Reflection on Better Lives lecture – Well-Being
One lecture that really captured my attention was the one on the topic of Well-Being by Jekaterina Rogaten, specifically talking about the concept of well-being, the importance of well-being in fashion and what can be done to promote it in the context of fashion. I think this stuck out to me because, personally, when I think of the many problems that the fashion industry creates in the world, I immediately think of the devastation of nature and the urgent need for change to save our planet. I think of sustainability and what can be done to try and fix the mess that’s been created. The effect it has on our mental health as consumers, designers, makers and retail workers seems so much more personal and so close to home that it’s ironically one of the last things that comes to my mind. I find this interesting because really, when it comes to making positive changes in the industry and trying to “saving the world” everything starts with the consumer.
Rotagen talks about how, as consumers, buying ethically and through more sustainable routes not only contributes to helping shift the world into a generally better, healthier, kinder place, but about the affect this has on the consumer. The term “eudaimonic well-being” is used to describe a lifestyle focused on meaningful experiences, self-realisation, personal growth and a desire for purpose in life which is “bigger” than yourself. I believe the key to shifting away from excessive fast fashion is this exact feeling of doing good with the decisions you make and the products you buy.
The theories spoken about and points made in this lecture helped me look at the fashion industry in a way I haven’t before. For example, Rogaten brings up the “hierarchy of needs”, a concept highlighting the different areas and needs that must be fulfilled in order for someone to have a “happy life”. From meeting our basic physiological needs such as food, water, sex, sleep, to the next level – safety and security, to esteem/ self-confidence and finally self-actualisation – the point where one is able to concern themselves with morality, creativity, and problem solving. When you reach the highest state and have all the other areas satisfied you can afford to care for ethics and the environment and you’re able to produce good artistic work. I find this template fascinating in the context of fashion because when it comes to fashion and clothing, the importance of how we dress can just about be fitted into any of these categories. The many problems within the fashion industry alongside my desire to live a life where my choices are based on my morals and love of nature vs my love of clothes and making them has been an ongoing battle in my life, so looking at the positives and potential/ realistic changes that can be made in the industry from a psychological perspective has been extremely insightful and helpful for me.