Rusa Biebeda Mijero

About Rusa Biebeda Mijero

Posts by Rusa Biebeda Mijero:

Blog 4: Peer Reflection

⋅
blog post two: the themes

I instantly really liked how you mentioned that you are sustainable in everyday life by sourcing clothing items through second hand means. This would mean that you already have an understanding of the importance of being resourceful and not wasteful especially in today’s age. Seeing how you also source said clothing items for your styling practice in a sustainable manner is really inspirational as I think there can sometimes be a misconception that when it comes to styling we need to use designer items fresh out the store but that shouldn’t be the case. I also liked how you defined the theme sustainability within a fashion context as not letting fast fashion take over. This is so significant especially with the likes of brands such as Boohoo or Pretty Little Thing who are so influential across social media platforms when it comes to promoting cheap clothes that have not been made ethically. This is inspiring as it makes people want to be different and source elsewhere.

Mentioning how you plan on actively looking to change who you cast to be a model for your styling shoots shows the want to be open minded which would make many happy as they have a chance to have the light shun on them if that has never been an option.  Working in a team where everyone is different is also inspiring as it again shows open mindedness and should be a reflection of how all our generation aim to work as too in order to be the change that is needed in not only the fashion industry but the media and others too.

 It was gripping to read about how you planned to engage more with social issues in order to fulfill the theme of social responsibility. This in the context of the world and its situations is bright as it means people facing said issues feel protected and looked after as someone out there cares and wants to bring their situation and those of others to light in order to encourage change. This is an angle I had not considered when reflecting on the themes in my own blog as I mainly focused on how it would be my social responsibility to shed light on ethnic minorities and those who are discriminated against as opposed to relevant social topics. This definitely opened my eyes too.

Overall, I felt you had a great understanding of the themes and their importance.

Liked Liked
No Comments

Blog 3: Project Outcomes and Personal Development

⋅

Before starting my Better Lives project, In and Outside of Fashion, I tried not to have any preconceptions of what we might be learning about; starting with an open mind was important to me. While learning about sportswear brands who in the past were seen as popular, how sportswear had been used as fashion in the past and the different types of people who wore said clothing, my understanding for this niche aspect of fashion, its history and what I knew of it in today’s age grew. It was nice and interesting to see how much fashion when it came to sports changed  from football hooligans idolising their teams proudly through a t-shirt to it being incorporated into rave culture in the 90s and to today where brands such as Fila and Reebok seemed to have lost their elite title after being replaced by the likes of Nike and Adidas.

During the lectures and workshops, we were given the opportunity to research further into the sportswear niche and how it had been incorporated through the ages. Finding out that Burberry had once been seen as a brand not worthy for the middle class or those with money was shocking. It was hard to understand how a brand with such heavy price tags now was once seen as accessible to the working class but it was intriguing to learn about nevertheless. One thing I really took a liking to researching was how sportswear were the go-to garments when it came to underground raves in the 90s. In a way I already knew about the secrecy the raves had and perhaps what would be worn but when I compare that to festivals and even the raves documented on VICE due to the discretion that came with them, the inspiration taken from at least 30 years ago is undeniable. It was fun to also learn about the drug culture back then and the use of the smiley as it made making the connection between today, teens raving at festivals, intoxicated, wearing those vintage sports brands to the times of the past that much more clear.

When it came to using our research and creating a look based on what we learnt whether it be mixing different eras and the use of sportswear or sticking to one vintage brand in order to pay homage to it, it was fun working in a team and letting the creativity flow. We had learnt at the start that with being a stylist comes making a brand for yourself to make it clear what clients you take on and that a good assistant is necessary. Although fascinating to consider for the future, it wasn’t something my group had considered when creating a look. We chose to each have an angle for the look whether it be thinking of the era, the brands, actual sports or the social economic side of things. This allowed our look to be even more creative as opposed to being so strict as if it had been an actual client. It made it more fun and in general made us appreciate the past more as wearing sportswear whether it be casually, for high fashion or actual sports is definitely something still done today by all the ages.

Liked Liked
No Comments

Blog 2: Themes Reflection ‘Sustainability.’ ‘Diversity.’ ‘Social Responsibility.’

