Bing Li

Reviewed for: Dhairya Patel

Link: https://1920betterlivessmc.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2020/05/08/blog-post-2-themes-2/

Off the bat, Dhairya mentions her field of study, which is Hair and Makeup, and the issues associated with cosmetology. In her first paragraph, she explains the change and development in the cosmetics industry on sustainability. She supports herself well as she list examples of companies that are becoming successful on sustainability, like L’Oréal, Circumference and Rituals. However, she quickly transitions to the topic ‘diversity’ without continuing to mine deeper into sustainability. She briefly mentions the improvement of cosmetic companies and brands accepting diversity nowadays, such as the inclusion of more shades for concealers and foundations. I think it will be more beneficial for her if examples of those brands are given, like Fenty Beauty. Of course, emerging and smaller scaled brands that do so can also be included. 

Dhairya shifts to ‘natural hair discrimination’ that still exist around today. I think this is interesting because this type of discrimination does not have a fair weight in the discussion of diversity and inclusivity. The following two sentences explain how natural hair discrimination affect the competition between large and small cosmetic companies, and how this can be worked through by the choices of hair and makeup artists on the diversity of models’ hair colour and quality. Again, these information hooks me to learn more, however there is a lack of further research and more information to be provided here. After finishing diversity, Dhairya transitions to the role of social responsibility in the cosmetics industry. Personally after reading her text on this subject, I feel that her paragraph on ‘social responsibility’ is short but refined. From her text, I agree that while there are many options of sustainable brands and products for consumers, some still cannot afford the high prices set for being ‘cruelty-free’ or ‘environmentally friendly’. 

There should be alternative methods for cosmetic brands to be socially responsible without the raise of prices. In Dhairya’s last paragraph, she introduces details on her unit project, which I think it should be placed in the first paragraph, if necessary. It may be better for her to explore more and summarize her previous points. Overall, I think she has equally mentioned the three themes in the Better Lives unit. The only minor issue is that the grammar in a few places can be improved, although it is not overly distracting. After all, I think Dhairya’s points and ideas in this text is understandable and a good start to research further for a better industry and world for everyone.

Better Lives project

I am grateful about the option to be able to choose Critical Design as my project. As I am studying Fashion PR and Communications, and I think Critical Design is an area that will strengthen my existing knowledge on media and communications and develop my critical thinking on fashion. I have also been considering about Fashion Media and Criticism as a MA course to progress after undergraduate, therefore this is a great opportunity for me. With minimum knowledge on critical design, the unit has introduced me that there are endless possibilities of creative ideas on solving global issues. I feel limitless and imaginative given the well-chosen themes. I decided to expand my ideas on gender inequality as part of social inequality. Gender inequality has been an ongoing issue and I believe that it is time to disappear in the near future. A trailer is asked for the critical design team to each create to project what the future may look like for the issue.

I am very interested in video shooting, so I immediately started to brainstorm ideas on producing a trailer surrounding gender inequality. It is a broad topic, so I want to create an outcome that is based on my personal experience and secondary research. First, I began looking into the different idealism on women between different cultures. For example, some cultures are matriarchy from way back in history until the current days, while others believe women can never be natural leaders. Historical traditions are often kept in a culture regardless of time, such as if a culture puts men as superior from early history, it is likely that this value still exists today at some rate. This provides me with an idea to shoot a trailer that communicates about the rate of evolvement, with fashion embedded in it too. Throughout the history, fashion shows inequality and stereotypes of genders, class, and values. Like it is difficult for a woman who is different in style and in the lower class to be fully respected. This is common for any culture across the world.  

Based on my own experience, I have heard phrases such as ‘only men can lead the world, just accept it and give up’. Even worse, I have been told that myself that during the process of working towards my ambitions, and I want to implement these voices in my trailer. The voices of all genders should be heard too because I am not supportive of any gender being superior, instead, I am looking for gender equality. I tried different versions of storyboards and test shoots, such as a story of a man abusing a woman with a covered face, and realized it was his mother afterwards. I also tried to film a woman killing a man because of hate, and realizing that it was really herself, because there is masculinity in every woman’s body and mind. Stereotypes confuse all genders, and it should no longer be a surprise when men shed tears, or women weightlifting. It is great that Women’s Day is celebrated, but Men’s Day should be widely encouraged too. As the world is becoming limitless, different genders should be celebrated and not limited.  

