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Can Fashion Affect Our Mental Health?
Words Ebun Lufadeju
The fashion industry is notorious for the glamorous, fast, partying lifestyle. Have you ever wondered if fashion could ever have an ugly side? Ebun Lufadeju, Mental Health Pharmacist gives us the full breakdown of the impact of mental health illness in the fashion industry.
Can fashion ever have an ugly side?
Many people working in fashion have been more open about speaking about their mental health. Late designer Alexander McQueen famously stated in his documentary that “Every fashion designer wants to create an illusion, create things that disturb and fascinate people.” It’s not shocking that people within the fashion industry use other coping mechanisms to deal with the enormous workload or as a way to fuel creativity. In particular, drug abuse is very common in the fashion industry.
Let’s look at modelling for example. The definition of beautiful, per time, is always changing. Acceptance will always change. Imagine not being accepted for the way you look or told that you are too tall or too skinny. This can have a drastic effect on mental health and can make them have low self-esteem. Some models would have to turn to using drugs to help them get through the long days. Model Sophie Anderton, who previously suffered from cocaine addiction said that “drugs are so accessible within the industry, and it is very difficult to steer completely clear of them”. Models must maintain a specific weight, otherwise, they risk the fear of being dropped by their agency. So, instead of reaching for a healthy, nutritious meal, models can often reach for a drug or substance that will produce a ‘high’, to keep them going.
Illicit drugs are not the only addiction problem in the fashion industry, prescription drugs are also very likely to be abused. Prescription drug abuse happens when people take more of the prescribed medication or use someone else’s medication. Opioid medications, such as oxycodone and codeine are used to treat pain. However, when misused they can produce a mild feeling of euphoria. Medications such as dexamphetamine and methylphenidate, which are originally used to treat ADHD, can be abused as they act as stimulants. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and alprazolam, popularly known as Xanax, are prescribed to treat anxiety and help to promote sleep. When abused, benzodiazepines produce a calming effect, making it a popular drug of choice for anyone feeling stressed out.
Can fashion ever make us happy?
Fashion has a positive impact on the lives of many. Looking good can make you feel good and have a positive effect on one’s mood and build self-confidence, which can improve health and wellbeing.
With that being said, have you ever thought about the journey a piece of clothing takes from thought to your purchase? Perhaps an anxious intern produced the final stitch and a model with an eating disorder wore it on a Paris runway. Maybe there were underpaid workers in a factory employed to produce the item.
Furthermore, social media helps to intensify consumer insecurities and encourage more consumerism. All of these merge into a system aimed at pleasing a consumer who in fact will never be satisfied. Why do I say that? Image can never bring satisfaction because it is based on how others view you and not solely how you view yourself. I believe in looking at yourself from the inside out. A piece of clothing is nice but that is all it is, it will never complete you.
For the everyday person, social media constantly paints an image of ‘perfection to us. However, who decides what is fashionable and what is not fashionable?
Clothes do not define you, you define what you wear. There is nothing wrong with wearing designer clothes but there is no point in going into debt to look a certain way to impress people that do not even care about you. If you decide to buy a designer bag, it should be because you want to and you can afford it. Your worth is not in how much your clothes cost. Dress how you like, not because you want people to accept you.
My thoughts….
Fashion is more than art, it becomes part of life, especially for those working directly in the industry. Whilst it is part of life, it can quickly become part of death, as seen in the lives of Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, Isabella Blow and Coco Chanel – who all battled with their mental health.
I don’t think there is a ‘quick fix’ when it comes to mental health illness in the fashion industry. I think that certain attitudes and cultures will be hard to wash away. Fashion is beautiful to look at, however, sometimes we may need to examine what’s really under the beauty, to find what’s lurking beneath. This means more people have to have those honest conversations, for example, Kate Spade’s death, her company launched a wellness programme for employees and pledged to donate around one million dollars, to mental health awareness and suicide prevention causes.
Fashion can be beautiful but when not used positively, it can be harmful to many. How do we change this? This quote from Giorgio Belloli, Chief Commercial & Sustainability Officer of Farfetch sums up my thoughts: ‘We need to work as a team to build our psychological strength’. I think the only way will be unity, people working together, with the same mindset, to produce real change in the industry and as consumers.
