Blog 2: Themes reflection
Now that I have started my Better Lives project the themes of sustainability, diversity and social responsibility have really stood out to me and I understand how important it is as a fashion student to bring this knowledge into practice throughout my studies and in work. I have learned how important sustainability is especially through my better lives styling project- In and outside of fashion: Sportswear Fashion language and sub-cultures, a stylist’s job includes collecting and gathering a large amount of clothing which in turn is obviously contributing to the mass consumption of clothing which is a huge factor in pollution. We have explored and tested how interesting and challenging it is to create styled looks with a small amount of vintage and second hand clothes. I discovered it was actually a very fun and creative process. The growth of sustainable shopping has grown as people are more conscious of what they buy. I make a better effort now to buy from vintage and charity shops and use shopping apps like Depop to sell clothes I won’t wear again.
As a public relations and communication student I have become more aware on how fashion brands have become more involved in promoting their social responsibility campaigns through social media and other platforms. This is a very positive thing that brands are also stepping up and people are leaning towards and supporting new ethical ‘slow’ brands as opposed to fast fashion brands that the majority of people would shop at, without being aware of where their clothes comes from and would buy a lot and dispose of a large amount. The current pandemic we are all experiencing has forced everyone in the world to adapt to a new way of living. Personally I think this will have a huge impact on the way the fashion industry will function in a positive way in relation to diversity, social responsibility and sustainability. Some fashion brands have already started using more local suppliers which in turn reduces their carbon footprint. This week The British Fashion Council announced that London Fashion Week will now be digital- and genderless. This will be the first of many developments in the industry and will pave way for more offbeat changes. What I really loved about the Better Lives lectures was that it opened me up to many diverse topics I could research in depth and gain more knowledge on the fashion industry outside of my degree subject.
After delving into further research about these themes I now see public relations and communication in a wider sense and all the things that it affects, not just simply PR. I think this will help me greatly in my future career and really enjoyed reflecting on it.