Fashion has always been quite closely tied with beauty standards. The fashion industry usually follows what society considers beautiful, thereby defining our perceptions based on what the industry puts out. However, in recent times, fashion has taken on more than just portraying beauty standards. It has found a new purpose – redefining body positivity.
Body positivity is a movement that started in the early 2000s. Its purpose is to challenge societal norms on beauty standards and promote acceptance, respect, and confidence in every body type. In response, the fashion industry started to create inclusive clothing lines for all body types and sizes. From high fashion to streetwear, the fashion industry has realized its role in redefining standards of beauty, especially in regards to body positivity.
The main objective of body positivity is to encourage people, particularly women, to love and appreciate their bodies, regardless of any so-called ‘flaws.’ This can range from body shape, size, skin color, scars, acne, or stretch marks. It’s OK to have body parts that aren’t “perfect” under the perceived norm of society. The fashion industry has come forward to support this movement by designing clothing that is universally flattering. Clothing that meets this objective allows people of all sizes and shapes to look and feel good about themselves.
Another way that the fashion industry has contributed to the body positivity movement is by dismantling the notion that only certain body types should wear specific kinds of clothing. For example, plus-size women should not only wear loose clothes or black because society labels them “unflattering.” The fashion industry has created clothing that is not just inclusive in its sizing but also encourages women of any size to wear fitted clothing and follow whatever style trends they wish. Designers have started acknowledging that self-expression through fashion is an essential aspect of self-love and confidence.
Moreover, a lot of fashion labels have started featuring models of different races, ethnicities, and body types in their fashion campaigns, rather than adhering to the standards of the predominantly white and thin models. This move towards representation and inclusivity in fashion sends a clear message to people that fashion is not only for one particular body type or size, but for everyone.
In conclusion, fashion has played a crucial role in redefining body positivity. The fashion industry has been able to make significant strides in empowering people of all shapes, sizes, and colors by creating inclusive clothing and campaigns, which encourage confidence and self-love. By supporting the body positivity movement, the fashion industry has paved the way for more acceptance, respect, and representation in society. Therefore, fashion has undoubtedly played a vital role in empowering people, especially women, to feel good about themselves, regardless of societal labels and ‘standards.’
