The Fashion Studies Journal in collaboration with an editorial team from Italy consisting of Fashion writer and independent researcher Sara Kaufman, Professor Anna Zinola, teacher and researcher at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Istituto Marangoni Milan, and marketing and communication specialist Virginia Attisani, invites submission for a special issue:
“Fashion and Politics”
The theme:
Fashion is a political matter. It states, it revolutionizes, it claims, it creates and deconstructs social stereotypes, social classes, and social conventions. It oppresses and it liberates. It is also a powerful industry within a capitalist world, and players and consumers can decide which position to take: in or out, disrupt or maintain, preserve or dismantle.
We may not always be aware of it, but our clothes, and the way we communicate through them, have a political value: this is because of when, where and how they were produced, because of what they represent socially, and because of the context in which we wear them. Brands, garments, and styles all have an implicit, or explicit, political meaning and while we sometimes choose to ignore it, the simple act of getting dressed each and every day is de facto a political demonstration.
In a world where political decisions end up influencing our lives in a way that often seems beyond our control, analyzing the political aspects within something as everyday as clothing may be a way to take some of that control back.
We seek contributions in the form of written content ranging from traditional academic research to personal essays, creative writing, and poetry. Written texts should be maximum 5000 words. We also welcome visual contributions such as photoshoots, videos, artwork etc. Given the theme, the more international the better; submissions from ethnic minorities and from the LGBTQI+ community are particularly welcome.
Please send an abstract of 500 words, or a visual presentation of your artwork, to: fashionandpolitics.fsj@gmail.com
Deadline for abstracts: 31st of July
Deadline for complete drafts: mid-November
The Issue will be published on The Fashion Studies Journal in summer 2023
Some sample topics to get you started
While fashion and politics have been intertwined throughout history, we are mostly interested in analyzing the relationship between the two in contemporary society, historical topics are welcome when and if they also have a reference in the contemporary world.
Is there still a right-wing and a left-wing way of dressing?
What kind of uniforms does society accept, refuse or impose today?
What kind of political values does contemporary fashion express? How do these work with the politics of the various countries of the world?
What kind of political views do designers have today? How do they express them?
How do politicians (and royalties) dress in the various parts of the world? What do their clothes stand for?
The Power Suit (in all its declinations.)
The war in Ukraine: Zelensky’s army-green t-shirt, the “wear your protest” demonstrations in Russia, Russian influencers destroying their Chanel bags after the imposed embargo…
(Laws and social diktats regarding) Modest fashion: what are the norms in terms of dress of the various religious communities? How are items with a strong religious connotation perceived in self-proclaimed non-religious communities?
Please note: Besides Fascism, Nazism and racist slurs, we are open to all kinds of political positions, left and right, and to all kinds of language as long as it is not unnecessarily offensive. Do not be afraid of pitching something to “radical”, adjustments may be needed in a second moment, but we wish to respect and ideally represent as many views as possible.