The fashion industry is an ever-changing business that prides itself on teaching the public about clothing and beauty trends and dictating what’s hot and what’s not. But not everyone in the fashion industry is so progressive and on par with consumer needs. In some ways, fashion designers have earned more respect for broadening their appeal and making their clothes more attainable to a larger group of consumers, while others have become increasingly detached from reality and what people really want to see when they flip open a magazine. These aren’t just fashion faux pas; they’re big business blunders of the fashion industry. Check them out below.
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Using ultra-skinny models:
The use of ultra-skinny models in runway shows and advertisements is by far the biggest travesty of the fashion industry. Designers defend their use of tall, skinny models because they are more physically striking and they serve as “human hangers” for showcasing the clothing. Designers think thin models make their clothes look better, and, since that’s the ultimate goal, they could care less about how they got that skinny or what kind of message their obsession with thinness sends to the public. While some fashion designers and countries have taken measures to ban the use of super-thin models in runway shows and ads, there are still plenty of big-name designers like Karl Lagerfeld who defend skinny models and scoff at the thought of using women of more diverse sizes. Until the entire fashion industry gets on board with this movement, they will continue to face backlash from the “ordinary” public.
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Photo editing:
Photo editing is one of the most controversial and damaging practices of the fashion industry today. Altering images of already thin and beautiful models sends a harmful message to the public about what is considered normal and healthy. This deceptive practice of PhotoShopping has been shown to cause self-esteem and body image issues in young women and men. And all players are to blame. Fashion designers, photographers, and magazine editors all play a key role in the look of a photo from start to finish. Even the smallest of touch-ups can drastically change an image and send out a message that physical perfection is something we should all strive for if we want to be considered beautiful and successful. Photo editing is a dangerous tool that should be used carefully and sparingly in the fashion industry.
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Using fur:
Despite the efforts of PETA and other animal rights groups, fur continues to be a hot commodity in the fashion industry and it doesn’t appear to be going out of style anytime soon. Some of the biggest names in fashion like Vogue’s Anna Wintour, supermodel Kate Moss, and actresses Diane Kruger and Maggie Gyllenhaal stand behind their love of fur and keep the trend going strong no matter how cruel or inhumane the process is. In fact, little has changed in the way animals are trapped and killed for their fur. Animals are crushed, electrocuted, stabbed, and strangled for their pelt, which is then dried and tanned using various chemicals and pollutants. The Stone Age argument that humans have been killing and skinning animals since the beginning of time has not justified the use of fur today. Now the fashion industry is promoting fur as a natural, ethical choice for environmentally conscious and chic consumers.
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Design infringement:
Fashion was meant to be imitated, but designers should know better than to copy the designs of another and pass it off as their own. The current legislation for copyright protection of fashion designs is broad and complicated, but efforts are being made to enact some protection for original fashion designs. To prove copyright infringement, designers have to show that copies are identical to their originals and that the defendant had knowledge of their work. While many fashion designers would never dare rip off someone else’s designs, there are plenty of people and big-name stores that do. Take, for instance, Forever 21. The fashion mega-chain has been accused several times of duplicating designs from other fashion brands such as Diane von Furstenberg, Anna Sui, Gwen Stefani, and even small indie labels. They are just one of many fashion retailers who copy others’ designs and sell similar products for much less. Doing so takes money and credit away from the designers who came up with the original idea.
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Rejecting green initiatives:
As progressive and forward-thinking as the fashion industry is, it sure has a lot of catching up to do in the eco-friendly department. Even though green clothing companies are starting to pop up across the country and some retailers have added organic and eco-friendly items to their shelves, it hasn’t become the norm for the rest of the industry and that’s a shame. Many of today’s textiles are produced with petroleum, pesticides, and other harsh chemicals that are harmful to workers and the environment. While organic fabrics are expensive and sometimes hard to come by, there is a market for environmentally friendly clothing and those who can afford it. Fashion designers shouldn’t wait on competitors to go green first; the time is now!
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Employing sweatshops:
The fashion industry as a whole has yet to step away from its controversial partnership with overseas sweatshops that make clothes for next to nothing. It’s no secret; sweatshops are cramped, dirty, and unpleasant places to work. Adult and child workers alike are slaves to their work and are often subjected to abuse, violence, and extremely poor pay. The fashion industry is well aware of the way most workers are treated in these factories, but the low labor cost seems to always override these concerns. Those that produce their goods in the United States, such as American Apparel, have shown that domestic production is a feasible way to do business in an affordable and fair manner. If others followed in their footsteps, it would help renew the reputation of the fashion industry and give designers better control and oversight of their company.
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Sexual imagery:
Sex may sell, but the crude ads and obscene photos have offended a lot of people and cheapened the fashion industry over the years. The industry has come a long way from the once controversial flapper frocks and one-piece swimsuits. Now it’s completely normal to see images of naked and half-naked women posing in very compromising positions for just about any fashion line. Some designers take their sexual imagery to a whole other level by implying sexual assault and rape in their magazine ads, commercials, and billboards. Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Tom Ford, Gucci, and Abercrombie & Fitch are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to producing grossly sexualized and obscene ads. Designers have always enjoyed pushing the envelope, but it’s time they start taking responsibility for their images and give more thought to the negative impact their photos may have on society.
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