BLOG 2 REFLECTION ON BETTER LIVES THEMES
The better lives unit has as main themes diversity, sustainability and social responsibility which during the course lectures and the panel discussions were deeply analyzed and explored. These three core themes changed my perceptions and way of thinking and developing.
The fashion industry is considered the second most polluting industry in the world; for this reason, and many others, sustainability is a theme that nowadays people are more aware of and interest into change or analyze.
Being sustainable could be buying in secondhand shops, charity shops, using vintage garments or buying from sustainable brands. Sustainability lately, has also made known thanks to activisms and their protests; some brands that include in their style sustainable clothes and are fighting for a better and less polluting world are Vivianne Westwood, Stella Mccartney that during this year collaborated with Central Saint Martin’s university for a sustainable project regarding her latest collection. During this last decade, the theme diversity has become more inclusive and present in our industry; it is not just about skin color anymore, it includes characteristics such as size, gender and age.
In my creative practice, I am looking to embrace different characteristics (e.g. race, age, size, gender, disabilities and many others); I want people to feel appreciated, considered and to be able, through different stories, to recognized themselves and be more aware of their diversity and unique qualities. It is important to understand that people in our world have different needs and when we are designing, creating or writing, we have to consider the diversity and the unique necessities of the consumers.
Looking at these two themes, the better lives program changed my way of thinking and analyzing situations. It helped me clarifying my ideas, my approach and my styling practice which has changed since the beginning of this course. Themes such as diversity and sustainability are some of the most important topics for the fashion industry; thanks to these I understand that with a large scale of knowledge of these two issues, I will be able to develop my work more properly and in an efficient way.
In conclusion this course helped me realize how important is to be aware and even educated to do better, better than the people before us; because no matter who we are or where we are from, there is no doubt true that there are things, even small ones, that we ca do to change the story.