blog post #2
The three themes
Sustainability, social responsibility, and diversity are concerning topics that make up the current fashion industry. These subjects branch out to specific problems that are mainly caused by one human action, which is selfishness. It is crucial for every individual to unignore existing issues, work as a team and aim for a common goal for a better world and industry. As the world progresses, awareness to different kinds of problems is raised amongst every one of us, and we forced to face the reality. We need to set dreams to a utopian world, because I believe if we do not even set goals and dreams, we have nothing to work towards. Sustainability, social responsibility, and diversity issues exist in every industry, but they are especially emphasized in the modern fashion industry.
As a fashion media and communications student, it is a responsibility to advertise and educate the public of how the manmade problems impact the world. As discussed in the Better Lives lecture, media and communications people hold power to manipulate peoples’ minds, and it is time to take this opportunity to send influential messages and encouragements to the public. With my chosen areas, which is public relations and critical design, I learned the importance of more consideration when working on all aspects of fashion. For example, before posting anything to the general public, filtration needs to be put in place in regard to if it negatively impacts the world environmentally, socially, or politically directly or indirectly. In today’s world, the faster excessive information spread, the faster the world dissolves. The common goal to be worked together at is to slow down the process of dissolvement.
A specific example of an updated issue that impacts every citizen on the planet is the current virus outbreak. It is difficult for anyone to move their focus away from the pandemic. Through this daunting time, issues that are scarier than the virus itself begin to emerge. I have noticed how social, political, and economical injustice have increased beyond the impact on the environment solely. When media should be a positive representation during this time, many media such as news choose to catch attention by discriminating cultures instead of communicating proper ideas to combat real problems. It made me realize the lack of justified public relations and media in our world. I believe the only right action to follow right now as a media and communications person is to think of innovative ideas to decrease anxiety levels and spark kindness in everyone’s heart. Being inclusive in writing and other media forms, put effort in to thinking of alternative responses to crises, and utilize technology to advance experiences on remote life and sectors such as online fashion events or shopping. As for myself, I have been brainstorming ideas on how to target safety digitally and physically, such as sewing masks. Researching the themes have been a great benefit for me to think innovatively.