Theme Reflection
Sustainability, diversity and social responsibility are themes of the Better Lives unit. After attending a number of lectures, my thoughts on fashion styling and production changed a lot. As a styling student and future stylist, I start to think about how these three topics play a positive role in my future work.
Before the Better Lives unit, I have finished the Key Concepts in Styling and Production unit assignment which is creating five styled looks with the theme of sustainably radical. In the initial stage, I did a lot of research on sustainable fashion. It is about nature, being green and eco-friendly as well as environmental protection. So, I took it for granted that these elements needed to show up in my five looks. I bought clothes from fast fashion stores and a great variety of props like plastic and food in order to perfect the styled looks. However, I did not realize how big mistake I had made until the Better Lives unit began. I only cared about my outcome and never thought about in this process, whether my behavior of using plastic met the theme of sustainability. And the worst thing I ever did was throw those props into the trash after I finished my work. Through this unit, I think it is an experience worthy of deep reflection. As a styling and production student, I know that stylist`s duty is creating beautiful images for the fashion industry. Some fashion enterprises often spend a lot of money, manpower and material resources only for some perfect photos, Ignoring the waste of resources, the destruction of the environment. Lacking awareness of sustainability has a bad impact on fashion industry. For me, as a future stylist, I should always keep it in mind and take actions for sustainable fashion. For example, when choosing garments and accessories, consider their materials and fabrics. In the future work, I prefer to use second-hand clothing or vintage or clothes borrowed from friends instead of buying new one. Many a mickle makes a muckle, I believe if everyone participates in sustainable fashion, the earth will become better.
In fashion workplace, diversity is a significant part. In Shahidha Bari`s lecture, it showed that Diversity is the measure of difference in a workplace. It is not about race, is also about culture and physics. I am pretty sure my job will allow me to meet models with different skin color, height and figure from all over the world. Also, I will be exposed to the culture of various countries. What is more, maybe my colleague have different religious beliefs. Facing diversity，my response is having an inclusive heart and embracing it. Most importantly, I think it is all based on a sense of social responsibility. In the lecture by Katelyn Toth-Fejel, there is a quote: ‘Each of us is a social being. we live our lives in a social environment. What we think, how we feel, and what we say and do all are shaped by our interactions with other people.’ (Hughes, Michael, and Carolyn J. Kroehler (2008) Sociology: The Core. 8th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill.) I must always have social conscious, rejecting any form of discrimination, avoiding unnecessary misunderstandings that cause harm to others.
In conclusion, the best inspiration out of the three themes is that take into account the earth, the environment and the society firstly in my work and then, my personal side.