Create Healing: A Fashion Therapy System
Clothing is a fundamental part of human communication, as one’s choice of clothing can reflect important aspects of one’s identity. Traditional fashion therapy services typically only focus on the individual’s experience wearing certain clothing, however, Create Healing not only focuses on the effect of wearing the garments, but also the psychological effect of making them. [1]
Art and design has always been a form of self-expression for me. It is a medium that allows people the freedom to express their feelings and process complex emotions that often escape language. Using my background in fashion and my knowledge of art therapy, this project seeks to use the techniques of recreational therapy—like making art and designing clothes—to help people who wish to find alternative methods to practice self-care and healing to improve their emotional well-being. [2]
Create Healing attempts to personalize the teaching of garment-making skills to each participant, and in doing so, provide them with the space to find empowerment through the tactical aspects of making in hopes of allowing them to feel control over their creative and emotional expression.
Create Healing was test-piloted with three different participants: Bianca Criscuolo, Katrina (Kat) Cherk, and Narith (Alex) Vuy. Below, watch videos of their individual Create Healing experiences and explore their respective journeys.
Notes
1. Dawnn Karen, “Fashion Psychology 101,” in Dress Your Best Life (New York, NY: Little Brown Spark, 2020), 19-45.
2. Mary Ann Cohen, “Creativity and Recovery: The Mental Health Benefits of Art Therapy,” RTOR (Resources To Recover), July 10, 2018, https://www.rtor.org/2018/07/10/benefits-of-art-therapy/.
Additional Resources
Pittman, Matt. “How Does Art Therapy Heal the Soul? The Science of Happiness.” SoulPancake. YouTube, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN2rTaFUlxs.
“The State of Mental Health in America.” Mental Health America, 2021. https://www.mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.
