Belen Revenga Lopez

I decided to learn about mask making and politics for the individual project of better lives.

I was introduce to a history background of mask making and the uses of mask developed throughout the years between cultures and politics.

We had to decide on a political event in which the finals design of our mask would be based on.

Initially when I thought about wearing a mask in political protests I linked it to the more aggressive part of this events.

I decided to do as much research as possible by going into museums and reading books and articles.

Mask through the world have been used in battle or as a defensive mechanism against external offences. 

At first it was difficult to set my mind on a specific political cause as my interest on this subject were extensive. I initially thought about linking my project into extinction rebellion as I am conscious about the environment and an advocate for climate change. I also thought about animal cruelty and how some brands such as Lush or organisations such as PETA fight against it and how I could contribute to this cause. 

However I decided to go to back to my thoughts and explore the link formed between political events and mask using: aggression.

I became aware of the meaning of using a mask when protesting a cause, it being the power it holds to be anonymous when fighting about something the government or society may be against.

There are always going to be conflict of ideals, and so there’ll be always protests that don’t end up peacefully and in which force would have to be used. I looked at some of the most famous riots throughout history and noted masks have been used in all of them. In the recent years some masks have become symbols of this fight such as the Anonymous or more recently Dali mask.

For this reason I decided to design a mask of my own that could become a symbol and protection for those in need.

I heavily based the design on Asian masks such as Japanese samurais or the Sri Lanka exorcism masks. I wanted to create something recognisable but imposing. The design itself is demon-like but with bright colours to catch the eye of the audience and be memorable.

I settle on metal for the material to make it as sturdy as possible and a defence for the wearer, it was also designed taking in account the events that end up happening in riots. The eye are protected by a plastic sheet covering the eyeholes of the mask against gas, dust… The mouth is covered with also the possibility of wearing a dust mask to filter the air.

The final design comes in a range of different colours, thinking about giving identity to an object that’s hide the identity of the user.

I have enjoyed this project immensely and would like to see my final design of the mask come to life, knowing it can help those who need it. 

I have through about how all this lectures are going to impact my work from now on.

Thinking about Diversity, Sustainability and Social Responsibility through these two weeks has definitely open my mind towards the future an what actions I can take to raise awareness towards these themes. I have also come to the realisation that I had never put much thought about how these factors affect the fashion industry and our society. As well as realising that I am part of one of the biggest, most influential industries in the world and that our reach on society is immensely. All of these has definitely put some pressure on me, and what I can do to better myself, my work and the industry itself.

As a Hair, Makeup & Prosthetics for performance student I immediately thought about the environmental problems my own sector creates. With the constant waste of products and the uses of chemicals. On the other hand I thought about how it affects the personal well-being and why it can be so positive but at the same time so negative without the proper representation of beauty standards.

Nowadays I believe the fashion industry is becoming conscious of these problems everyday. Creating and designing alternatives of clothing that are ecological and helpful to the environment as well as representing different beauty standards to influence younger generations positively and not in a unattainable way.

However i can’t help but wonder if it is enough, as it seems that the balance between positive and negative representation is still very equal, at the same time I wonder what I can do to make sure it leans towards the positive side.

What I have come to understand is that even if the fashion industry is more conscious, my own sector still lacks of this positive reinforcement and I believe it is of the most importance that it is recognised by the major brands.

Some businesses have made important environmental changes reducing plastic and paper in their products such as Lush, use recycled materials like Aveda or giving back to the planet by donating money which every purchase, becoming sustainable brands. However most major brands are still associated with negative connotations, and i wonder why they don’t raise awareness to this important environmental crisis. At the same time I would like to see more representation of a normal beauty standard. While in fashion we see more and more body shapes, cultures and sexualitys, the beauty 

sector its still predominant an impossible standard of perfection with heavily edited pictured of the beauty products on the face of models.

Better lives has taught me to use my creativity to help and raise awareness in which I believe important. That it is my responsibility to live sustainable and to share my ideals of diversity and environmental responsibilities with society.

I will support more smaller sustainable fashion and beauty brand from now on and try to make my friends and family aware of them and their benefits. As well as showcase in my work a diverse and different approach to beauty and the use of its products.

Better Lives was introduced by multiple lectures throughout two weeks that reflect on three different themes. Diversity, Sustainability and Social Responsibility.Many of these lectures have impacted my mindset greatly and made me reflect on the issues they communicated and how I can, as an individual and one of the future generation of the fashion industry contribute with my creativity to raise awareness.

Many of these lectures have impacted my mindset greatly and made me reflect on the issues they communicated and how I can, as an individual and one of the future generation of the fashion industry contribute with my creativity to raise awareness.

I have enjoyed multiple lectures that have made a great impact on me some of them are: Nature by Kate Fletcher, Empathy by Lorraine Gamman and Representation by Teleica Kirkland.

However the one I have enjoyed the most has been Well-being by Jekaterina Rogaten.

I wanted to talk about this lecture because of then impact it has on my daily life and those whom I love

I deal with my well-being daily as many do, and it isn’t always a positive part of my life as I suffer with depression.

I had never consciously thought about well-being in the way that Rogaten suggested. Never making a clear connection between fashion and psychology, and how this two apparently seem so different but work hand in hand.

I learnt through this lecture the difference between Hedonic and Eudaimonic well-being. The first one correlating more to the fashion industry while the latest has more to do with oneself and self acceptance. It is possible to enhance both however Eudaimonic is more sustainable. As well as fashion consumption and production. How these sectors affect both costumers and employees creatively and their well-being, and how the fashion industry can be harmful sometimes for both. For example the representation of body shape and lack of diversity or sweatshops.

Clothes and fashion create an identity and it can be used as a creative process to increase personal well-being. However how do we draw the line between consumption and well-being as the increase of this will decrease the satisfaction you obtain ultimately becoming a vicious cycle. I have learnt to categorise the Eudaimonic well being needs on a pyramid and how clothes and fashion could be represented as well in this hierarchy of needs.

Rogaten explains how and only when you reach satisfaction you can care about ethics & environment.

I thought this statement is profoundly interesting as my other two favourite lectures fall in this categories: Empathy and  Nature. After some thought I have to agree with Rogaten as it has become clear for me that without taking care of oneself you cant truly take care of others.

Fashion linked to psychology is a subjective judgement on what makes you happy, it being for humans created by humans and it becomes a way of looking at sustainability as a lease or filter in which you look at the fashion industry.

I believe that representation and acknowledgment of well-being in this industry is essential for consumers and employees. It is my duty as part of the future generation of the fashion industry to make sure it is always developing, and reinforce it with positive psychology through creativity to reinforce wellbeing as much as possible and raise awareness of its importance.

Rogaten, J. (2020) “Well-being” (Lecture). Better Lives. London College of Fashion. 19 February 2020