The current pandemic has given us many challenges to face; emotionally, financially and mentally. The immediate and after-effects of social isolation and the lack of a physical school or a work environment are discussed often. Mental health is an arising challenge faced by a diverse and wide-ranging group of people. In this article, we research how fashion relates to this. Does it improve or disprove the mental state of well-being, and how can we use fashion to impact our lives positively.
Many articles show how the fashion industry’s workflow, pressure, and fast-paced environment often negatively influence the mind’s mental state. Research from ICAAD, an international conference focusing on addiction and associated disorders, shows that people in the fashion industry are 25% more likely to experience mental illnesses. Apart from studies, many creatives used their voice too to share their experiences and have helped lift the taboo on the subject. Damon Baker, for instance, a portrait photographer known for his piercing and emotional work, uses his art and social platforms to discuss mental health with his followers.
Apart from Damon, many other creatives have faced mental challenges. On the 11th of February 2010, the sudden death of fashion designer and couturier Lee Alexander McQueen shocked the industry globally. At just 40 years old, Mr McQueen was found dead by his housekeeper. He committed suicide. His then psychiatrist ‘Dr. Stephan Pereira’ told the inquest into his death that he had a history of depression, anxiety and depressive disorder. The industry made him feel very pressured, although Dr Pereira also mentioned that (to Mr McQueen) it was a double-edged sword. The recent passing of his mother, together with the pressure he endured from his work, led him to a ‘disturbed balance in his mind’. As the coroner, Dr Paul Knapman stated.
Apart from the fast-paced and high-pressure environment that fashion and the arts are often associated with, the creative sector is often an outlet for cropped up anxiety, fears or self-doubt.
A study from Heather Stuckey, connected to the Department of Medicine at the Pennsylvania State University College, has proven that working creatively has helped people manage their mental well-being. When artists are creating, their minds tend to enter what they call a ‘state of flow.’ They become enveloped by their creative processes that the action takes over the mind. It boosts their mental state and even slows the heart rate down, making it particularly helpful to those suffering from depression, panic attacks or anxiety. A 2006 study by Samoray on individuals facing stress and fatigue shows that creative expression can have a healing effect. A series of semi-structured interviews show that there is a notable reduction in pressure and an increase in healing, well-being, and a sense of purpose after participating in a creative process.
Aside from being creative or working in fashion, wearing fashion also improves the state of mind. When an individual is consciously styling itself from top to toe every morning or even if it just picks the top shirt from the stack and throws on some pair of joggers, fashion is a way to express who we are, what we feel, what we stand for, even subconsciously.
In conclusion, whether fashion will be a friend or foe depends on the individual. If the basis is solid and fashion is a positive add-on to the mental condition, it can be advantageous. However, it is a volatile tool that can easily influence individuals negatively. One thing that is proven is that working creatively, whether in fashion or other disciplines, can have a subsequent, positive impact on mental health.
Lastly, even when you don’t feel that your mental well-being is put to the test – regularly checking in with yourself is like a bath; you don’t have to do it every moment of the day, but you feel calmer and at ease when you do. Next to that, even though you might not be facing any mental challenges, creating space for someone who is, to share their feelings is always a win. And for those of you that have, being human is a shared experience, so there are others out there feeling just like you, thinking just like you. So talk about it if it helps.
