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Self Expression and Belonging in the Digital Age
A look at how social media has facilitated new digital fashion communities Community and fashion have become closely linked. For many, fashion, and the clothes we wear are a way of outwardly expressing personalities and interests. From this, subcultures and self-made communities within the fashion industry formed and continue to flourish. What are fashion subcultures? Subcultures in fashion generally refer to groups, or communities, of people who dress a specific way, unique to the subculture. Subcultures can often be easily identified, as the clothes worn by people within the subgroup, often emulate a specific style. There are a multitude of subcultures within fashion. A few well-known examples of these within…
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Modern Subcultures and Communities of Generation-Z
Fashion is an industry based around culture and communities. Designers become inspired by their surroundings and in turn their clothing is a representation of the cultures they immerse themselves in. But there are also communities which form based around fashion and common interests within a way of dressing, whether that be due to influences from external sources or their own desire to stand out. These are subcultures. Subcultures often form in opposition to mainstream culture, and as a form of self-expression. There have been a variety of subculture communities emerge over time. Some have even came to define the decades they emerged in, such as the 1960s and hippie fashion.…
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The New Digital Fashion Communities on Social Media
Community is sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common. In the fashion industry, the term ‘community’ can mean many things. As a narrative it is always changing. Community is found in the design and making of clothing and in the social aspect of fashion events. In the digital age the term has taken on a new meaning, as social media has facilitated new digital fashion communities. We are more connected now than ever, to each other and to our hobbies and interests. Before apps like Instagram, fashion communities could be found through blogging. Bloggers shared their opinions on fashion with a highly-engaged audience on a singular platform. However,…
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Fashion and Technology: The Rise of on Demand Fashion
Is the advancement of technology positive or negative for the fashion industry? Technology is a prevailing element over the majority of aspects of modern living. The advancement of modern technology over the last few decades has made a significant impact to the lives of millions. It has affected every industry; the majority of the population use it daily and it has changed the way the world operates. The fashion industry has been no exception. It has revolutionised the way we shop and consume products and how we share our experience with others. Smartphones, 3D scanning and easily consumed platforms have all helped the development of the industry. The significance of…
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How Is ‘Retail Therapy’ Causing a Need for More?
We have all been there, going shopping to feel good on a bad day. This could be defined as ‘retail therapy’, a mechanism to give us temporary fulfilment by purchasing on impulse, and of course, it makes us feel good! Consumerism encourages the idea that happiness can be bought. This is a very problematic concept. In turn, we drift from our ‘true needs’ and turn to ‘false needs’ for temporary fulfilment. Retail therapy is much more of a common outlet than you may think, many of us are guilty of it, even if we are not conscious. Take a look at your last online haul, what item did you really…
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Is Instagram Detrimental to Society?
Instagram is one of the most used social media applications in the world. It launched in 2010 and within two months it already had one million registered users. As of 2019, they reached one billion users. I got Instagram at the young age of twelve-years-old but at that time it was just images of your food and random things with awful filters. Now, it has transitioned into a billion-dollar industry with people craving for likes. You get users being paid to promote everything from diet teas, waist trainers and beauty products. The promotion of these products promotes a false reality fed to users. They show all the good parts of…
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Cancel Culture: Isn’t it Time We Cancelled it?
In a time where mental health has become such a widely discussed topic, why does cancel culture still exist? It seems ridiculous that we live in an age where so many people struggle with mental health issues, yet it is a trend to tear people down online. To add to the irony, more than ever people are using social media to advocate for mental health awareness. Yet influencers and creators are forced to take time away from platforms to take care of their own mental health. It is slowly becoming accepted that social media is a toxic space and criticism is normal. This criticism, as most of us have probably…
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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…
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Mental Health of Consumers’ When Marketing
When brands market their products they have to find a balance – social media is a main point of stress for young people while also being a main communication channel for brands. Young consumers value mental health and expect brands to engage with their emotional needs. Brand marketing strategies Brands can mitigate mental health through their marketing strategy by promoting positivity and wellness. Mental health is becoming easier to discuss as many people and brands have accepted that mental health is an issue people need to talk about. Social media has been criticised for being one of the causes of mental health because it is seen as promoting unrealistic images…
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How Trends Can Be Toxic to Our Mental Health
Social media is the largest, most popular and global network of all time. With 3.81 billion active social media users around the world, almost every brand uses social media as their platform base. First thing of a morning and last thing at night, a lot of people tend to scroll through social media apps. Looking at new trends or comparing ourselves to others is the norm. However, this could lead to users struggling with their mental health. Mental health Social media can play a huge part in affecting a person’s mental health. Instagram in particular can have a negative effect. Due to Instagram predominately being a picture app, this can…
