Theme Piece

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The ways in which we choose to present ourselves to the world via our clothing has the ability to communicate our identities beyond words. What we wear and how we wear it can often symbolize our participation in or ZMRMK\QWV WN  M`Q[\QVO [\Z]K\]ZM[ IVL M`XMK\I\QWV[ IJW]\ PW_ _M [PW]TL IXXMIZ[XMKQÅKITTaQVZMOIZL[\WQLMI[WN UI[K]TQVQ\aIVLNMUQVQVQ\a7]Z W]\Å\[ KIV ZMKTIQU W]Z [M`]ITQ\a ZMN][M \PM QLMI WN  I OMVLMZ JQVIZa WZ express our particular interests, among many others. With the shifting political climate, individuals have positioned themselves as symbols of ZM[Q[\IVKMIVLI[QVVW^I\WZ[\PZW]OP\PMQZQVLQ^QL]IT[\aTM[8QMKM[[]KPI[ independent shop and studio Otherwild’s “The Future is Female” shirt, _PQKPLWVI\M[XZWKMML[\W8TIVVML8IZMV\PWWLXZW^QLM\PM[XIKM_Q\PQV fashion for political and personal values. When I addressed my team about this semester’s issue, I wanted to hear about the challenges they saw in the fashion landscape. What was ZM^WT]\QWVIZa'?PQKP JZIVL[ [\WWL W]\'?PI\ QV[XQZML\PMU' 1 Y]QKSTa learned, through passionate email ramblings and conversations over lattes at Espresso Royale, about cutting-edge unisex clothing lines, millennial pink’s non-binary presence, and truly feminist companies such as Wildfang. Each of these deconstructed ideas of identity, particularly in regards to gender. In his piece titled “Category Is(n’t),” Sean Tran discusses drag fashion’s instrumental role in highlighting the malleability of this constructed KI\MOWZa,ZIO¼[M`Q[\MVKMKWUXTM\MTa LQ[ZMOIZL[\PMQLMI WN OMVLMZI[I ¹Å`MLP]UIVY]ITQ\aºI[LW]VQ[M`KTW\PQVOTQVM[[]KPI[/]KKQ¼[+Z]Q[M SS18. AM\QVUWZM[]J\TM_Ia[NI[PQWVI[I_PWTMPI[ZMRMK\ML\PM[MVW\QWV[ In “The Revolution of Athleisure,” Hannah Harshe considers the shift in athletic wear from a primarily male dominated sphere to being an integral part in the every day wardrobes of women. Although it is easy to get discouraged with the ways in which the industry often expresses traditional ideals, it is important to pull back the curtain and look at what is being done. In drawing attention and supporting these sources of challenge, we can continue to push against these arbitrary categories to create a world in which individuality is celebrated.

Amber Mitchell 8ZQV\.MI\]ZM[-LQ\WZ