Body Positivity and Inclusivity in the Fashion Industry

We need more of it....like seriously

Inclusivity and Diversity have recently become extremely important in the fashion industry. This includes not only body shape or size, but also race, gender, and non-conforming gender identity need proper representation in the media and field. In a nutshell, body positivity is the idea that all people should have a positive body image. The fashion industry has a tight grasp on the way society views and promotes unrealistic beauty standards. Though the industry has made significant strides in diverse representation, there is still a long way to go.

For most of history, every runway, editorial photo, or magazine was covered with tall, young, slender, white women. These models were most likely a size 0 or 2 and followed a pretty strict body type. This has negatively impacted women over a long period of time, creating a self-deprecating attitude and negative body image to both young girls and women all over the world. Poor body image can be extremely detrimental putting people at risk for depression, social anxiety, and eating disorders. In the U.S. Approximately 80% of women don’t like how they look, and 70% of normal-weighted women want to be thinner. Along with body image, racial inequality is also seen in the industry. For far too long there has been a lack of minority representation and prominent examples of racially insensitivity filtering all the way through to final collections. One of the largest contributors to low self-esteem and negative self-image ties back to the fashion industry as a whole.

Though there is much to explore and accomplish, the fashion industry has made serious leaps in inclusivity. As time goes on, more and more industries have begun to integrate diversity into their brands. Body-positive activists in the industry play an important role in changing how people view their bodies. Some influential women who have been positive role models for me are Serena Williams, Winnie Harlow, and Ashley Graham. These women have redefined the idea of beauty and challenged people to change their views on the way they see themselves and others. Breaking stereotypes of race, size, skin, or shape these are just a few women who positively affect the Fashion Industry and women of the world. Following a similar path, brands such as Chanel, Gucci, and H&M have recently made initiatives to increase inclusivity and hired more Black and ethnic minority groups, as well as different body types to represent them. As the fashion industry continues to include more diversity, the precedent of positive self-esteem is set for the younger generation to come. If the industry is able to have such a negative impact on self-esteem, I believe that with some time and changes it could have an opposing positive and uplifting effect.

xoxo,

Amelia's Closet