Diversity - Eurocentrism
As a designer coming from China, studying in the UK, I feel more sensitive about discourses towards nonwhite people in this industry. No matter what the educators say about the equality, we are still living in a Europe-central world,
Europe is the center of commerce and arts since the industrialization in the last century. ‘ All the best is in the Europe ‘, this view point is embedded in people’s minds. Globalization brings European style to the whole world, different cultures are assimilated in this situation. Most people are seeing this world in an eurocentrism way, including how they judge arts good or not.
There are certainly good designers in Asia, Africa...... Countries on those continent are not inferior in terms of creativity, but if people see this world or see arts in the eurocentrism way, they will only get a very narrow view of the world. Most good designers certainly come from Europe, because that’s how they judge good or not, what is original and what is not.
(Collaborate with Graphic designer , Yunlong Li)
Sustainability -
Make Clothes Lasting Long
It is a undeniable truth that we have to take actions saving the earth, leading the second most polluting industry into a more environmental-friendly direction.
In my opinion, keeping consuming and enjoying the happiness of buying has became the main tone of postmodernity world, there is no way to stop people buying, and consumer's endless desire is also what the fashion industry depends on. In this situation, what can we do to achieve sustainability?
I thought about designing garments that have more possibilities, like a jacket turning over to be a trouser, customer will get two garments at once. However, standing from customer's point of view, it is just a playful garment, they will still buy other clothes and discard old ones. What if you spent much money and get a beautifully crafted jacket with interesting designed details? Certainly you will keep it and take care of it, next time when you see another jacket in the store, you will think about the expensive one in your wardrobe.
What I want to do maybe in my future career is that, using recyclable fabrics, to make garments that people will cherish for a long time, not one-time clothes that they will through away quickly. It is my understanding of sustainability.
