Blog Reflection 2
Sustainability, Diversity and Social Responsibility are not just themes being examined in the Better Lives unit, but also ways of life which are being adapted globally by every sector of both business and art. Which is why it is so essential for me, as a fashion student, to understand and apply these themes in my work as I move forward.
Fashion as a topic is so vast, with divisions of creativity, business and politics all within it, which is why, as a fashion student, it is so easy to employ all three of the Better Lives themes to my practice. For example, my Better Lives project of Fashion Illustration gives me the creative freedom to influence a blank canvas with my own thoughts and beliefs through illustration. Where before I’d only focus on how ‘aesthetic’ or ‘trendy’ my illustrations looked, Better Lives has influenced me to refer to other designers who’s work reflects sustainability, diversity and social responsibility as well as utilise these themes in my own art work. Creating a fashion illustration which contains an important message about the environment or human rights feels a lot more gratifying than one which only serves aesthetic purposes.
During COVID-19, the Better Lives themes are extremely relevant and applicable, especially for me personally. Utilising the extra time that quarantine has given me, I have expanded on the research I had previously conducted in Better Lives workshops. This includes examining other sustainable brands and the messages they seek to convey, including Tropic of C, an eco-friendly swimwear line by model Candice Swanepoel, who’s artwork has had a massive influence on my own. Furthermore, visual research for Better Lives also led me to different sustainability campaigns by various designers, including “There She Grows” by Stella McCartney, a campaign promoting cruelty free clothing in support of Amazon rainforests. This had a lasting impact on me as it made me think that, as a Fashion Journalism student, in the future I too can use different journalistic platforms such as videos, writing and podcasts in order to practice and convey important messages of sustainability and social responsibility. I have the license to allow my future work to reflect the themes introduced to me by the Better Lives unit, which is an empowering feeling.
In terms of diversity, this can also be incorporated into my writing as a journalist in many ways. As a writer, having the choice to focus on a marginalised or ignored community or person and give them a platform through my writing is something I aim to do. Bing able to influence readers with ideas of diversity through my words is extremely important in shaping the future I want to work in.
In conclusion, sustainability, social responsibility and diversity will definitely play a large role in my work in the future, changing how I approach certain topics and what I write about as the fashion industry, and the world in general, moves towards a future which adapts these themes in their work and lifestyle.