Drug Use in the Fashion Industry

DRUG USE IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
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Drug Use in the Fashion Industry
The fashion industry is characteristic of diverse manifestations of freedom of expression through its exquisite, glamourous, and even intriguing clothing and other fashion apparel designs. Most often than not, these designs often reflect society’s perception of key aspects of the global community across the social, political, and economic domains. For instance, some designs from the clothing and apparel sectors of the fashion industry represent the affluent nature of elite individuals and groups in the global society. Such designs tend to resonate with individuals and groups who can afford the luxurious designer clothing and wares introduced into the market by a given fashion entity. In essence, the fashion industry tends to reinforce society’s structural orientation across the economic statuses of individuals and groups worldwide. Photographers, stylists, models, and designers further exercise their political freedom of expression through their diverse and captivating styles of fashion, photography, and captions for their fashion exhibitions. The late Davide Sorrenti’s caption of Kate Moss in ‘Heroin Chic’ for Calvin Klein’s fashion design in the mid-90s is an excellent depiction of the manifestation of the freedom of expression in the fashion industry (Poulsen, 2019). Andrew Groves’s caption of his runway show in 1999, Cocaine Night, further reiterates the freedom of expression exercised by renowned designers in the fashion industry CITATION Whe16 \l 1033 (Wheeler, 2016). It is also important to recognize the positive impact of the fashion industry on the global economic sector. The fashion industry makes for one of the most lucrative economic sectors worldwide, accounting for billions of dollars in revenue generation and creating employment for millions of people in different countries. Renowned models such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Paris Hilton amassed massive fortunes from the glamourous industry through lucrative fashion deals with some of the leading fashion entities in the equally highly competitive industry. The fashion companies or organizations further employ both skilled and semi-skilled workers across different countries for the production of their preferred fabrics and subsequent manufacturing process of the clothing lines. Therefore, the fashion industry plays a significant role in shaping or influencing society’s perception of some of the key elements affecting the global community across the social, political, and economic domains.
However, the perceived freedom of expression and unsanctioned influence on society’s perception of key elements across society’s social, political, and economic domains raises some concerns among different stakeholders, including the industry players and members of the public. The fashion industry is notoriously characteristic of embracing fashion designs and themes with strong correlations to drug use and abuse. Such depictions result from the need by fashion designers and their companies to embrace the trending lifestyles for higher sales volume of their newly manufactured clothing lines and dressing styles. Though the industry enjoys a global consumer base, maintaining an organization’s competitiveness in the market demands a continuous appeal and influences people’s perception of beauty and fashion. Achieving the said outcome pushes the fashion industry players into adopting unorthodox or socially unacceptable ways of endearing the global consumer base to their diverse fashion wears. Kate Moss’ ‘Heroin chic’ depiction in the mid-90s and Andrew Groves’ ‘Cocaine Night’ runway fashion theme highlight the extent to which some of the fashion entities go in marketing their works. The widespread and increasing use of drug motifs in fashion designs, such as Jeremy Scott’s pill-eccentric capsule collection recalled from the market in 2016 by Nordstrom, further reiterates the link between drug use and the fashion industry. Fashion industry members, such as models, designers, photographers, and stylists, also suffer from stress and anxiety disorders resulting from the long working hours characterizing the industry of glam and partying. Such individuals tend to fall victim to both prescription and illegal drugs to survive the intense pressures of their working environments. Though such drug dependency, use, and abuse are often hidden from the public eye and mainstream media, the fashion industry is marred by the widespread use of drugs requiring the development and implementation of effective interventional measures. This paper explores the link between drug use and the fashion industry, highlighting the former’s diverse manifestations, implications, proposed countermeasures, and their efficacy in addressing the use of drugs across different sectors of the fashion industry.
