Sweatshops

Sweatshops have become a controversial issue within the fashion industry. Should they be allowed or not? There are many different opinions on this issue and whether or not the companies should produce their clothes in such a way that can be harmful to other humans.

The definition of a sweatshop is "a working environment with very difficult or dangerous conditions, usually where the workers have few rights or ways to address their situation," (Wikipedia). Some sweatshops involve dangerous situations with workers who are barely making enough money to support their families. They even sometimes involve children.

I am kind of in the middle as to whether or not I believe sweatshops should be prohibited. I do not agree with the conditions of the sweatshops and the way that the people are treated sometimes but I also think that these sweatshops are helping the workers support their families and without them, they would not have a way to do so. I believe the workers would rather work in the situations they are in now than to not have any source of income and watch their families die of starvation.

Milan Fashion Week: Art or Usability?

When it comes to fashion, some people view it as art and others view it as usability. But can it be both? I think that fashion is an art and it is also usable. The Milan fashion week showcased different designers who achieved both art and usability with their fashion lines.

There were designers in the Milan fashion week who had lines that were purely art, not very usable. But there were also lines that were all about usability. Designers produced lines with a lot of sheer clothing that can be worn in many different ways. Designers also produced lines with versatility that could definitely been seen as art.

Fashion is, without a doubt, an art. But I think that usability is just as important for a designer to accomplish if not more important. Usability is what the consumer is looking for most of the time more than art, and I think the designers in the Milan fashion week achieved both the art and usability within their fashion lines.

Design Inspiration

If I were ever able to design my own clothes, I would create something that would go with many occasions and be fun at the same time. I would want it to reflect my personality and style. Oscar De La Renta's designs are some of my favorite. He always has collections that are versatile and that can be worn by the everyday woman.

I would want my collection to also be very unique, but not too over the top. I would not want it to look futuristic, but classy and elegant. I would also want it to be modern.

After doing research on Badgley Mischka, I have come to really like their clothing lines as well. Their outlook on fashion is "one zip and your glamorous" (Hart, 2008). They create lines that can be worn anywhere from work to a nice social event, without ever changing clothes. I think these two designers have great collections and I would want my collection to be very similar.