Fashion has the power to open minds and bring people together; it’s no wonder that fashion trends have begun celebrating the diversity of the world around us. From models with various body types, to styles that pay tribute to cultural diversity, the industry of inclusive fashion is gradually gaining traction on the runway. This article will delve into the latest inclusive fashion trends and celebrate their commitment to promoting diversity and acceptance. Let’s see what fashion can teach us about embracing each other’s differences.
1. Walking the Inclusive Catwalk: Celebrating Diversity in Fashion
In this ever-changing world, diversity is now celebrated in the fashion industry more than ever before. From petite to plus size, from striking colours to accessories, the catwalk is shifting towards inclusivity. Messy buns, blue eyeshadow, cropped hair, and freckles, are some of the varied features that recently dazzled the ramp. To honor this wide spectrum of fashion choices, from gender-fluid to blond afros, here are some considerations to keep in mind.
- No one-trick ponies: The fashion industry needs to break away from restrictive beauty stereotypes and embrace a wide range of aesthetics.
- Ethic diversity: There’s immense power in celebrating the ethnic roots of designers and models on the catwalk.
- Body Positivity: For decades, fashion bullied certain body types by promoting an unrealistic standard of beauty. Thankfully, this is changing as designers, retail outlets, and fashion magazines are pushing for greater visibility for bigger body types.
Audience engagement has evolved at a rate faster than fashion. To meet the demands of an ever-changing market, fashion businesses are creating space to hear from the audience to understand their fashion preferences better, and bring about a welcome shift in the industry. It’s time that the catwalk makes way for a bigger diversity of body types, ages, and gender identity, and see beyond the stereotypes.
2. A Historical Perspective on Inclusive Fashion
The roots of inclusive fashion can be traced back for centuries. Throughout history, people have made conscious efforts to create garments and styles that allow for more people to participate and enjoy fashion.
Traditional Clothes
Traditional ethnic or cultural clothing often had a certain level of inclusivity or flexibility built-in. Ancient garments such as Indian saris, African kaftans, and Alaskan parkas were designed to be multi-functional, durable, and adjustable to different body shapes and sizes. In a similar fashion, Japanese kimonos could easily be tailored to fit different types of bodies.
Innovations In Fit
The early 20th century saw the advent of clothing sizes as we know them today. This was a great milestone in opening up more people to the stylistic possibilities of fashion. In the 1960s, designer ready-to-wear clothing started popping up along with a push for gender-fluidity and a renewed focus on sustainability.
In more recent years, with the rise of online shopping, the focus has been on fit and personalization. Companies such as Nike and ModCloth offer virtual try-ons and detailed size and body measurement guides to help shoppers find the perfect fit for them.
The trend is also moving beyond genders and body types to include disabilities. Innovations from companies such as Runway of Dreams, Zappos Adaptive, and Festy have made it easier for people with disabilities to delight in fashion just like everyone else. With digital fabrics, magnets, and Velcro, clothes now come tailored to meet the specific needs of those with disabilities.
3. Celebrating Uniqueness: Top Inclusive Runway Looks
In the world of fashion, it is no secret that inclusion and diversity are being celebrated. Runways around the world are showcasing more models of color, size, age, and other descriptors of diversity. These fashion houses are actively working to shape a more encouraging, safe, and supportive space for differences to be embraced on the runway and beyond.
- Tommy Hilfiger’s All-American Show presents a message of unity and inclusion, celebrating and empowering individuals from a broad spectrum of backgrounds.
- HEAD OF STATE also uses runway shows to celebrate diversity, using models with all body types and sizes.
- Clothing brand Chromat is taking the runway to the next level of inclusion, starting the #ChromatBABES campaign in an effort to shape body-positive conversations.
Inclusivity of the fashion world is continuing to develop, and the ever-changing nature of fashion is allowing the industry to be an inspiring platform for embracing differences. Designers are now embracing innovative styles and aesthetics that are redefining beauty standards within the fashion industry and beyond. From bold colour palettes to statement silhouettes, the top inclusive runway looks are setting a powerful example for how fashion can be used to celebrate uniqueness and identity.
As the fashion industry continues to develop, we can expect to see more diverse runway shows in the future. The runway is no longer a place where differences should be ignored; instead, it is a platform to express solidarity and respect for those who embody uniqueness.
4. Making Diverse Beauty Visible: A New Wave of Models
In the fashion industry, where beauty has long been set according to restrictive standards, a new wave of models is challenging the norm and making diverse beauty visible.
- In particular, these models are challenging the lack of representation for women of color, plus-size women, transgender individuals, and people with disabilities.
- Further, they are proving that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
The fashion industry is beginning to recognize the importance of representation of all types of beauty. Popular brands such as British Vogue, Vogue India, Dove and Lancome have embraced a more expansive definition of beauty, featuring different sizes, ages, and body types in their campaigns. Similarly, it is becoming increasingly common to see models from a variety of backgrounds on the runways.
Social media has played a big role in the rise of diverse models, with Instagram being the platform of choice. By showcasing nontraditional models, those affected have been given the platform to promote their own ideals of beauty and be celebrated for their unique features.
The change in the industry is slow, but the tide is turning. By embracing and celebrating a wider spectrum of beauty, these efforts to make diverse beauty visible will continue to shine a light that can’t be ignored.
5. Celebrating Inclusive Fashion: Reinforcing Cultural Awareness
Inclusive fashion is for everyone: it doesn’t call to one size, gender or socio-economic class. In style, what matters is how we feel and how we present ourselves. Celebrating inclusive fashion reinforces cultural awareness, and is a statement that everyone should be respected and accepted, no matter their background. Here are five ways to celebrate diversity through fashion:
- Pay attention to different body types. Know what works best for different shapes and sizes, and encourage everyone to feel beautiful in their clothes.
- Support fashion innovators and local designers. Shopping locally supports your local economy and creates a platform to showcase the unique style and culture of the area.
- Be aware of representation in fashion media. This includes magazines, advertisements, catwalk looks and more. Make sure everyone is included in the media that you consume.
- Be open to different cultures. This could mean learning more about different styles of traditional dress and understanding the history behind them.
At the end of the day, wearing inclusive fashion is about accepting and respecting each other’s backgrounds, and celebrating the collective cultural diversity of the world. Each person has a unique style, and it’s worth celebrating—so let’s celebrate inclusive fashion today!
The expressive nature of fashion allows it to be a powerful vehicle of self-expression and acceptance. Inclusive fashion trends on the runway, from diverse models to widespread sizes and gender inclusivity, are proof that fashion is a community effort to serve all. Through championing this type of inclusivity, the industry is amplifying the beauty of every individual’s relationship with clothing and the celebration of diversity in all its forms.
