Fashion: Diving into a New Arc

This year, our school will be exploring the topics of Fashion and then Underground. Today, we begin diving in to Fashion and all that it may entail.

Fashion

Fashion is a captivating and multifaceted subject that offers countless angles for exploration. At Brightworks, we are eager to see how our students will understand and engage with this dynamic theme.

The Brightworks Arc, our innovative educational framework, will empower students to delve deeply into the world of fashion, sparking creativity, critical thinking, and a deep appreciation for this art form. Throughout this arc, students will have the opportunity to explore the history, culture, design, and social impact of fashion. Of course the depth and related learning will vary by age and interests of the various students. We can't wait to see the learning adventures that will emerge from their unique perspectives.

Here are some ways learning may emerge through the fashion arc at Brightworks & related resources you might find interesting:

Cultural Exploration

Students may delve into the history of fashion, examining how clothing has evolved across different cultures and time periods. This exploration can lead to projects such as creating traditional clothing, researching the influence of cultural heritage on modern fashion, or even organizing a multicultural fashion show.

  • Fashion, Culture, Futures: African American Ingenuity, Activism, and Storytelling is a two-part symposium co-organized by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Presented virtually, these programs bring together academics, designers, critics, models, artists, activists and others to share new perspectives on the relationship between fashion and the African American experience.

  • Exploring the role of style and appearance in the cultural life of the multi-faith Arab global population and the politics of looking Arab or being presumed to be Arab and/or Muslim in different locations in the U.S. and around the world. Drawing from their powerful experiences of melding creativity with activism to challenge gender-based discrimination and to call out Islamophobia, speakers will reflect on the diversity and significance of expressing Arab identity through fashion, music, and visual culture.

Sustainable Fashion

Given the growing importance of sustainability in the fashion industry, students may explore the environmental and ethical aspects of clothing production. They can investigate the impact of fast fashion, propose sustainable fashion solutions, or even design and create eco-friendly clothing items.

  • Fibershed. Fibershed is a non-profit organization that develops regional fiber systems that build ecosystem and community health. Our work expands opportunities to implement climate benefitting agriculture, rebuild regional manufacturing, and connect end-users to the source of our fiber through education. We transform the economic systems behind the production of material culture to mitigate climate change, improve health, and contribute to racial and economic equity.

Entrepreneurship

Fashion often intersects with business and entrepreneurship. Students may learn about the economics of the fashion industry, including marketing, branding, and retail. They could develop their own fashion brands, create business plans, and even host pop-up shops or fashion shows.

Design and Creativity

The fashion arc provides opportunities for students to tap into their creativity. They can engage in design projects, create fashion sketches, experiment with fabric and materials, and develop their own clothing designs. These projects encourage artistic expression and innovation.

Textile Science

Learning about different textiles and their properties can be a part of the arc. Students can study fabrics, their origins, and uses. They might experiment with dyeing techniques, fabric manipulation, or even explore the science of textiles and clothing production.

  • Explore Tatter, a semiannual journal, about cloth. Tatter explores the medium of textiles to tell human stories and cultivate understanding.

  • Learn from the Textile Arts Council. We are a support group of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco with the goal of advancing the appreciation of the Museums’ textile and costume collections. We are a Bay Area forum that provides lecturers, workshops, events and travel opportunities for artists, designers, aficionados and collectors of ethnic textiles, rugs, tapestries, Western costume, and contemporary fiber art.

Technology and Fashion

In today's world, technology plays a significant role in fashion. Students can explore how technology influences fashion, from 3D printing in clothing production to wearable tech. They might design and prototype their own tech-infused fashion items.

Fashion and Identity

The fashion arc can spark discussions about personal identity and self-expression through clothing. Students may examine how clothing choices reflect individual and cultural identities. They can also explore gender identity and inclusivity in fashion.

Historical and Social Context

Learning about fashion can be a lens through which students explore historical and social contexts. They can study fashion trends in different eras and connect them to broader historical events and cultural movements.

  • FIT’s Fashion Timeline. https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/about-timeline/

  • Fresh Dressed is a film that chronicles the history of hip-hop fashion and how it evolved. It demonstrates how these styles diffused throughout US society.

  • To view a transcript for the video above, download this file: Fresh Dressed Trailer Video Transcript [DOC]

Fashion Journalism and Communication

Students interested in writing and media can delve into fashion journalism. They might create fashion magazines, blogs, or videos, conducting interviews with local designers or fashion experts.

Fashion Ethics and Advocacy

Discussions about labor conditions, diversity, and inclusivity in the fashion industry can lead to projects focused on advocating for fair labor practices and promoting diversity in fashion.


Learning happens in community at Brightworks, and we deepen that learning by connecting with the broader San Francisco community and beyond.

Community Engagement Throughout the fashion arc we will see the ways in which explorations can extend beyond the classroom into the community. Students may organize fashion-related events, such as clothing drives, fashion shows for charity, or collaborations with local fashion businesses.

By approaching the fashion arc with a multidisciplinary and student-driven perspective, Brightworks aims to inspire students to explore the multifaceted world of fashion while developing essential skills and a deeper understanding of its cultural, social, and environmental impact.

Brightworks emphasizes collaboration, and the fashion arc offers numerous opportunities for students to work together. They can collaborate on fashion design, event planning, or creating fashion-related educational materials.

The arc will culminate in exhibitions where will students showcase their creations, research findings, or advocacy initiatives to the school community and beyond.

More about the arc:



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