Category · 9 questions
Fashion
Trends, taste, sweatshops, sustainability. What we wear and what it says.
In this section
9 entriesAre naked bike shorts the next big thing in fashion?
Naked bike shorts have grown increasingly visible on runways and streets. This entry asks whether they are poised to become the next big fashion trend, setting out the positions that they are, and that they are not.
Is cultural appropriation benign or malign?
Cultures have borrowed from one another since time immemorial — but when does borrowing become harmful? This entry frames the debate over whether cultural appropriation is benign or malign, and where the line falls.
Is Italian fashion racist?
Following a series of controversies, does the Italian fashion industry have a problem with racism? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that Italian fashion is racist, and that it is not.
Is the Met Gala distasteful?
The first Monday in May is a huge part of the fashion social calendar. Every year, the Met Gala is thrown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to benefit the Costume Institute. The event raises huge amounts of money, but is it just an excuse for capitalist worship of excess?
Should burkas be banned in the UK?
Boris Johnson MP recently divided opinion for controversial remarks about Muslim women who wear burkas/burqas. Though he did not advocate a ban, his comments have reignited the debate following bans on the full-face-and-body coverings becoming law in countries including France, Belgium, and Denmark. Should similar prohibitions should be introduced in the UK? This question operates on the basis that women are making a free choice when wearing burkas, and are not forced to be doing so - something which all parties would reject.
Should the weight of fashion models be policed?
Fashion models have been in the scrutinizing eyes of the public for decades leading to debates regarding weight and health. These models are widely looked upon for inspiration for fashion and lifestyle, which may pose a problem for the younger generation. Young adults could be idolizing a toxic idealism. Some countries, like Spain and France, have instituted regulations regarding the weight of their models for health reasons. Some countries have not regulated this activity and are in the middle of a hot topic. Should the weight of fashion models be policed and regulated?
Should white people have dreadlocks?
Throughout history, dreadlocks have been significant to cultures around the globe. The matted and locked hairstyle was a way for people to prevent or slow positive energies from leaving the body. More recently, dreads have been an important aspect of Rastafarians and African-American culture in the United States. Yet, when white people try dreadlocks, there is often backlash and accusations of cultural appropriation. Should anyone be allowed to have dreads? Is it cultural appropriation for white people to have dreadlocks?
What's driving China's burgeoning second-hand fashion market?
What is fuelling the rapid growth of China's second-hand fashion market? This entry maps the explanations — vast overall demand for apparel, the influence of Chinese influencers, and a growing taste for affordable luxury.
Why are clothes sizes so erratic and can they be fixed?
Why is clothing sizing so inconsistent, and can it be fixed? This entry maps the explanations — that retailers simply apply inconsistent standards, and that 'vanity sizing' deliberately distorts the numbers on the label.