The Quotes
At the beginning of August, I wrote a blog post entitled “#VogueHope” that discussed the upcoming Vogue Hope editions. As I (2020) stated in that article, “the global editions…will feature letters of hope from celebrities, designers, activists and more, as well as essays on diversity and inclusion, the climate crisis and systemic racism among other topics” (para. 3). Now the issues are out; in fact, I’ve got one of them sitting on my coffee table right now. Let me tell you, the insight and perspective featured in this issue really is inspiring and hopeful. Building off the Hope issues, on Vogue’s website, they are featuring pieces under the banner “Vogue Voices.” Its description states (2020):
For this year’s September issue, Vogue asked 100 people-from creative directors, models, and photographers to activists and CEOs-one simple (but also incredibly complex) question: What is the future of fashion? How would the way fashion is made, and the way that we all interact with it, change in the face of urgent calls for racial equity, an ongoing climate crisis, and the devastating effects of a global pandemic? We divided the answers into five chapters…Taken together, they reveal a wide-ranging portrait of our time while also pointing the way forward-to a different fashion calendar, a different protocol for production, and an altogether different relationship with clothes. (para. 1)
I think this is really exciting. To see so many major players in the fashion industry talking about pressing issues gives me literal butterflies in my stomach. I know that this is just conversation… and I know that this is just the beginning, but you have to start somewhere, right? The chapter of “Vogue Voices” that I’m focusing on is about keeping fashion responsible. Rather than summarizing what’s been said, I’ve pulled out some of the quotes I found most impactful from the article.
“If what’s happening in America isn’t a reality check and a wake-up call for a lot of people…I don’t know what will be.”
“A purpose-led brand is so important…Fashion can change outlooks.”
“It is our duty to be advocates for change, and to use our platforms to amplify the voices that need to be heard…We also need to hold each other accountable, which means continuing to call out injustice wherever we see it and demanding change from those in positions of power.”
“Fashion’s ability to almost exist in the future-always looking forward and constantly in flux-is a powerful concept that can be re-directed towards sustainable health practices, diverse castings, and building networks that can truly exist and operate in the world today.”
“From now on, I expect people will be more and more aware that fashion is a very useful tool to make a statement, to take a stance. Fashion’s relevance comes from the power of clothing to be more than just clothing – to comment on contemporary issues and, possibly, to have a positive effect on them.”
“It’s thinking about the human aspect from the beginning of the chain through to the end, and making room for everyone-not just the star.”
“In order to see meaningful change, there needs to be a complete reevaluation of why we make the work that we make, the voices that we listen to and give platforms to, and the communities and the values that we cultivate. Do they align with the future, or are they stuck 20 years in the past?”
“Fashion should be making us think about how to do better. We are no longer in a time of being the trend of the season. I don’t want to be cool – cool’s over. Chic’s over. You’re cool for two months these days; it used to be two years. Who wants to be part of that?”
“We have been working to not just raise awareness with our consumers and designers about sustainability – we still have a long way to go in explaining the importance of resale – but also to start impacting public policy so that our lawmakers understand the importance of a circular economy.”
“Designers and creatives have known for some time that the system is broken, but all of a sudden it feels like—finally—no one can ignore it. We’re having to think in new ways—I’m thinking a lot about the supply chain, and how we can be more agile and modern; how we can build a future that looks resourceful and not extravagant. All of a sudden the idea of flying all these people all over the world for shows feels really wasteful and exclusive. The question is: How can we create the intimacy and excitement of the show, without the waste and pollution?”
I hope these quotes inspire you too.
Bye for now,
McGee