-
Designing for Disabilities: The Rise of Adaptive Fashion
Abled does not mean enabled. Disabled does not mean less abled. Khang Kijarro Nguyen Over the past few years, there has been a huge rise in demand for ‘adaptive fashion’. Adaptive fashion is “clothing specifically designed for those with disabilities and chronic conditions.” We’ve seen this on runways, across social media, and in magazines. Previously, there was always a lack of inclusion for those with disabilities in the world of fashion, however, now there is global awareness of making everyBODY feel worthy of the runway. Owning the modelling industry Particularly, there have been a tremendous amount of models who have broke the non-inclusive mould by sharing their disability stories with…
-
Perfectionism: Fashion and its Impact on Body Dysmorphia
Perfection is found in accepting your imperfections Bridgett Devoue The way that we perceive our bodies is vital to our levels of self-confidence, self-worth, and the way that we interact with others. In today’s world, a mental illness known as ‘Body Dysmorphic Disorder’ is an alarming concern. According to the NHS, “Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance”. One of the factors that can trigger the obsession with a certain body part is fashion. Within the fashion industry, there are many aspects that could induce anxiety or worry in certain consumers. For example, if…
-
#Instascam: Influencer marketing and diversity
There is not one standard definition of beauty or one perfect size. Ashley Graham In the fashion industry, lack of diversity has always been a concerning topic. However, in the current digital age of social media, this issue is more apparent than ever. We are constantly exposed to outfit posts that all look very alike, which is often fuelled by something called ‘influencer marketing’. According to Forbes, “an influencer is someone who helps other people buy from you”. #TheConsumerDemandForChange Over the last few years, Instagram has really taken off. Research has shown that there are now at least 1 billion users of the platform each month. Although this is a…
-
Conformity: Break The Rules of Fashion and Create Your Own Mould
The only reason I’m in fashion is to destroy the word conformity. Vivienne Westwood Isn’t it strange how we’re always told to “just be ourselves”, yet we often end up being succumbed to fitting in with the crowd? Well, it turns out that this can actually have a negative impact on the way that we show up in the world. It all comes down to lack of individuality, which in turn can interfere with our levels of confidence and even self-worth. Clothing should be worn to empower us, not to be part of a trend. So, here’s a few to tips on how to break the rules of fashion and…
