Questioning Fashion with the Fashionable: Analyzing Artworks that Question Fashion Industry

Abstract

Problems that have been the subject of discussion in recent years, such as the destruction of resources associated with the fashion industry, environmental pollution, violations of workers’ rights, and discrimination based on body, age and gender, have made the call for systematic change inevitable for the fashion industry. This study aims to discuss the role of art in creating social awareness and transformation in the consumer society structure for the necessary change of the industry. To form a clear perspective of the problems that need to be addressed for change, the research begins with a historical analysis of the fashion system, identifying issues at various stages of the fashion lifecycle through qualitative data from literature reviews and case studies. Among the issues, the study focuses on over-consumption and production, environmental issues, the perception of the body and women, and labor issues and interpretive visual analysis is used to examine artworks that critique these issues by using fashion related materials—which are identified as the fashionable in the title. This examination seeks to reveal the possibilities of criticizing and changing one’s own industry through art by removing the materials that serve the fashion industry and consumption from the monopoly of the industry and consumption. The findings reveal that the characteristics of the examined artworks, such as by fostering communication and empathy, activating emotions, and making people think about problems, draw attention to the problems related to the industry, raise awareness and play a role in creating social pressure that can direct the fashion industry to change.

Keywords

• Fashion
• Ready to Wear Industry
• Fashion’s Problems
• Textile Materials
• Conceptual Art

Modayı Moda Olanla Sorgulamak: Moda Endüstrisini Sorgulayan Sanat Yapıtlarının Analizi

Abstract

Son yıllarda tartışma konusu olan, moda endüstrisinin ilişkilendirildiği kaynakların tahribatı, çevre kirliliği, işçi hakları ihlalleri, beden, yaş, cinsiyet temelli ayrımcılık gibi sorunlar moda endüstrisi için sistematik değişim çağrısını kaçınılmaz kılmıştır. Bu çalışma, endüstrinin gerekli değişimi için toplumsal düzeyde farkındalık ve tüketici toplum yapısında dönüşüm yaratmada, sanatın rolünü tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır. Değişim için üzerinde durulması gereken sorunlara dair net bir görüş oluşturmak için çalışma, moda sisteminin tarihsel araştırması ile başlayarak, modanın hayat döngüsünün farklı evrelerinde karşılaşılabilecek sorunlar, literatür taramalarından elde edilen nitel veriler ve örnek olay incelemeleriyle tespit edilmiştir. Tespit edilen sorunlardan üretim ve tüketim artışı, çevre sorunu, beden ve kadın algısı ve endüstrinin emek kavramıyla ilişkisine odaklanılarak, bu konular üzerine başlıkta moda olan şeklinde nitelendirilen moda malzemeleri kullanılarak eleştiri geliştiren sanatsal üretimler yoruma dayalı görsel analiz yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Bu incelemede, moda endüstrisine ve tüketime hizmet eden malzemelerin endüstrinin ve tüketimin tekelinden çıkarılarak, sanat yoluyla kendi endüstrisini eleştirebilmesinin ve değiştirebilmesinin olanakları ortaya çıkarılmaya çalışılmıştır. Araştırmanın sonucunda, incelenen sanatsal üretimlerin iletişim ve empati kurma, duyguları harekete geçirme, sorunlar üzerine düşündürme özelliklerinin endüstriye ilişkin sorunlara dikkat çekmekte, farkındalık yaratmakta ve moda endüstrisini değişime yönlendirebilecek toplumsal baskının oluşturulmasında rol oynayabileceği ortaya koyulmuştur.

Keywords

• Moda
• Hazır Giyim Endüstrisi
• Modanın Problemleri
• Tekstil Malzemeleri
• Kavramsal Sanat

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