If you are a follower of Fair JAKE then you know that although we have a lot to say about everything, we are definitely not social media butterflies. We do our best to inform our readers of important, hot topics and things that interest us but we are still new to the twitter world and like media spotlights.
Yesterday I was thinking about what to write for today’s post and I came across this great twitter feed by Conde Nast College of Fashion and Design.
Conde Nast only opended in April 2013 but as it is owned by Advance Publications, Inc., one of the largest privately owned media and communications companies in the world, it is making huge strides in the fashion industry already.
The twitter feed, which was a debate open to anyone to join in, was “What duty, if any, does the fashion industry have to challenge stereotypes of all kinds?"
I found it refreshing to see twitter used in such a way and couldn’t wait to read the debate. One of the most interesting responses was by Rachana Bhide@RachanaBhide
“I think it is more realistic to expect tools like social media ("real people" adopting & pushing fashion) to debunk stereotypes.#CNCollege”
There are definitely those that wear what they want and push boundaries, but there are also those that think they are being different and unique but in reality are almost creating stereotypes because they are conforming so much. For example, “The Hipster” movement. My boyfriend went to a party about 6 months ago, right at the beginning of the summer and he sat there for an hour mingling with all sorts, all explaining how they are tired of “the norm” and describing all the ways they are unique and better for it, but as an outsider all he saw was a room crowded with stinky, similarly dressed people all drinking PBR’s and right there he made a generalization.
Although people need to start taking responsibility for our role in social and environmental change, it is unjust to say that the fashion industry has no duty in challenging stereotypes. Social media is not only a way for us “real people” to express ourselves but it is a powerful way for the industry to express its opinions and now more than ever the industry needs to not only be aware of that but step up and start proving that we care more about human society than just what colour is on trend this fall.
I know that companies and organizations use twitter, instagram, etc. to reach people and inform their target markets, so I hope that I continue to read posts like yesterday’s from @CNCollege and I look forward to joining the debate.
