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Read more about the intersection of crime and fashion in these research articles written by MA Fashion Students.
SO YOU’RE A TOUGH GUY
“In an industry widely known for profiting off the objectification and sexual abuse of women, Eilish is seeking to reclaim bodily autonomy and protection through her style.” Written by Iva Pivalica.
SEMIOTICS OF WHITE SUPREMACIST PROTEST WEAR
“The meaning of clothes changes, depending on how they are read, and for this analysis of extremist wear, there are many deeper understandings than meet the eye.” Written by Laura Dionne
PRISON TATTOOS: REFERENCE ON THE RUNWAY
“The act of face and neck tattooing has shifted from its original association with permanence and has become a performative expression of deviance used to curate a brand image. ” Written by Yuting Tang.
THE POWER OF STORYTELLING: CRIME, TRAGEDY AND DEATH AS A MARKETING STRATEGY
“But why, as consumers, are we obsessed with crime, tragedy and death? What compels us to purchase products after hearing about the death of a person? And how can luxury fashion brands leverage these consumer behaviours to further their bottom line?” Written by Laura Albernaz.
THIS MOLLY HOUSE IS A MOLLY HOME
“As the rooms progress upward in levels, we travel through history, exploring various gay signalling devices and subcultures.” Written by Eiro Issakidis.
POLICE RIOT GEAR: DRESSING FOR VIOLENCE
“For the public, riot gear may incite fear or perhaps encourage aggression against the perceived intentions of the police. Certainly, the records of police brutality shape such perceptions and the actions that may follow.” Written by Phylicia Earl.
FASHION DOESN’T WANT YOU TO BE FAT AND NEITHER DO PRISONS
“Fat women have already been accustomed to being told what they could and could not wear when they were outside of prison. Clothing is always an issue on fat bodies, because the institutions, both in fashion and correctional facilities, want them to suffer for the bodies they have.” Written by Sarina Mohan.
ISLAMOPHOBIA AND VISIBILITY
“The concept of Muslim womanhood is often reduced to the physical materialization the hijab, hence focuses solely on religious identity. The digital world has become a space where Muslim women’s visible identities can be curated through their lived experiences as open sites of discussion.” Written by Rehab Patel.
CONTEXTUALIZING THE HOODIE: AS A SITE OF CRIMINALIZATION & RESISTANCE
“The tragic display of the hoodie within the racially motivated murder of Trayvon Martin exposes the specific use of clothing as a form of Black criminalization.” Written by Shaina Amar.
CROSS-DRESSING WOMEN: KINGS, CRIMINALS, AND COUNTER-CULTURALISTS
From breeches to Bond Girls, from escape to performance, cross-dressing has played a significant role in women’s sartorial histories of resistance and advancement.” Written by Erin Colquhuon.
SNEAKERS AND CRIME
“The connection between footwear and crime is not a new phenomenon. There are records of shoes being used as evidence for hundreds of years.” Written by Kaleigh Morris.
COUNTERFEITS AND THE APPROPRIATION OF STREETWEAR: A CASE STUDY OF DAPPER DAN
“Dapper Dan’s history and an analysis of his influence on contemporary streetwear proves that his work was so much more than producing counterfeit or bootlegged goods.” Written by Bianca Zanotti.