Each year according to the Joint Economic Committee, (composed by the United States congress) the fashion industry has a yearly revenue of $1.2 trillion dollars globally and a $250 billion dollar yearly revenue here in the United States. The Fashion industry is a thriving industry, one that has a great impact on our society and culture because society wears fashion and culture creates fashion. Our society is made up of people who have different body sizes, different heights and are of a different race. However the fashion industry is very one dimensional industry. This comes from the fact that the industry uses models who are mainly skinny, tall and white. While there isn’t a problem with someone having those characteristics there is a problem with the fashion industry misrepresenting all people in society and worse misrepresenting different cultures.
With a lack of body diversity many have accused the fashion industry as being a gateway for women and eating disorders as well as body dysmorphia . The lack of racial diversity in the fashion industry has lead to the conversation of racism and cultural appropriation in the industry. As a member of society and an avid contributor to the fashion industry it is important to explore the idea about the fashion industry lacking body and racial diversity as well as how it is affecting our society and culture.
Based on my discussion in class I came up with new ideas/conversations that I can write about in my essay 3. I based my ideas blog post on these new thoughts/directions for my essay:
For body size I was thinking how the lack of diversity in the fashion industry affects how we see ourselves as well as how we see others with different bodies then our own. Does this cause a type of social boundary between thin people and heavier people? Bullying? Social expectations as to what you should wear if your thin/heavy?
Race and cultural appropriation. Designers hire mostly white models even if designs are inspired by different race/culture. Why not hire different ethnic models (in which their race has inspired different trends/designs)? Why is it that when white models/celebrities where fashion trends/designs inspired by different cultures it is seen as stylish/beautiful? Ex: Kylie Jenner and cornrows. How does race in fashion affect the types of clothes people from different races wear (economic standard)? Is their racism in the fashion industry?