Recent runway trends promote diversity and inclusion

One of the reasons I got into fashion in the first place was a desire to seek out different brands that range in different sizes, since I thought the only clothes I should wear consisted of oversized shirts and leggings every day. Fashion is always a creative outlet; however, it is lacking in other areas. I speak on sustainability a lot, but there is one topic I want to cover more: diversity and inclusion in the fashion world. It is currently lacking but is starting to get better.

The main inspiration that sparked me to write about this topic was a class discussion on representation and why it matters in the media. You can see how fashion and brands will often follow the trends, but there are trends I don’t like, such as body trends. I have always hated body trends, but there have been eras throughout history where certain bodies are more desirable. We’ve entered an interesting era of focusing on natural beauty but still including quick trends to look different. Bodies shouldn’t be considered a trend; however, through celebrities and magazines, the underlying message is that when you don’t match the person on the cover of a magazine, that’s where problems and negativity start to grow.

This is changing in the fashion world, as spoken about in New York Fashion Week. Selkie, a notable brand for the range of sizes included in their line and on the runway, showcased this idea of inclusion from different body types, disabilities and races. On top of this, stores are moving towards having AI-generated models to show off different bodies. While the fashion industry is not attempting to replace in-person models, AI allows them to include a wider look at one piece of clothing without finding people for every single body type.

While changes have been made, there are also a few designers who have been doing their part. Olivier Rousteing has been focusing on developing more inclusion and filling the fashion world with joy overall. Yuhan Wang, when speaking on her new collection, worked on focusing on the beauty of women’s reliance and bringing a new exploration between the real and fictional world of fashion. Karoline Vitto highlights the beauty of the body in shape and size, highlighting curves and folds in her designs. Some designers are actively trying to change the fashion world through their designs, while some stores seem to adapt AI technology to show everyone that they can wear clothes that fit their style.