If you have been following fashion for the past few years, you already know about conversations around inclusivity and representation in the fashion world. Taking a step back to look at fashion at its basic level, it is clothing  ̶  which is a necessity for everyone  ̶  and everyone deserves to feel good in it. Zooming out, however, you are met with a sophisticated system of an industry that has represented only a few people that have enjoyed such privilege.

The modern consumer has fought back against this phenomenon, and fashion has responded by offering various improvements to be inclusive. Is that enough, though? While recent times have shown that fashion has a lot of potential to embrace the changing times, it has a long way to go when it comes to inclusivity and representation. This blog will discuss how a modern brand can cater to a present-day consumer who views fashion beyond the covers of a magazine and wants to feel good in what they wear.

Why Are Inclusion And Representation Necessary?

Fashion has represented the values and social landscape of civilizations throughout history. Ancient Rome used expensive fabric and color to discriminate prestige from the common man's neutral and practical clothes. Ancient Egypt used linen for its breathable quality, which helped it sustain itself in the hot climate. The class-conscious Victorian man and woman represented their social stature with elaborate tailcoats and corsets.

What does modern civilization value? Our socio-political climate is debating how to move toward equality in domestic spheres, workplaces, streets, and in services. Under a modern economy, the purchasing power of consumers is high. In other words, a lot of people have access to fashion products. People of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and body types are finding their place in a progressive society.

Inclusion and representation in fashion are necessary today because they are a reflection of our time. In fact, it won't be far-fetched if one argues fashion can only stay true to its artistic and historic value if it represents all the different groups that are a product of and are impacting culture.

The Current Scenario

Fashion has, in many ways, responded to the changing times at all scales, from runway to retail. There seems to be a shift within the industry  ̶  either due to social pressure or changing mindsets  ̶  that has moved several brands to incorporate different sizes into their collection.

New collections are also getting an edge in the saturated market for their size-inclusive fits. Celebrity fashion lines like Khloe Kardashian's collaboration with  Good American have dropped various sizes in jeans, dresses, and workout clothes.

Women's wear manufacturers are increasingly making clothes for women of all body shapes and sizes. The fashion industry has embraced size inclusivity in the system. However, if this report is to be believed, much work still needs to be done in luxury fashion.

Diversity Vs Inclusivity

It is easy to interchangeably use diversity with inclusion. However, the two words have different meanings and inclusivity goes a step beyond diversity.

If a clothing line hires people of color or various sizes to show a brand's commitment to representation, they are promoting diversity. What will make the brand inclusive will be whether the people who are the face of the line's campaign are also present backstage during manufacturing.

Are the people behind the campaign also diverse, i.e., the designers, makeup artists, manufacturers, photographers, and casting directors? If that is the case, the brand understands the implications of inclusivity and representation.

For the fashion industry to be inclusive, it has to come out of a sole celebration of euro-centric beauty standards that had the world in its grip until the 20th century. Moving fashion toward a celebration of diversity instead of making the consumer a victim of a negative self-image is what inclusivity and representation are about.

Representation Going Forward

Fashion in the future does not only need to be size inclusive; it has to represent people of different colors, ethnicities, sexualities, and genders too.

Since an all-inclusive industry has to represent everyone, the rhetoric of climate justice is inseparable from true representation. This includes factory workers that are producing garments, fishermen, and coastal communities near marine life that are facing the brunt of climate change. 10% of the world's carbon emissions come from the fashion industry alone. Fashion has to move toward sustainability to do right by the people and species that will be hit by climate change the hardest.

A truly inclusive and representative modern fashion brand must source ethically, produce minimal waste, be mindful of resource consumption, and use eco-friendly materials to be sustainable. In addition, it has to cater to the demographic that consumes it without creating a need to be better and empowering them to feel good about themselves.

We are a men's , women's, and children's apparel manufacturing companies in Los Angeles that are dedicated to ethical and sustainable fashion. Our factories have employees that have stayed with us for generations and we help our clientele source from ethical providers.

Laser-cutting technology and computer-aided design allows us to limit fashion waste, and years of expertise in the manufacturing business has equipped us with designing prowess to cater for diverse consumers. If you are looking for clothing manufacturers that understands the makings of a modern fashion line, get in touch with us now.

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