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Fashioned from Nature
Drawing inspiration from nature is nothing new in the world of fashion. There is probably not a single artist who wouldn’t be inspired, even on a subconscious level, by that which Mother Nature offers. For how can one not be inspired by all that is life itself and what makes us alive? With the coronavirus pandemic, restrictions, uncertainty, oftentimes also loneliness, it seems that as a society, we have regained the understanding of what is important. Connections. Connections with other human beings, the relationship with our own selves, but also our relationship with the life-giving force of nature. What else do we have? The world has changed. Has fashion changed, too?…
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Does the Fashion Industry Have an Ageism Problem?
The discussions surrounding diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry are now commonplace. Yet these discussions tend to rarely extended to include the lack of age varied representation, particularly the older generation. Ageing is a process of life, so why is it that this process, through the older generation, less represented than the younger counterparts? With the lack of representation through advertising and targeting clothing brands, there could be a gap in the market. Fashion can be about self-expression and inclusivity. Fashion cannot be fully diversified whilst a demographic of customers are not seeing themselves represented and reflected within the industry. Is fashion catered towards young people? There is a…
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It’s time to represent everyone in fashion
Since the start of advertising for industries like fashion, there have been specific standards and stereotypes used to present products to the consumer. In the fashion world, these standards and stereotypes are imagined through tall, thin, and predominantly white models. These models are beautiful people in the eyes of society but only represent the minority. It’s time for this industry to open its eyes and represent every person, every body type, every gender and every culture. The dawn of diverse representation In a world where there are so many different types of people, the fashion industry was slow to represent them. It was only in the 2010s when we began…
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(Fashion) Minority Report: Restoring the Fashion Industry.
The newly created ‘(Fashion) Minority Report’ could potentially be the breakthrough we have all been waiting for, in the attempt to start a new movement in the British fashion industry. Within this article, you will find some helpful information on the new campaign and how to get involved! What is the ‘Fashion Minority Report’? A new three-step programme has launched this July, creating a programme to improve diversity within the fashion industry in the UK. (Fashion) Minority Report was developed with the intention to encourage fashion companies to commit to recruiting and promoting diversity within their companies. This will be encouraged to be done easily through the inclusion of members…
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The Gender Binary, Fashion, and Diversity
Fashion and the gender binary Fashion is something that the vast majority of people see every day and this includes those who fall outside the gender binary. From seeing fashion magazines on shop shelves to actively watching what the newest designers put out on the runways, most people in society have some form of interaction with the fashion industry on a regular basis. As such, doesn’t it make sense that fashion campaigns should accurately reflect the diversity of this society? It makes sense that they should. However, this isn’t always the case. Diversity can be defined as the inclusion of people from a variety of social backgrounds, ethnic backgrounds, sexualities,…
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Transgender Models: A History in the Making
The fashion industry is changing its ways to create a normal and acceptable perspective when it comes to transgender models. There are many questions to whether it is a marketing strategy due to the ever-changing and progressive views of generation-Z. However, that topic is for another article. Perhaps you’re asking why this is so important? Well, I will give you a little look into the history and appalling treatment of transgender models before the industry woke up. April Ashley – 60’s Model Born George Jamieson, April Ashley joined the navy at 16. The strain of living as the wrong gender proved too much. Ashley was discharged from the navy after…
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An Inclusive Industry & Halima Aden
What do you believe to be the true means of fashion? Is it the inadequate diversity society has portrayed for generations, or like me, believe it to be the representation of all beings to demonstrate an inclusive industry. With this in mind, do I believe the fashion industry truly embodies all beings? No. Undoubtedly we still have a long pursuit. But the consistent, fierce robustness illustrated by so many, will be the drive that serves the true definition of fashion. Which is absolutely what Halima Aden is forcefully accomplishing to create an inclusive industry. Who is Halima Aden? Halima Aden. Female. Muslim. Refugee. History maker. Executor of stereotypes. So what…
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Social Media Influencers Helping to Drive Diversity
Social media influencers Fashion was advertised in magazines such as Vogue and on catwalks. But since 2018 platforms such as Instagram have taken over, with fashion being presented on social media platforms by influencers. Of Instagram’s total audience, 200 million users follow at least one fashion account. In Britain, 45% of these followers claim they follow fashion accounts to gain inspiration. On Instagram #fashion is mentioned 13 million times a month and #ootd (outfit of the day) has featured in 140 million posts up to 2018. Social media has allowed fashion brands to interact and communicate with their customers. Instagram has become the biggest platform for fashion brands to connect…
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Digital Models and the Diversity Dilemma
Technology has undoubtedly reached new lengths in the fashion industry in recent years. As a result, CGI models are becoming the virtual influencers of our society, amassing a huge following on social media platforms. Cameron-James Wilson is the founder of the world’s first all-digital modelling agency ‘The Diigitals’. Yet, he is also the creator of the world’s first digital supermodel ‘Shudu’, who has gained a huge media presence. Shudu’s symmetrically stunning face and flawless dark skin is overwhelmingly beautiful. She featured as a hologram on the red carpet, and also as part of the Balmain campaign with the CGI French Margot and Asian beauty Zhi. The Balmain press release stated…
