Call For Papers: Student Fashion Symposium 2024
“Fashion Becoming” is a symposium that aims to examine the changing landscape of fashion in
contemporary society. While resources for fashion education and content are more prevalent
than ever due to social media and the rising popularity of independent fashion actors, the
contemporary fashion space is not equally open to all. We will consider the Euro-American
fashion landscape and question its internal discourses and institutions, investigating how a
dominating voice in global fashion curates, others, and challenges its constituents. In this
current system questions of monetary costs toward education, hyper-trends, diversity,
gatekeeping and power dynamics vacillate and compete for influence in defining what fashion is
and how it operates. “Fashion Becoming” looks to question how and what fashion is becoming
with consideration to the barriers to entry and expansion in the field, the competing tendencies
of democratisation and exclusion, and the role of cultural intermediaries in the maintenance and
creation of the former phenomena. The symposium will consist of panel discussions and talks
under three primary sections: Barriers to Fashion Education, Democratisation of Fashion, and
Cultural Intermediaries, each of which provide insight into the evolving fashion system.
Organised collaboratively by students from Parsons Paris MA Fashion Studies, London College
of Fashion MA Fashion Cultures and Histories and V&A/RCA History of Design MA, we invite a
diverse audience ranging from students, academics, and industry professionals and welcome
voices both party to and challenged by the Euro-American voice of fashion to engage in this
stimulating discourse. “Fashion Becoming” is a platform for anyone passionate about understanding the boundaries and possibilities in contemporary fashion, shaping the future of
the fashion system and redefining the voices of fashion.
We will discuss three major themes:
● Barriers to Fashion Education: While fashion is everywhere it is not equally accessible
to all, barriers to fashion questions the costs and exclusivity of fashion education and
careers.
● Democratisation of Fashion: Democratising asks if fashion media has changed: are
there new kinds of voices, are more people able to make impactful opinions, is fashion
more accessible than before?
● Cultural Intermediaries: Cultural Intermediaries occupy liminal spaces in fashion
media: influencing consumers and engaging with institutions, expanding and
gatekeeping access to fashion and acting as tastemakers and followers. Can their role in
between provide a way to reshape and dissect fashion systems?
SUBMISSION DETAILS:
Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: 18th March 2024
We welcome your contribution to redefining the fashion landscape and invite academics,
students, researchers, and creative industry members to contribute to and shape the voice of
fashion. Abstracts with focus on transnational systems are welcome. Please submit an abstract
connected to one of our major themes outlining a research paper or a 10-15 minute
presentation/talk. Alternate formats are welcome.
Please submit the following to our email: fashionbecomingsymposium@gmail.com
● Indicate one theme under which you wish to read your papers
● A short explanation of how you wish to present. E.g. slideshow, talk, etc.
● 300 words (max) abstract and 100 words biography in DOC or PDF file format
● Link to your website or social media (optional)
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: 19th April 2024
Location: London College of Fashion, 105 Carpenters Rd, London E20 2AR
This will be a hybrid event via Zoom and limited in-person capacity, an RSVP will be necessary
if you intend to attend the event in person.
Contact us: fashionbecomingsymposium@gmail.com
Find us on instagram: @fashionbecoming