Have we grown accustomed to the narcissistic idealism's of the fashion
industry, where perceptions of the ‘perfect body’ is defined on the catwalk by
soaring super-thin models? With an evolving appreciation for diversity and
realistic ethics within fashion, there is an emergence of a global awareness
for diversity and a requirement in a market for everyone. As France passes a
controversial bill on the ban of super-skinny models and Tokyo fashion week features
disabled models on their catwalks, they join the stand for equality and a
worldwide change in high fashion.Tokyo Fashion Week saw models in wheelchairs, amputees and Paralympic athletes take the catwalk for designer TakafumiTsuruta’s label Tenbolast month.Tsurutastates that his designs are for all people, including those with disabilities. He strives to design for audiences of all ability in mind and used closures such as magnetic buttons so that wearers are able to take their clothes off and on without difficulty. Taking the stance of using disabled models, Takafumi’s message was clear in stating his perception on how the fashion industry should show more variety and be more widely accessible to those off all capabilities.
Following Tokyo, the world’s leading fashion capital, Paris,
backed a malnourished model ban in a further attempt to tackle Anorexia in
France. They also show theirsupport to the movement of the fashion industry
being for everyone, starting on the catwalk. The French government passed the
law that models must be healthy and will require medical assessment to be
hired. Hiring dangerously thin and undernourished models will be a criminal
offence, showing the seriousness of the body dysmorphic message being sent out
by the fashion media.
A global battle for a realistic fashion industry, it is
evident that there’s still a fight for diversification in fashion, through
designers, campaigns and even new laws being passed. All in an effort to create
fashion with no identity; no race, no size and no ability.
