From Marie JOST www.alivenotdead.com/mariejost
An Open Letter to Fashion Designers and self-styled Fashionistas
It is good to see celebrities taking this seriously. Time that the culture of conspicuous consumption get a reality check. Pauline, I know you work in the fashion industry, so don't take this personally, but I feel like in the last 7 or 8 years the industry has gone completely off the rails. All of this focus on having the IT bag or the IT shoes or wearing the right edgy designer, the silly one-ups-manship, the toxic footwear, the ridiculous prices and the overall snobbery that permeates not only the creators but the consumers (the very, very visible and vocal consumers) of fashion is so far from the vision presented in this video. I have to admit that I feel a certain amount of smug satisfaction that many of the top snobs based in and around New York City have seen their high-paying jobs evaporate like the morning dew or, if they still have jobs, have lost those obscene multimillion dollar bonuses. It is time that everyone take stock of what really counts in life, for themselves and for the planet. I am not sure a $1,800 (US) pair of shoes or a $10,000 day dress, or a $5,000 bag are the answer. Design cycles resemble the REM cycle of a hamster these days and change monthly. We are encouraged by the industry to continually buy new and ever more expensive clothes to stay "in style". Styles are suited to only a single body type and age. Women of all ages want to look attractive and confident in their clothing. Give those of us over 40 something we look good in, whatever the price point (and that suit what is now referred to as Plus-sizes--anything over US size 6!). Designers, use your creativity to create inexpensive clothing lines that will benefit the majority of consumers who realize that we will never spent $1,000 on a dress or $500 on a pair of shoes. Unless, that is, your goal is to fuel the ridicule of those who are not young, thin and rich that our society so delights in. Everyone has to buy clothes (unless we are an Indian in the Amazon or an African Bushman). This is an opportunity for designers to make a real difference in the world. Design clothing for the people, all people. Help everyone look their best and feel good about themselves, whatever their size, shape or age.
http://www.alivenotdead.com/paulinec/FASHION+thoughts.-profile-485178.html
The Fashion industry is one that i have had a lifetime of a love and hate relationship with. It's full of fulfilment as it is cynical and empty. I like to keep the point of view simple. Fashion is there to give joy as it is to help you feel good and be functional so you are not running naked down the street.. unless you really want to. True that it doesn't neccessarily fulfill all of us without a priceticket attached for the latest IT item... be it clothing or the IPHONE. But it's human nature that we all desire more..and the IF ONLY I HAD syndrome or we want to look/ feel great for whatever reason. It's a crazy vicious never ending circle of need and desire. A basic human instinct. There is a psychology to it and IT IS a business.
With the Vid. these role models to many are reiterating the basic important fundamental DO's that we should be doing just to respect one another and the environment in which we live in and amongst. Some of these actions are so basic that generations forget.
For myself - the latest fashion itself is not so important as seeing a beautifully designed piece that is crafted with skill which to me should always be timeless. I got lucky and loved the craft of it and decided to make 3D things called clothes. I love shape/ line/ form. It's an art not so different from other disciplines. I live in clothes that i feel comfortable in. Some might think odd or stylish... but for me - i don't really care - i live by the basic rule - that you gotta feel comfortable to face each day, the clothes are a tonic...It can be as simple as waking up and throwing on your favorite pair of jeans.. or a dress/ top in a color that uplifts your spirits for the day or if you want - you can run around naked.. whatever tickles your fancy. Sure for some of you out there.. fashion is a complete blank. My attitude and personal style might not fly in industries whereby - daily clothes becomes a "uniform" but is necessary and at the same time i do have my own personal style loves and desires which comes at a price of appreciating an artform, which some might think off the wall.
True that also that the fashion industry should support bodies of all ages, shapes and sizes...there are brands out there that do...it comes at a price either becomes mass, cheap and undesirable or because it is not so mainstream there is the cycle in the cost of make that makes an item more expensive. Everyone wants to make a profit. Some target markets are more of a niche. It cannot be explained or reasoned as why simply an advertising image of a lean voluptuous, young women is going to look more convincing for sales to the masses than an older fuller woman..or an jeans on a weighty grungey guy is not going to look as hot as a young dude with a six pack. It's the image that the industry - whether it be cosmetics, fashion, fitness portrays to give us all something to work towards...mind play.... personally - i look the other way and have been in the industry so long.. i don't really notice the face anymore.... eeeK..even worse.. i am just looking at the clothing on the body and how it's styled out! I do think it is great that some fashion companies are using more mature models to represent and at the same time it could also be a face that we have spent the last 20 years looking at and has kinda grown with us that we can relate to. This is a much smarter and more real approach.
However aside of this - fashion is an industry which can help to pioneer and support important causes as there is already an audience. It can be a strong voice and initiate change. There is change going on in the fashion industry worldwide to be more ethical and responsible at every step of the way from the moment that a design is conceived, fabric selected, where it is manufactured... to the end product being in the store. It's a handful of companies doing what they can to make a difference.
It's not going to change overnight, but we are all pulling together make it better as with other industries. I hope. My thoughts go out to the larger companies - the ones who are over producing so much that industries can no longer recycle enough of it .. because items of clothing got too cheap that the fibers cannot be recycled and sit in landfills. That disturbs me. These are the companies that really need to address it.. but as long as people are buying the 99$ item because it is cheap and fast fashion then there's a market and critical issues may not necessarily be resolved. Sending excess merchandise that cannot be recycled to a continent as Africa or just buying an organic tee to feel "ECO" is not the answer. .. but it is a beginning.
Fashion does come with a price. I would say less quantity is more and quality is important. Thought should go out to who actually made that item.. and how the proceeds of what you buy - whose pocket is it lining or benefiting??
We as the consumers need to be responsible and aware in the daily choices that are made.
Peace.
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