The recent news regarding national cuts to creative courses has encouraged me to write about why I chose to study fashion. This isn't going to be another one of those posts that talks about how different the world would be without creative people (I think that's kind of an obvious one), but more an explantation of why I have decided to dedicate my life to a career which many people deem as shallow.
I'm aware that fashion isn't the most important thing in the world. It isn't a matter life and death like the role of a surgeon or scientist may be, and I may not change peoples lives in the same way a solicitor or teacher might, but there's plenty of other jobs out there that hold a similar level of significance as fashion but don't seem to have the same bad reputation. But that's okay. Not every job is going to change the world. And that's not to say that I don't want to have an impact on the world or that I don't care about making a difference, but making a difference within the world of fashion is big enough for me. Fashion is something that has massively inspired and influenced me, and pursuing a career I am passionate about is the most important thing to me.
At the end of the day, I just want to enjoy my job. I want to wake up every day and not have to dread going to work. I couldn't imagine dedicating the rest of my life to something I wasn't passionate about. If I have the right job then it shouldn't feel like a chore.
Fashion allows people to express their personalties through the way they look. The way we present ourselves allows for an immediate first impression to be made. In some cases, the way you dress is crucial; going for job interviews, meetings and even first dates. Fashion helps achieve the portrayal of characters in film and television, the persona of many musicians on stage and the presentation of significant leading figures. You get it, fashion has influence.
I've always cared about the way I dress and present myself, and filled my time reading magazines, watching fashion shows and going to fashion events. It's clear to me that fashion is something I care about enough to call it my career. With age, my interests have changed. I no longer want to be the next winner of Project Runway like I may have done when I was 12 (because taking A Level Textiles proved me to that sewing was not my strong point). I began falling in love with the layouts of magazines and the fashion editorials in them, so took Graphic Design at sixth form to try my hand at the more digital side of the industry. This is where I realised the route I wanted to take.
I'm sure we all know a brand that really resonates with our values, or remember a great advert that made us want to buy something. The stuff that sticks with you is the work of amazing creatives who know how to target their audiences. I won't bore you with talk about consumer marketing, but being able to create something that effective and memorable is what I hope to achieve. And I don't see how creating something that successful can ever be considered insignificant.
I'm tired of the stereotype that studying fashion is just for people who love to shop. Most of the people I know who are studying fashion are intelligent, ambitious and socially engaged women who want to have an influence on the world. Fashion can be used as a platform to open up discussion about greater issues. Starting these types of conversations is so important because if no one is aware of such matters then what can be done about them?
As insignificant as my little blog may be in the grand scheme of things, one the reasons I chose to start it was to provide myself with a platform to discuss things that matter to me, in the hope that others will see it and do the same. I've spoke about things on this page that aren't necessarily the kind of things you would share on a day-to-day basis, but I like having a space that is all my own to share my thoughts and encourage discussion around certain topics, whether you may agree or disagree. And while this may be alongside posts about what I wore last weekend and what I'm loving in Zara at the moment, it doesn't take away from what I'm trying to achieve.
So if you want to study fashion (or any other creative subject that apparently isn't important), know that while that friend of your mums may not think it's worthwhile, yes it is - and it's none of their business!
Aderyn x
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