⋅

Understanding the themes early on and how they would link to my new practice was important as it would allow me to stay open minded. Prior to starting the Better Lives topic my understanding of the themes was without detail. Sustainability in my house meant reusing long life plastic bags in order to not waste the extra 10p on a new one in the supermarket. We had always recycled but simply because it was a habit to do so. You would think that recycling would make you start to buy things without plastic packaging but that wasn’t the case, I doubt it is the case for many people as it is just something we’re taught without great explanation. Starting University has opened up new ways to be sustainable for me not only through this topic but also how in general we learn the repercussions of waste in most lectures. The constant mention of the term has made me want to be less ignorant with my actions when it comes to my fashion spending habits. Fast fashion is an irresistible guilty pleasure and always has been but I am beginning to see how shopping through second hand means such as the likes of Depop or thrift shops allows me to appreciate my items more and look after them. Wanting to be sustainable in my habits has also made me start investing in good quality pieces that can be used for different occasions rather than buying an £18 dress to go clubbing in that won’t see the light of day again.

Diversity is a term I was familiar with as representation as a whole especially within the media and businesses etc is something very close to my heart. Being Black has only fueled my want to see people of my race on magazine covers, presenting or even as amazing CEOs. Growing up I this was not something I paid attention too at all but with the likes of social media and my increasing desire to want to study the media in school, I soon realised how much of an issue misrepresentation was. It was a struggle finding Black models, presenters or business owners that were not slandered. The same goes for other ethnic minorities. I began to understand the importance of seeing someone look like you on TV not only as someone to look up to but also to feel beautiful in your skin. Exploring this theme in my new practice (styling) means I will be advocating that much more to have a person of colour as the model regardless of who said look was worn by.

When it comes to social responsibility, I simply see this theme as a chance for us in our new practices to simply understand the significance of thinking of the other themes and putting them in place. What it would mean in the greater world, who it would make happy and how it shows change in comparison to the ignorant past. This is something I look forward to exploring.

Liked Liked
No Comments

Blog One: Lecture Reflection Teleica Kirkland – Representation

⋅

At the start, Teleica Kirkland mentioned the points of discussion for the lecture being, what both diversity and representation are, why they are necessary, how can both diversity and representation improve creative output and lastly the effects of when they are not done correctly. At first I started thinking how they would link to sustainability, social responsibility and diversity all of which are the Better Lives themes. In a way I assumed they would perhaps link in terms of how having accurate representation in the fashion industry would ensure that diversity was achieved which in turn would be sustainable as examples would be followed meaning future generations would have the instinct to do things correctly when it came to electing the people most suited for jobs. It would be a company’s social responsibility to achieve this in today’s age to make sure the path is set for those in charge of the future.

Without going too deeply into the definition of diversity or representation I felt that Kirkland explained why they are important very well early into the start of the lecture. “Western culture, popular culture has been predicated on a mono-culturalist ideology” this spoke volumes not only to me but I felt others in the room too as it instantly exposed how wrong representation has been done in the past. By only displaying one race, maybe only one nationality but most definitely only one sexuality, it creates the idea that those who do not pertain to those looks are not to be considered beautiful or maybe even worthy or, in Kirkland’s words, “dangerous or undesirable”. This is obvious not only in the context of fashion where we see time and time again the same models on magazine front covers or fashion brands labelling someone who is very much not plus sized that way but mainstream news has been projecting this discrimination since it began. News stories showing how ethnic minorities are incarcerated over petty crimes while the white male is labeled ‘mentally ill’ after committing homicide in a place of worship indicates who has always been preferred in the eye of the media. 

By shedding light on this flawed ideology, Kirkland allowed us to understand how misrepresented means of mass communication really are and how with our fashion practices we can be the change even if not big at first. I felt that this was so significant as it makes individuals want to be different in the sense that they won’t be part of the discrimination but instead welcoming those that were never celebrated. To me this can be done through sharing posts on social media of beautiful Black people and their businesses that deserve all the accolades or even sharing the models who in the past have not been conventionally beautiful due to disability or body size in order to again shed light on their beauty. My ‘theory’ seemed far-fetched at first but I feel that’s the only way the topic of the lecture would link to the themes and begin to shape our minds as we start a new practice.


Kirkland.T 2020. Representation. Available at: https://moodle.arts.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=400928 Accessed on: 21/02/2020

Liked Liked
No Comments