-
Sustainability VS Sustainable Fashion
It has been said time and time again that the environmental panic and economic turmoil of Covid-19 is forcing the fashion industry to adopt a more sustainability-based business model. But what exactly does sustainability mean? The recent popularity of sustainability in fashion has caused for a cultural over-indulgence of a word many know nothing about. Ecologically, sustainability is defined as “the ability to be maintained without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage”, but the fashion industry buzzword, having been thrown around so frivolously, has begun to erode. Sustainability has lost its connection to its true meaning and practical application, to the extent that self-confessed sustainable shoppers might not be…
-
Is the Future of Fashion Really Female?
It is a common belief that the fashion industry is one which is built for women, but controlled by men. While the patriarchal foundation of the industry confirms this, it does not have to stay this way. It is time we start to look beyond what the fashion industry is, and begin to question its future. What does the future of fashion mean to us, and how do we get there? “The Future is Female” This was the primary slogan for Prabal Gurung’s New York Fashion Week show back in 2017. Gurung stated that feminism is not just a trend, but an ongoing movement to showcase female talents and overcome…
-
Who Dresses Us and Why?
When we have confidence we dress to express, but when we are unsure of ourselves, we dress to impress. It is time to say goodbye to the archaic do’s and don’ts of dressing, and instead, learn how to show off our vibrant minds with the equally vibrant outfits to match. Fashion: A fickle friend When you Google “How To Dress For Your Body Type” you probably expect advice on how to find the most comfortable clothes that both flatter your figure and offer a level of comfort. But in reality, this is not quite the case. The “advice” offered from these articles is often a backhanded review of the parts…
-
How Body Image Shapes Our Self-Worth
In March 2019, the Mental Health Foundation together with YouGov asked 4,505 UK adults and 1,118 GB teenagers how they felt about their bodies and the impact that had on their mental health. It was discovered that 68% of the teenagers surveyed felt shame towards their bodies, and over a third of the adults had previously felt anxious or depressed because of their body perception. The main contributor to these alarming statistics is modern-day media. The media platform consistently pushes the idea of a standardised perfect and desirable body and shuns or ridicules those who fail to meet this. The skinny standard While the stick-thin, Kate Moss models of the…
-
COVID-19: Consumer Behaviour and Sustainable Fashion
On the 23rd of March, Boris Johnson ordered a nationwide lockdown due to the growing rate of coronavirus cases in the UK. This lockdown demanded that for the foreseeable future, any non-essential businesses were to be closed to the public, and any non-essential workers now needed to work from home. While supermarkets have continued to serve the public and are struggling to keep up with panic buying demand, other businesses such as those in the fashion industry are struggling to stay afloat in the new climate. The pandemic has led to an estimated 40% drop in average market capitalization from the beginning of January to the end of March, and…
