Project Statement

Project Statement 

The concept is statement tops to signify the domineering effect racism can have. The use of the offence being domineering and powerful, the idea that it can be mould and consume someone to be identified in a certain way. This identifies the negative perception the West has on the Orient. 

The key theme is division, the idea of people perceiving the Orient as one. This highlights the stereotypical perception people have on the Orient, when in fact the Orient contains complex cultures and ethnicities.  The tops are based on my own personal experiences with race discrimination. The tops are categorised into different groups: Black, Asian and Arab. This emphasises how these groups are seen as one.  

The publication explores other racial discrimination, in the style of a burn book. This idea shows the target market that they are not alone with racism, as from my own experiences you can easily feel like an outside. The publication creates this power to help individuals who perhaps feel lost with their cultural identity. 

The use of Fashion being used in a Graphic Design context helps brings out a voice, as fashion has a powerful voice in conveying a message. There is a lack of representation of ethnic women in the fashion industry, and this publication helps empower women of colour, creating more ethnic role models to stop ignorance in addition to educate individuals about racism and the impact it can have. 

Overall this project highlights many theories from Orientalism by Edward Said (1978). The main theory being power, suggesting how the Orient can be moulded and consumed (Said, 1978). This domineering effect is conveyed through fashion and the media in the terms of Cultural Appropriation. Another theory explored is Resistance; the idea of Eastern cultures migrating to the West has allowed women to have more of a voice and independence, allowing ethnic women to be independent. This goes onto establishing that perhaps the East is backwards, this insinuates its inferiority in the West. This inferior representation is highlighted through the lack of representation of women in the fashion industry. 

In Western minorities, Islam is perceived as evil and dark (Said, 1978). Said (1978) goes onto say how Islam got this negative reputation. It was important to me to include an “Arab” section in the publication as in my opinion, Muslims have such a negative backlash. It is important to raise the issue and to show the beauty in the religion, to help develop a voice for Islam in more of a positive tone. 

Another theory explored is Critical Race Theory. As a designer, I wanted to include the theory of “being too sensitive” as when I was faced from racial discrimination, I had people say I was being too sensitive. This is important as I feel people miss the understanding of the effects and impacts racial abuse can have. For someone saying it is too sensitive is someone’s opinion, it lacks understanding and empathy. The publication is to create understanding and empathy about the power of racial abuse.