Better Lives Blog 3: Project Outcome and Personal Development
The project I chose is Fashion Illustration: View from the Catwalk. In this project, I was able to learn how to draw fashion illustrations, for example, using various materials, drawing silhouettes, and using recycling to make eco-friendly works. As a result, I was able to get some ideas to create works for the outcomes through this class.
For me, the most interesting theme in the Better Lives is sustainability. In the sessions, I was able to study examples of sustainability, diversity, and social responsibility that designers and brands are working on. As a Hair and makeup for fashion student, I researched The Body Shop when I researched various beauty brands. The reason was that, as I said in a blog post last time, the brand has been environmentally sustainable with simple packaging and products from nature for over 40 years since its inception. In their activities for sustainability, I found a logo called Leaping Bunny. This logo can only be displayed in brands that do not experiment with animals. The Body Shop is the first brand to ban testing on animals among cosmetic brands. Many cosmetic companies have been conducting animal experiments on the most complex human health effects, such as toxicity, which can cause cancer. Typically, there is a test called Draize Test, which is an experiment that locks rabbits in a laboratory to prevent them from moving, and continuously applies cosmetics such as mascara and eyeliner to rabbits’ eyelids to check the stability of cosmetics. Today, of course, many countries ban animal testing for the welfare of animals, but many countries still conduct animal testing.
I have learned about such situation through research and decided to draw illustrations using rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice that are most commonly used in cosmetic animal tests. First, I drew a rabbit on the cardboard. In the class, cardboard was introduced as completely recyclable, free, sustainable, and good for drawing. I sketched a jumping rabbit on the cardboard and then painted the highlights with white paint. I finished the painting by giving shade with a coloured pencil in the dark parts. Second, I drew a guinea pig. This painting was completed by painting the recycled newspaper first with white paint and drying it, then sketching the shape of the guinea pig with paint. Third, I drew a mouse on a recycled calendar. At this time, I finished colouring the mouse by using recycled materials such as sponges, cotton swabs, corrugated papers on one side of boxes, straws, and bubble wraps. All these materials and methods are the ones I could learn from this project. Through this project, I was able to understand the trend of the beauty industry, which is actively working on environmental sustainability, and how important it is to ban animal testing and to develop vegan products. Also, through fashion illustration with Sue Dray, I learned interestingly about how to draw illustrations that I want to express in an eco-friendly way. Based on this, it was also a time when I realized that I could personally try nature-friendly and environmental sustainability, starting with small things.
4th May 2020 @ 5:05 pm
Peer Review
I chose this blog series by Sungkyung Park as I think you have made some really interesting and effective connections to the Better Lives themes, especially the theme of sustainability.
I think you have considered this theme well by focussing in on the cosmetics industry, with strong research and knowledge of the ‘The Body Shop’ brand. Linking back to the Fashion and Wellbeing Lecture, you highlighted the issue that fast fashion is indeed extremely irresponsible in a societal and ecological sense. However, as your blog continues, you geared your arguments to focus around the issue of sustainability within the beauty industry, which supports and enhances your final outcome and gives it some useful context.
I found your final outcome interesting and impactful due to your use of recycled materials which is relevant to the theme of sustainability. It has a strong message about the use and abuse of animals for the gain of the beauty industry whilst still keeping with the tone of the theme through your use of recycled supplies. As a creative, you have used your work to reflect on and highlight this very important issue and have provided some good context and research into the subject.
You show a good understanding of the impact the fashion and cosmetics industry is having on the environment, whilst also touching upon the positive steps being taken to combat animal testing and improving the lives of marginalised communities.
Overall, you make clear, balanced points that cover key aspects and issues regarding these industries and have also mentioned your own personal responsibility and how you can contribute to the fight for sustainability. However, I think you could have touched upon the theme of diversity in a little more detail which would have given you a more rounded account of the fashion and cosmetics industry that you have already so strongly displayed. Despite this, I believe your blog posts have been incredibly well written and delivered and have made me consider these themes even further. I can see from the work you produced that you have benefitted from this project in your personal growth and can see it influencing your own practice.
Link to Sunkyung’s blog: https://1920betterlivessmc.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2020/05/03/better-lives-blog-3-project-outcome-and-personal-development/
4th May 2020 @ 5:06 pm
Peer Review
I chose this blog series by Sungkyung Park as I think you have made some really interesting and effective connections to the Better Lives themes, especially the theme of sustainability.
I think you have considered this theme well by focusing in on the cosmetics industry, with strong research and knowledge of the ‘The Body Shop’ brand. Linking back to the Fashion and Well being Lecture, you highlighted the issue that fast fashion is indeed extremely irresponsible in a societal and ecological sense. However, as your blog continues, you geared your arguments to focus around the issue of sustainability within the beauty industry, which supports and enhances your final outcome and gives it some useful context.
I found your final outcome interesting and impactful due to your use of recycled materials which is relevant to the theme of sustainability. It has a strong message about the use and abuse of animals for the gain of the beauty industry whilst still keeping with the tone of the theme through your use of recycled supplies. As a creative, you have used your work to reflect on and highlight this very important issue and have provided some good context and research into the subject.
You show a good understanding of the impact the fashion and cosmetics industry is having on the environment, whilst also touching upon the positive steps being taken to combat animal testing and improving the lives of marginalised communities.
Overall, you make clear, balanced points that cover key aspects and issues regarding these industries and have also mentioned your own personal responsibility and how you can contribute to the fight for sustainability. However, I think you could have touched upon the theme of diversity in a little more detail which would have given you a more rounded account of the fashion and cosmetics industry that you have already so strongly displayed. Despite this, I believe your blog posts have been incredibly well written and delivered and have made me consider these themes even further. I can see from the work you produced that you have benefited from this project in your personal growth and can see it influencing your own practice.
Link to Sunkyung’s blog: https://1920betterlivessmc.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2020/05/03/better-lives-blog-3-project-outcome-and-personal-development/