Fashion is a Privilege

By George Hashemi

Syracuse is no exception.

2020 has brought pain, anger, and frustration, but also, growth. This time has forced people to face hard truths, learn new realities and become more aware of the world around them, especially within the fashion industry.

The world of fashion is no stranger to classism. For decades, people have used style as a way to reflect their wealth and status. There is an expectation within the fashion industry to keep up with constantly changing trends and follow them closely.

Those who are wealthier have the privilege to stay on top of these trends. Money gives people the ability to access fashion. If someone has the privilege of being economically stable, they can afford the latest trends and hottest styles. On the other hand, those who lack the privilege of wealth also lack access to fashion.

Classism in fashion has created a system that makes the industry almost inaccessible for anyone who isn’t rich. Syracuse is a real-life example. Many SU students’ wealth gives them the privilege to follow the latest trends and choose their style, while most city locals wear whatever they can afford. Syracuse resident’s fashion is controlled by their economic situation, not preference.

As recorded in the 2018 Census, 30.5% of Syracuse residents were living under the poverty line. Considering it is one of the poorest cities in America, the average Syracuse family doesn’t have the luxury of deciding where their clothes come from.

The fast fashion industry has recently been exposed for their poor practices, resulting in a movement against popular brands like Forever 21 and Zara. However, many tend to rely on these cheaper stores for their clothing. For most Syracuse families, those places are the most affordable option.

If someone has the financial ability to partake in sustainable fashion practices like buying from eco-friendly brands and shopping at second-hand clothing stores, they should. While it is important to be more environmentally conscious, there is an inherent privilege in that choice.

Many Syracuse residents don’t have economic freedom, and additionally lack access to transportation and stores. In Journalist, Alana Semuels Atlantic article, “How to Decimate A City”, she investigated how the construction of I-81 affected the city and its residents. Semuels wrote, “this construction would destroy a close-knit Black community … essentially separating Syracuse into two.”

And that’s exactly what it did.

Semuels says when I-81 was built, the city created “a 1.4-mile section of elevated highway that separates Syracuse University from downtown and the city’s highpoverty South Side.”

There is a clear contrast between the sides. To the east is Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical, Syracuse VA Medical Center and Crouse Hospital. To the west are the projects and Pioneer Homes, which are government housing. The contrast is obvious. Urban development, proper infrastructure and affluence quickly turn into immense poverty right at the underpass with little transition zone. I-81 is the barrier. Rich to the east. Poor to the west.

Emanuel J. Carter Jr., associate professor at SU and previous Syracuse city planner, says the city created the highway to promote growth. However, it instead, “made it easier for people who lived in the suburbs to get downtown quickly … and to get out quickly.”

The creation of I-81 allowed white residents the opportunity to flee to the suburbs and still easily access the city. The poorer minorities of the 15th ward, the neighborhood that was torn down to build the elevated section of I-81, weren’t given the same opportunity to relocate after their home was destroyed. “It worked for suburbanites. It did not work for the rest of the citizens inside the city,” says Carter Jr.

Suburban residents also have easier access to Destiny Mall. Destiny is the largest mall in New York state and a fashion hub in Central New York with over 200 stores. Before Destiny, smaller suburban malls and city stores were how the community had access to fashion, but Destiny “ruined every mall in the region by cornering the market,” says Carter Jr.

For suburban residents who have cars and easy access to I-81, there isn’t an issue. They can hop on the highway and exit into the mall’s lot within minutes. Inner-city residents don’t have this luxury. Most families are too poor to afford a car. The Centro schedules and running times restrict those who take the bus routes from downtown. Other times shopping locally is their only option despite stores not always having what they need, or at an affordable cost.

Lack of access and economic privilege goes beyond the fashion industry. These issues interconnect with countless other issues like racism and feminism. The factors restricting Syracuse residents from participating in the fashion word hold true in other vectors of their lives, like finding a job or buying a home.

Breaking down classism in fashion begins with recognizing privilege, realizing that not everyone gets to choose what they wear and where it comes from. Being more aware of the luxury of choice will bring people that much closer to becoming more equal.