Written by Cassell Ferere

“A victim impact statement is a written or oral statement made as part of the judicial legal process, which allows crime victims the opportunity to speak during the sentencing of the convicted person or at subsequent parole hearings.” - Wikipedia

Having an impact on society through fashion is the underlining fabric of the industry. Fashion often initiates a change of a societal norm, for better. Fashion is in a continuum of acceptance, inclusivity, sustainability, humility, and aspirational. Bstroy made an impactful statement this New York Fashion Week with its Season 5 Spring/Summer 2020 collection. Besides the cut and sewn garments which make up the majority of the line, four hoodies stood out as they bared names of schools which were subject to a shooting. Inspired by a short passage on an exhibition postcard by The Face magazine, displayed on his Instagram, ½ of the founding partners, Brick Owens, used words like, “life’s fragility” and translated it to reflect the current state of affairs and political climate. Something fashion has become infamous for.

Brick Owens displayed these distressed hoodies down the runway worn by male models of various ethnic backgrounds. What resembled bullet holes riddled throughout the upper torso, with the names of schools Columbine, Virginia Tech., Sandy Hook, and Stoneman Douglas, all involved in school shootings, the public, as well as survivors have voiced their opinions of the design of these hoodies and their disdain with the sentiment. Receiving the backlash comes with the territory. 

In reflection to the same current state of affairs and political climate, Sandy Hook Promise - founded by survivors of the Sandy Hook school shooting - has also come out with an impactful video that is stirring up society. The intentionally disturbing, real-life scenario, shows children going through daily school-oriented activities, building to a backdrop of a school shooting during the overtone of the “back to school” message. Bringing awareness to the state in which we are living and how it is affecting our schools. In the same vein, they want to have a shock value. They want to bring attention to an issue that they feel isn’t being addressed appropriately. Although the founders are not particularly survivors of such heinous acts or that fashion is peripheral in respect to political issues and thus, has no real place, there.

It is thought-provoking and is our problem as Americans. But the two mediums aren’t consumed in the same context, and that’s where fashion is more powerful than we think. If it disrupts, then it shall generate some energy for a change in the current narrative. Currently, we have a crisis with guns and guns in schools, so as horrifying as the idea seems, fashion can be a change agent and with all due respect a reflection of what’s happening in societies around the world.

Featured