The Fashion Folks

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Fashion For Feminism

The Fashion Folks

Fashion has always been a reflection of the societal development. In particular, it’s been a canvas for human beliefs, societal opinions and values of religion. Several progresses and events within society, through the course of history, can be found within the development of style. From the faster fashion of the Industrial Revolution, to the simplified fashion during French Revolution. Most notably, in the day of 8th of March, fashion has been a communication channel for women’s rights, the fight for equality. Here’s fashion for feminism:

Fashion For Feminism

Historical & Societal Context

For long, the fight for notifying women as equal to men (or the genders equal to one another),  has been a matter of justifying the position of women to the one of men. “If you want the same respect as a man, you should approach the fashion that men wear”. As problematic that is, this have been the case for history. In the early 20th century, when women’s rights began to rise as a matter of society, women wore clothes that were normally associated with men. Colors as brown, grey and black, details as ties and bows. The messages of the outfits were clear, women wanted the same rights as men. The signals were effectful.

The liberation of women’s clothes continued with the removing of the corset, the introduction of pants and the democratisation of wearing whatever you wanted. In the 1940s, pants became daywear and in 1970s, the unisex fashion reflected the societal demonstrations for equality. A unisex fashion that underlined the common ground for the genders. The pantsuit has for long been a go-to look for women in politics and high positions. The pantsuit (that can’t for some unknown reason only be called a suit), is equal to the suit of men. Men in suits have for long been associated with power and influence, women in suits are sending off the same signals. (Something problematic: men in “typical” women’s clothes wouldn’t get the same respect).

Modern Day

With the political situation that escalated last year, the fight for women’s rights (read: human rights) continued and one of the loudest way of protesting, was through fashion. Designer Maria Grazia Chiuri launched the t-shirt “We Should All Be Feminists” (quote by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) for Dior. Another t-shirt, “This Is What A Feminist Looks Like” have the last years been a powerful statement. For women’s march, the Pussyhat Project was launched and pink beanies became a symbol for the gender equality fight. This past fashion month, t-shirts with different texts have been seen everywhere, all of them fighting inequality, racism and injustice.

Fashion For Feminism

So that’s somewhere fashion for feminism lands. People feel more inclined than ever to make a statement through fashion. To communicate by the expression of clothes. Not only by the combination of words, but putting focus on that pink is a color for everyone, feminism as a matter of humanity. In a few decades time, this period will be seen as a time of “action speaks louder than words, but words are pretty loud too”. Not only through the context of fashion, but partly by it. Your t-shirt that expresses human rights or your pink beanie reveals your values with one single glance. If that’s not effectful, I don’t know what is.

Note

I’m fully aware of the fact  that fashion for feminism might seem like an oxymoron. The fashion industry has 99 problems and a lot of them can be interpreted as a backlash to the fight for equality. Homogenetic ideals and lack of ethnic diversity amongst models.  How the current fashion cements gender roles from an early age or how the choice of clothes reflects one’s moral according to society – and so on. This is an ongoing list that is problematic to the work of sustainable development. But raising awareness of those problems is a work for the rest of the 364 days. Today is a day of celebrating feminism, and in context of this site, fashion for feminism. Fashion is a forceful statement of society, art, culture and the context we choose to express it in. It shows what we think, speaks what we say and is an act by our actions.

 

Happy International Women’s Day! Xx

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Well said, @dior ???? #PFW #Dior #SS17

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32 thoughts on “Fashion For Feminism”

  4. Fashion and feminism can be a bit of a contradiction but it is a very powerful way to also get ones message across. Honestly it just amazed me that in this day and age we’re still fighting and talking about this. We’ve certainly come so far and yet there’s still much distance that needs bridging.

    1. It is a powerful way indeed. And it’s crazy that we haven’t gotten any further. We can send out people in space (and have been able to do so for 50 years) but women can’t walk safely at night? Crazy! Xx

      https://www.thefashionfolks.com

  10. This is very appropriate post, especially with today being International Women’s Day. It is true that fashion and feminism go hand and hand, and we were truly liberated the day the corset died! I am so proud of how far we have come, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for us, as long as we keeping fighting for equal rights.
    xo, Whitney and Blaire
    Peaches In A Pod

  13. I’ve had the pleasure of talking with women who lived through the liberation movement and have had successful careers as a result of standing up for their beliefs of equality in various sectors. When I was doing my undergraduate degree as a pre-med student, the director of the biology department was one of those women. Before knowing her story, I always thought she was rather mean and just down right insensitive. For some reason, she took a liking to me (lol) and I was able to learn why she was the way she was. She was the first woman in the biology, let alone science department, and so, she felt she had a lot to prove being in a predominately male environment, which explained her aggressiveness. Even today, to make it and be taken seriously, we often have to be or at least act tough for our voices to be heard and for respect to be given in the workplace. I think it’s wonderful that even though we have a long way to go, we are in a time where women entrepreneurs are at an all time high, creating names and entire industries (i.e. blogging, etc) that were once nonexistent. Thanks for opening up this very important dialogue on a day that couldn’t be any more perfect! Happy International Women’s Day, gorgeous!

    XO,

    Jalisa
    http://www.thestylecontour.com

    1. That must have been so inspiring though, to get that direct level of inspiration from someone who’s worked through it?! Thank you for sharing babe. I think now is a better time than ever for women to live, but there’s still so much left to do. Even if we definitely should celebrate how far we’ve come! Xx

      https://www.thefashionfolks.com

  14. Actually, I was thinking about this yesterday. Lately, 80s are very trendy. I was wearing it all the time recently. So, 80s are an era of power shoulders when women became more powerful. And again now, girls rock their careers, getting pay rises etc etc and we see 80s coming back… you know what I mean?
    P.S. Can you write an article on the history off the statement earrings, please?
    https://yukovablog.co.uk/

    1. That’s an interesting point indeed! The 1980s fashion plus women’s empowerment is surely connected to each other and probably has some relation to today as well! Yes, of course! Can do it later this spring! Xx

      https://www.thefashionfolks.com

  16. Happy Women’s Day! The fashion industry has various systematic problems and I am hopeful that slowly, the problems will be resolved with more action and people within speaking out. Glad to see more models of colour this fashion season!

    xo,
    I AM YASMIN

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