Diversify - Vol 4 (GTA Fashion Magazine)

ICYDOLL ICYDOLL ISSUE04 ALTERNATIVEFASHION&ARTSMAGAZINE MARCH2023

The People ' s Princess The People ' s Princess ISSUE04 ALTERNATIVEFASHION&ARTSMAGAZINE MARCH2023

DIVERSIFY DIVERSIFY

A WORD FROM FAITH, OUR EDITOR IN CHIEF

In the fourth volume of Diversify, we will encapsulate 'Grunge' as an aesthetic, and vocal point in the magazine's imagery. For additional context, grunge is an alternative rock genre and subculture that emerged in its own aesthetic. As an individual that has always adored punk culture and grunge in particular, I dedicate the purpose of this theme's selection to Vivienne Westwood. From her punk-era collaboration with Malcolm McLaren and beyond, Westwood's collections acted as a core inspiration for Diversify as a concept in its initial stages, and for myself as a creative during adolescence.

Therefore, I wish to honor Vivienne in this specific edition by presenting a Grunge-Punk admixture of aesthetics View it as a collaboration of aesthetics to properly honor Westwood's legacy. Other than this, I am exhilarated to announce that Diversify's headquarters has finalize renovation stages within Rockford. Simply put, we a able to garner these opportunities thanks to the de of our fans — therefore, thank you.

TheSongoftheSmoke

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THE MENTAL health of models

Mental health is a hot topic in the fashion industry. Mental illness and disorders are often glamorized and considered "edgy" or "cool." This can be extremely harmful to those who suffer from mental health issues, as it perpetuates the idea that mental illness is something to be desired. From the outside, the fashion industry is glamorous and exciting. It's a world of designer clothes, runway shows, and photo shoots in exotic locations. But behind the glitz and glamour lies a dark reality: mental health struggles are rampant in this high-pressure environment. Models, designers, photographers, and stylists – all face incredible stress as they work to create beautythatmeetsimpossiblestandards.

The high prevalence of mental health issuesinthefashionindustryisaserious problem that needs to be addressed. Unfortunately, due to the stigma attached to mental illness, many people suffering from these conditions don't seek help. This needs to change, as mental health should be taken just as seriouslyasphysicalhealth.

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and body dysmorphic disorder are just some of the mental health disorders that are common in the fashion industry. These disorders can have a devastating impact on a person's physical and mental health. These mental health disorders can lead to serious physical health complications.

These health complications include organ damage, electrolyte imbalance, and even death. Mental health disorders can also cause emotional distress and anxiety. The constant pressure to meet unrealistic standards of beauty can take a toll on a person's self-esteem and confidence.

There have been some high-profile cases of mental health issues in the fashion industry in recent years. In 2018, model Ruslana Korshunova committed suicide after struggling with depression. In 2019, Brazilian model Tales Soares died after collapsing on the runway at São Paulo Fashion Week. His death was later attributed to an undiagnosed case ofbipolardisorder.

These tragedies highlight the need for more support for mental health in the fashion industry. Mental health should be taken as seriously as physical health in this industry. Models should have access to counselors and therapists who can help them deal with the unique stresses of their job. Additionally, agencies and brands should do more to foster a healthy work-life balance for theiremployeesandmodels.

There are a number of things that can be done to support mental health in the fashionindustry. These include:

(A) Providing support and resources for thoseworkingintheindustry.Thiscould include access to mental health professionals, financial assistance, and other forms of support. (B) Promoting a healthy work-life balance for those working in the industry. This could involve ensuring that employees have ample time off, flexible working arrangements, and access to wellness programs. (C) Addressing the root causes of mental health issues in the industry. This could involve improving working conditions, addressing bullying and harassment, and providing training onhowtodealwithstressandanxiety.If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health disorder, make a change and be the help they need to breaktheirwayout.

"When I put together an outfit, I enjoy trying new things. I enjoy experimenting with high fashion while maintaining an authentic approach."

Schiaparelli Haute Couture earring.

Icydoll wears a Vivienne Westwood skirt

Icydoll wears a Vivienne Westwood skirt.

"I think I've finally found my place in the fashion scene," Icydoll says. "I'm just having fun trying out different looks and trends," she says. Demonia boots.

The influencer turned mogul claims that her personal style is influenced by the strong women in her life. Vivienne Westwood choker necklace.

ANNA REX fashion mogul

Along with being fashionable, “Anna Rex” highly values their ethics and sustainability when it comes to fashion. “We have a team that takes care of verifying that all our suppliers respect the global rights without abusing child labor, without damaging the environment, reducing co2 emissions as much as possible.” Setting them apart from typical “fast fashion” brands.

“We hope to collaborate more with local models and brands to feature what this country can oer. My next goal is to plan another fashion show like the one at the Kortz Center, there's still a lot that Maison Rex can do and I'm curious to see how people will react.” Anna mentions, as a last summary.

An Interview With mogul Anna Rex

There's no question that women have made significant strides in the business world in recent years. But when it comes to fashion, it's clear that men still dominate the industry. In fact, according to a study by Business of Fashion, only 14 percent of all major fashion brands are owned by women. One such woman is the fashionmogul'AnnaRex'.

