must ask for these protests to be peaceful as we do not want negative press coverage. Hosting ‘Inner Pocket Parties’ can provide immense fun, as well as aiding the campaign.
              
Even smaller deeds can help promote awareness. For example, telling work colleagues or friends about this campaign is encouraged, as well as running down the street in your underwear exclaiming the benefits of inner pockets will certainly gather attention.


1 comment:

  1. You have already convinced me!
    Problem is, women clothes don't usually have inner pockets, I suggest promoting this in some way as well

    ReplyDelete