Blog 1
All of the lectures within Better Lives have influenced the way I think in a positive way, but the one that made me change my idea of the fashion world in society was titled Collaboration by Claire Swift.
The lecturer started by explaining that collaboration is fundamental for creatives because as a group we challenge each other to elevate our ideas and while doing so, we also broaden our world vision and viewpoint. She described which were the principles to effectively teamwork and she supported her speech with theories like Group Genius. In the past I’ve always felt intimidated by group works and having a technical lesson on the dynamics of it made me feel more confident about participating in one.
But what really triggered my full attention was when Claire Swift started talking about collective working in a more personal way, relating it to her experience in LCF’s Social Responsibilities. She introduced us to their project “Rethinking rehabilitation: Connecting communities through craft” that was a design collaboration between LCF students and staff, Bethany Williams, women in Downview prison and a rehabilitation community of San Patrignano. This teamwork aimed to create menswear outwear coats while contributing to a better society by reaching out to these people considered outskirts, and giving them a possibility for a better future by teaching them work skills and empowering them as individuals. The team of Social Responsibility used fashion as a space to raise the voices of people who have never had one or that lost their self-esteem in this dark period. The collaboration wasn’t limited to our university or just to insiders of the fashion world, it was also an occasion for the people who would have never thought of ending up in this industry and were having a hard time to get back on their feet.
We students, thanks to our creativity and privileged position, have the possibility to give a ray of sunshine to these people who find themselves in dark times. Helping communities takes more time than working with people who are already experts in the field, but the end result is more fulfilling for both sides. It’s a life changing experience. The fashion world has been until now an exclusive world, but slowly some designers have started changing it and we can be part of this. Are we willing to collaborate with someone who needs help?
What I learnt is that collaboration is a win win for everyone who participates actively, you just need to find the courage to put yourself out there. When we think of our practice, we have to think bigger outside it. If you want to be a change maker you have to be open to teamwork and also keep in mind the impact that your actions will have on society.