Blog Post Two: Themes reflection.

I write this as the Better Lives course draws to a close, whilst doing so I recall all that I have learnt throughout its duration; how this new information will shape the way I think about the fashion industry forever. Better Lives has given me a new insight into the inner workings of the fashion industry.

When one initially thinks about fashion, stylish luxurious garments and glamorous models spring to mind yet there are so many more aspects. Better Lives has provoked a wave of new questions, like where are these luxurious garments being made? Why are the majority of these models white size zero women? Am I unknowingly being emotionally manipulated by brands to buy their clothes? Now that last one may seem a little farfetched, but after listening to Lorraine Gamman’s lecture on Empathy you too will be wondering the same.

The theme that I had chosen to study was fashion activism. I learned most importantly that teamwork is the most important factor, for creative direction requires many people in order to produce something great. Creative direction provides a closer look into brands and their ethos, in order to produce content for a brand you must consider their brand aesthetic. How many brand advertisements does the average person unconsciously come across every day? Do they stop to think about the process that went into making that billboard or that YouTube video; I for one did not, until learning about creative direction. Better Lives has made me think a lot more, past the surface level of words, people, corporations and the industry.

Throughout all the lectures I noticed certain themes were always present, diversity and sustainability. These issues were present in every lecture, even when not directly addressed, this has shown how important they have become to the industry and its growth. I am sure that all I have learnt in Better Lives will linger with me, especially in the way I work, for a lot later to come.