better lives reflection

By Samantha Stone

Before starting the Better lives unit, I had doubts how it would broaden my knowledge of the fashion industry. However, having watched numerous videos from the Better Lives lectures, I can confidently say that they have inspired my outlook at fashion and my emotions towards it. Diversity was one of the themes that invoked curiosity in me and an option I wanted to explore from the get-go. After listening to the lecture on representation by Telecia Kirkland I was immediately drawn in. this lecture exploited the perspective of the black community and how it has been represented in the media. 

Being a woman of colour myself I can empathise with some of the struggles people of different colour or diversity can face on a day to day let alone in the public eye.

Being stereotyped for the way you dress is often one of the challenges that get overlooked every day. 

This lecture has widened my knowledge of the differences between cultural appropriate and cultural appreciation. Although they sound quite similar, they are segregated by a very small point. Which is why now we have the ability to know what is socially right from wrong. One of the things that shocked me the most was when I learnt about outraged marketing. I can’t contemplate how companies; brands could purposely target and abuse minority groups in order for their brand to be spoken about. It just affirms that in society money is more important than humanity and above all.  

To sum this up representation plays a big part of the fashion industry. Being able to distinguish factors such as characteristics or common interest, understanding how different cultures have contradictive views is essential at making sure you do it correctly.