Why Not Fashion?
Walking down the ever busy streets of Michigan Avenue one foggy morning, it suddenly struck me how despite the gloomy weather, Chicago’s women still dressed as sophisticated and as chic as ever. Deep in thought, something caught my eye- a pair of unique red stiletto pumps briskly walking towards me. Intrigued and mildly filled with want, I looked up at this beautiful mid-thirties woman and blurted out “oh wow, I love your shoes!” She looked back at me in surprise, smiled and said “Thanks! Its rock the red pump!” and disappeared into the crowd. Being the inquisitive person I am, I immediately Googled “rock the red pump" as soon as I got home. And there it was- an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign for women and girls! …and I thought to myself, “Well, why not fashion?”
The world of fashion is emerging as a medium for public health awareness. Utilizing the “voice” of fashion, awareness campaigns such as The Heart Truth (which uses the red dress as a symbol to build heart disease awareness among women) and “Rock the Red Pump” (which raises awareness about HIV/ AIDS among women and girls) have been a huge success.
Health messages are being infused into the psyche of women via fashion shows, runways and clothing designs. The permeation of health into the fashion world is however painfully slow despite the fact that the fashion industry is proving itself to be quite an effective medium in raising awareness about women’s health issues.
As an industry that captures a wide range of female audiences, fashion can be a gateway to improving health for women. By utilizing fashion in ingenious and unconventional ways, it can be an effective tool to alert women to health issues that affect them while informing them on actions to take to lower risks.
Fashion designers can raise awareness about women health causes they are passionate about by designing and creating health inspired fashion lines with pieces, clothing, distinct colors, accessories (including hats, belts, shoes etc) and beauty products. These can have add-on health messages or come with information on additional health resources. Popular clutch designer Lauren Merkin, for instance, designs a special pink item every year from her collection to support breast cancer awareness and issues. Celebrities and famous role models are possible frontiers for using fashion to address health. By donning health-messaged designs and pieces, they can help in raising awareness about important women health issues including breast cancer, heart disease, cervical cancer, HPV, HIV/AIDS, stroke and even promote healthy prenatal behaviors. In addition, fashion magazines and media geared towards women can do a better job of providing appropriate health-related articles targeting the greatest mortality risks faced by the women who make up their readership. Studies suggest that women’s magazines may be encouraging women to focus on aspects of health that will not improve overall health or reduce risks. A conscious effort to use fashion to address health will however ensure that the most important health issues are tackled.
Fashion is a part of most women’s lives in some way or the other. To improve health for women therefore, fashion magazine editors, designers, celebrities, role models, working professionals and women health activists will have to figure out tasteful ways to use this medium to promote and raise awareness about women’s health issues.
When fashion and health can effectively work hand in hand, symbols that have been created and linked to health can then have a “voice”. So that when women see a beautiful red dress, they think –“what can I do today to protect my heart health?” A pair of red pumps- “HIV rates among women my age is rising, what can I do? Who do I tell?” A cute hair band with a pink bow they’ll think –“what can I do to lower my risk for breast cancer?” Or when a favorite fashionista or role model wears a health-inspired design they can begin to think of ways they can also be a part of the global movement against poor health outcomes.
If we are concerned about improving the overall health of women, addressing health from a platform that most women identify with, needs to be considered. Well, why not fashion?
The world of fashion is emerging as a medium for public health awareness. Utilizing the “voice” of fashion, awareness campaigns such as The Heart Truth (which uses the red dress as a symbol to build heart disease awareness among women) and “Rock the Red Pump” (which raises awareness about HIV/ AIDS among women and girls) have been a huge success.
Health messages are being infused into the psyche of women via fashion shows, runways and clothing designs. The permeation of health into the fashion world is however painfully slow despite the fact that the fashion industry is proving itself to be quite an effective medium in raising awareness about women’s health issues.
As an industry that captures a wide range of female audiences, fashion can be a gateway to improving health for women. By utilizing fashion in ingenious and unconventional ways, it can be an effective tool to alert women to health issues that affect them while informing them on actions to take to lower risks.
Fashion designers can raise awareness about women health causes they are passionate about by designing and creating health inspired fashion lines with pieces, clothing, distinct colors, accessories (including hats, belts, shoes etc) and beauty products. These can have add-on health messages or come with information on additional health resources. Popular clutch designer Lauren Merkin, for instance, designs a special pink item every year from her collection to support breast cancer awareness and issues. Celebrities and famous role models are possible frontiers for using fashion to address health. By donning health-messaged designs and pieces, they can help in raising awareness about important women health issues including breast cancer, heart disease, cervical cancer, HPV, HIV/AIDS, stroke and even promote healthy prenatal behaviors. In addition, fashion magazines and media geared towards women can do a better job of providing appropriate health-related articles targeting the greatest mortality risks faced by the women who make up their readership. Studies suggest that women’s magazines may be encouraging women to focus on aspects of health that will not improve overall health or reduce risks. A conscious effort to use fashion to address health will however ensure that the most important health issues are tackled.
Fashion is a part of most women’s lives in some way or the other. To improve health for women therefore, fashion magazine editors, designers, celebrities, role models, working professionals and women health activists will have to figure out tasteful ways to use this medium to promote and raise awareness about women’s health issues.
When fashion and health can effectively work hand in hand, symbols that have been created and linked to health can then have a “voice”. So that when women see a beautiful red dress, they think –“what can I do today to protect my heart health?” A pair of red pumps- “HIV rates among women my age is rising, what can I do? Who do I tell?” A cute hair band with a pink bow they’ll think –“what can I do to lower my risk for breast cancer?” Or when a favorite fashionista or role model wears a health-inspired design they can begin to think of ways they can also be a part of the global movement against poor health outcomes.
If we are concerned about improving the overall health of women, addressing health from a platform that most women identify with, needs to be considered. Well, why not fashion?
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1 comments:
ps. Just saw this and thought of YOU!! :) MISS YOU!!!! http://www.renttherunway.com/fridayfashionfundesignersdocharitymore
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