The three themes

Sustainability, social responsibility, and diversity are concerning topics that make up the current fashion industry. These subjects branch out to specific problems that are mainly caused by one human action, which is selfishness. It is crucial for every individual to unignore existing issues, work as a team and aim for a common goal for a better world and industry. As the world progresses, awareness to different kinds of problems is raised amongst every one of us, and we forced to face the reality. We need to set dreams to a utopian world, because I believe if we do not even set goals and dreams, we have nothing to work towards. Sustainability, social responsibility, and diversity issues exist in every industry, but they are especially emphasized in the modern fashion industry.

As a fashion media and communications student, it is a responsibility to advertise and educate the public of how the manmade problems impact the world. As discussed in the Better Lives lecture, media and communications people hold power to manipulate peoples’ minds, and it is time to take this opportunity to send influential messages and encouragements to the public. With my chosen areas, which is public relations and critical design, I learned the importance of more consideration when working on all aspects of fashion. For example, before posting anything to the general public, filtration needs to be put in place in regard to if it negatively impacts the world environmentally, socially, or politically directly or indirectly. In today’s world, the faster excessive information spread, the faster the world dissolves. The common goal to be worked together at is to slow down the process of dissolvement. 

A specific example of an updated issue that impacts every citizen on the planet is the current virus outbreak. It is difficult for anyone to move their focus away from the pandemic. Through this daunting time, issues that are scarier than the virus itself begin to emerge. I have noticed how social, political, and economical injustice have increased beyond the impact on the environment solely. When media should be a positive representation during this time, many media such as news choose to catch attention by discriminating cultures instead of communicating proper ideas to combat real problems. It made me realize the lack of justified public relations and media in our world. I believe the only right action to follow right now as a media and communications person is to think of innovative ideas to decrease anxiety levels and spark kindness in everyone’s heart. Being inclusive in writing and other media forms, put effort in to thinking of alternative responses to crises, and utilize technology to advance experiences on remote life and sectors such as online fashion events or shopping. As for myself, I have been brainstorming ideas on how to target safety digitally and physically, such as sewing masks. Researching the themes have been a great benefit for me to think innovatively.     

Julia Crew, Power.

“When we think of fashion, we tend to be drawn to its positive side. However, fashion also has a dark side.” (Crew, 10.02.2020). Power, in the fashion industry, is an example of an important issue that is not as widely discussed as topics like the environment. It is important because the role of power controls not just the fashion industry, but the entire world. It shocks me every time I am told that there is only 62 ‘very rich’ people on this planet, but their wealth equals half of the population on the planet. The fashion industry allows individuals to become extremely wealthy, while slavering others at the same time. The lecturer mentions that the huge gap is shown as a CEO only needs four days to earn what a garment worker may earn in a lifetime, which is a powerful piece of information.

I also learned that power lies beyond the high positions at fashion corporations, such as the media, a powerful method to control how the public thinks. I believe that it is crucial for fashion media professionals to advertise the right information and guide consumers on to the right path. Celebrities and influencers are also responsible for promoting sustainable fashion brands to their audience. Of course, consumers hold power too, small decisions such as donate and upcycle clothes can have a great sustainable impact. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Meed). Fortunately, the fashion industry is becoming more and more of a focused discussion, and more awareness have been shown than before.

“Power is control, freedom, individual, collective, big, and small.” (Crew, 10.02.2020). I think we as contemporary consumers hold individual and group power to improve the fashion industry, however, many of us still ignore and take the power of free choice for granted. I also believe that aggressive powers, need to be replaced with empathy. As consumers, we need to understand the system better and reject ‘pale, male, and stale’. Holding more freedom than other groups, we can show support by physically joining a protest, or digitally signing a petition as mentioned in the lecture. Additionally, as fashion students of different specialisations, whether it is design, media, or business, we need to be responsible and be a positive representation for change. Regardless if it is a consumer, influencer, economist, business owner, or the media; more transparency, human rights, workers’ rights, and higher minimum wage should be our common goal to be collaborated at. We hold the power of choosing how to act.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” (Nelson Mandela)