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Subcultures, Their Communities and Political Change
A subculture within fashion is a group of people categorised together based on their appearance and clothing, which is normally at variance to mainstream culture at the time. Because you’re among supporters of a common cause, being a member of a subculture provides a sense of community and belonging. Weather that be a political movement or a protest against conforming to popular culture, subcultures have been a key driver in creating communities in fashion. The Punk subculture The majority of subcultures throughout history have been about creating a sense of identity and community for a group of people, without a political catalyst. Punks, Goths, and Grunge are just some of…
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Ostomates are Not to Be Forgotten in Fashion
Inclusivity within fashion has grown at a rapid rate over recent years. Slowly but surely, disabled people are being catered for too. Vast developments are being made in adaptive clothing and its becoming more easily accessible from various dominant brands. However, there is still room for progression in clothing made specific for different disabilities, one of which being ostomy bag wearers. Over 6,400 people undergo ostomy surgery every year. Most clothing that caters for ostomy bags is only available via prescription or at an increased cost. Thus, the market is unsaturated with significant demand. So, why have fashion brands decided not to enter this sector? Shopping when disabled or, more…
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Is Fashion Fuel to the Fire of the Mental Health Crisis?
From the outside, the fashion industry looks full of luxury and glamour. It’s an industry many of us strive to be a part of in one way or another – whether that be by buying in to new trends, studying fashion at university, following fashion influencers on social media or working in the industry itself. However, the harsh reality of this is that we have all become subject to the negative effects to our mental health, despite turning a blind eye. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 4 of us are affected by poor mental well-being. People that work in the fashion industry are 25% more likely to…
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When Will Adaptive Clothing Become the New Normal?
The fashion industry has made noticeable progress with its level of diversity but the disabled market is still significantly underrepresented. From catwalk shows to marketing campaigns to shopping on the high-street, disabled consumers are often forgotten, despite the fact they want to be just as stylish as the rest of us. Over 13.9 million people are disabled in the UK alone, of which many have significant spending power. So why have nearly all fashion brands chosen to ignore this huge sector of the market? With consumers becoming more woke and only aligning with brands that offer diversity and inclusivity, adaptive clothing could soon be crucial to a brand’s success. The…
