Blog 1: Reflections on Well-Being
As one of the biggest industries in the world, fashion is more than just clothes, it is comprised of design, communication, and business, a massive industry of global influence. Today’s fashion students are the industry professionals of tomorrow and it is crucial to learn about the impacts of our actions on the world around us, to use our work as a catalyst for better lives.
Having explored the three aspects of Better Lives through a variety of thought evoking lectures, one of the talks that stood out the most to me was the Well-Being lecture by Dr Jekaterin Rogaten, as it addressed that of not only the consumers but a wide variety of stakeholder groups. This lecture was very informative as it distinguished the different types of well-being and how they were relevant in our lives. One of the first concepts she mentioned was the idea of Positive Psychology, the study of the positive elements that contribute to happiness or feelings of individual fulfilment. A significant aspect she highlighted was the importance of having a net positive; instead of merely reducing negative factors in order to achieve personal growth. A relevant example of this would be the simple question of “how are you?”, often a common response would be “I’m okay” or “not bad”. Neither of which implies positivity but instead lack of negativity. This process of trying to maximize positive effects and minimizing negative effects leads to hedonic or subjective well-being. Her lecture continues to identify the importance of eudemonic or psychological well being, one that strives for self-actualization through self-acceptance and personal growth, which can lead to a more meaningful life.
By identifying the different types of well-being and the impact each can have on our lives, this lecture also provoked me to consider the significance of well being in my everyday life. Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impacts of fast fashion. The hedonic treadmill theory helps to explain the psychological aspect behind the impulses to buy as people keep consuming more to strive for short thills that come with owning a new garment. After becoming aware of this psychological aspect that fashion businesses often capitalize though the promotion of new styles every season, I am more aware of my role as a consumer. In addition to considering the well being of consumers, that of the producers and labourers of the fashion industry should also be prioritized. In recent years, the importance of well-being has become more prevalent as the widespread of social media raises concerns of mental health in the younger generation. The fashion industry is known for setting beauty standards and social media has become a platform for both positive and negative communication; increases in diversity and representation in media has allowed for greater feelings of acceptance and inclusion. Spreading awareness of the importance of well-being and its influence of those around us and making such changes in the fashion industry is a step in the right direction towards better lives.
References: Rogaten, J. (2020) ‘Well-being’ [Lecture]. Better Lives. University of the Arts London. 1 May.