She describes herself in duality: “I consider both Anna and Anna Rex very different people. One it's just a woman that wants to spend time in her garden, taking care of roses and tulips. /The/ Anna Rex is what the people most know always well dressed with high standards. A fashion designer from Nantes - in France that used to work for other brands in Paris and Milan before movingtoLosSantos.”

The brand prides itself on its identity, especially following family values. Anna herself talks about this: “It all started with my parents. My mother started to feel out of place in that culture and fashion idealism, they founded Maison Rex in France, it's a family-run house. When my parents decided to take a step back to rest, I took the reins as Creative Director. From that moment as per tradition, the Maison Rex stores took my name: AnnaRex”.

The main difference with “Anna Rex”, is that they are inspired by French fashion trends: “We don't have a lot of casual design, meanwhile most of the brandsI'm of course talking about local brandsare focused on streetwear and casual attires. Although locally, I have to admit that I'm in love with the designs of Icydoll.”

Involving inclusivity, in the past, Anna Rex has worked with curvy models and people from different countries and origins. The entire brand is revolved around feminism and the inclusion of all people to push the industry to inclusionary avenues. Anna mentions: “This is the same inside the company, we want to work with everyone. Men, women, non-binary, people with differentideas,notjust'yesman'.”

“I was the only one who looked dierent in a line of able-bodied, white, skinny women. I was told how the company I modeled for was criticized for lack of diversity as I joined, and how much my appearance would help silence the criticism. It felt amazing but at the same time... I knew I wasn't being true to myself. It's like I sold my soul.”

An Interview With Minerva zheng

Fashion is an important part of our culture and self-expression, but for too long it has excluded people with disabilities. This is beginning to change, as more designers and brands are incorporating disability inclusion into their work. One example is London-based designer Aimee Mullins, who created a line of prosthetic legs for her fashion show in 2012. This not only challenged traditional ideas about beauty and ability but also showed how fashion canbeinclusiveofalltypesofpeople.

But amongst all the awareness, it isn’t as easy to get on the runway, as more commonly able-bodies models do. Minerva, a local amputee model featured in this article comments: “I never even intended to end up in the industry honestly, my skills are more towards intellect rather than creativity. I was approached and told by a modeling company that I had to try modeling. So... more than anything I was trying to make sure they were right about the vision they had for me.”

Amputee models such as Viktoria

Modesta and Aimee Mullins have helped to lead the way in this regard. Modesta is a British model and performance artist who has appeared on the covers of magazines such as VogueandHarper'sBazaar.

"She took something that would normally be seen as a hindrance and made it her own”, Minerva comments. Her quote, "Some of us were born to be different, some of us were born to take risks. I think with a little effort that can easily become a rallying cry for all disabled people. Yet at the same time, it's difficult to say that all disabled people consider themselves different, or risk-takers. I certainly wasn't arisktakerbefore.”

In recent years, there has been a growing trendofdisabilityinclusioninfashion.But how far does inclusion go, rather than being just a trend, or even a token piece amongst designers. There is still some way to go before disability inclusion in fashion becomes the norm rather than the exception,butprogressisbeingmade.

As a nal comment, Cecilia ends with: “Don't be afraid to take risks and trust your instincts. Never stop learning and growing - stay up to date on industry trends and innovations and always be open to new ideas and opportunities.”

An Interview With Cecilia Rodriguez

Fashion is more than just a statement, it's an industry that touches the lives of millions of people worldwide. However, with its rapid growth and widespread influence comes the responsibility to promote sustainability in every aspect of its operations. From sourcing raw materials to manufacturing practices and waste management, fashion has a crucial role to play in protecting our planetforfuturegenerations.

There are many sustainable and responsible fashion brands out there doing great things to help the environment. “Haute” a fashion brand owned by self-made millionaire supermodel Cecilia Rodriguez shines anddeliversineveryaspectofthis.

Cecilia describes “Haute” as: “A fashion brand that seeks to empower women through trendy and sustainable clothing designs. I wanted to create a brand that not only looks good but also does well. It all started in 2022 when I noticed a gap in the fashion industry for sustainable and ethical clothing that empowers women.”

The fashion industry produces 2 billion tonnes of waste every year. In comparison, this is more than twice the amount of waste produced by all chemicalsandplasticcombined.

Cecilia comments: “One of the biggest challenges we faced was finding sustainable and ethical suppliers for our materials, but we overcame this by doing extensive research and partnering with like-minded companies.” By building her brand on the motto “Look good, do good”, “Haute” has managed to set itself apart from major fashion brands in terms of prioritizing their values - Sustainability andresponsibility.

Responsible and sustainable fashion is a movement that encourages transparency, accountability, and circularity within the fashion industry. Cecilia adds to this, saying: “When you shop with us, you can feel good knowing that you are making a positive impact with every purchase of ourproducts."

“There's really no such thing as the 'voiceless'. There are only the deliberately silenced, or the preferably unheard.”

Arundhati Roy