Aims and Objectives
Among the key objectives of the research project is to explore the link between drug use and the fashion industry. Drug use in the fashion industry takes different manifestations ranging from the use and abuse of drugs by individuals in the industry and the use of drug motifs in fashion designs by industry players. It is, therefore, important to explore the scope of drug use in the fashion industry to understand their correlation. The research project further seeks to unveil the underlying factors perpetuating the diverse use of drugs in the fashion industry and their implications on individuals and groups in the fashion industry. It also explores some of the proposed countermeasures against drug use in the fashion industry while highlighting and evaluating their efficacy in dealing with the problem. The study then proceeds to offer recommendations for developing effective policy measures and practices toward addressing the negative implications of drug use in the fashion industry.
Background
The use of drugs in the fashion industry came to light at the beginning of the 1990s through its unsanctioned glorification of drug abuse and unhealthy lifestyle habits. The industry underwent a transition from the subtle depiction of models in their raw and natural nature witnessed in the early 80s to embracing perceived freedom of expression in photography. The unconventional photography themes embraced by late photographer Davide Sorrenti and in most of Calvin Klein’s advertisements, such as the ‘Heroin Chic,’ highlighted the industry’s quest to embrace its freedom of expression CITATION Pou13 \l 1033 (Poulsen, 2013). Kate Moss’ appearance in the renowned photograph of the heroin chic was a vivid glamorization of heroin use as it highlighted the model’s dark circles underneath the eyes, pale skin, skinny body, and angular bone structure CITATION ODo18 \l 1033 (ODonoghue, 2018). Despite the highlighted features being synonymous with heroin users and addicts, the ‘Heroin Chic’ imagery gained popularity among the industry players. Designers embraced the image as a model for their collections, while renowned photographers embarked on taking such shots in their marketing and promotional advertisements CITATION ODo18 \l 1033 (ODonoghue, 2018).
The ensuing glorification of drug use by the fashion industry through unconventional themes in fashion photography coupled with the use of such themes by designers in their clothing lines attracted the attention of both the mainstream media and the public. The glorification of drugs by the fashion industry to promote their sales opened up the industry to further probing by media houses and members of the public. Though Calvin Klein admitted to prescription drugs and alcohol addiction in the 80s, it was not until the death of Davide Sorrenti in 1997 that the public understood the rot of drug use and abuse perpetrated by the fashion industry and its fatal effects on individuals and society as a whole. Davide Sorrenti’s death from a drug overdose was a clear indication that the lucrative and glamorous industry was characteristic of widespread use and abuse of drugs. The talented photographer’s death and that of one of the industry’s idols, Kurt Cobain, led to a public outcry led by some of the key players in the fashion industry and President Bill Clinton in condemning the glorification of drugs CITATION ODo18 \l 1033 (ODonoghue, 2018).
Nevertheless, the glorification of drug use continues to manifest in today’s fashion industry, with industry players such as models, photographers, and designers embracing drug themes and motifs for their diverse clothing, apparel, and runway shows. However, the increasing awareness among members of the public and stakeholders in the fashion industry on the negative implications of drug use and abuse offers a reprieve to its proliferation within the private and public domains of the industry. The pulling off the market of the Moschino capsule collection by Nordstrom due to consumer complaints that the product glamorized opioid use is an excellent example of a step in the right direction CITATION Whe16 \l 1033 (Wheeler, 2016). The project offers that there is still more to be done in controlling the use of drugs in the fashion industry while also monitoring the link between the two. In essence, this research project appeals to all stakeholders in the fashion industry to explore the manifestation of drug use in the fashion industry, identify the perpetuating factors, and develop effective policy frameworks for controlling and monitoring the link between drug use and the fashion industry.
Methodology
The research study builds on a comprehensive analysis, review, and evaluation of selected literature on drug use in the fashion industry. Thus the research study took a qualitative approach using selected keywords to identify the viability of the selected articles for the literature review presented herein. A literature review of the selected documents was conducted, highlighting the diverse manifestations of drug use in the fashion industry, the contributing factors, its implications on the industry, and the available countermeasures for addressing the identified negative implications of the same. The literature review further presents a random analysis and evaluation of the authors’ different content and presentations on the issue of drug use in the fashion industry. A total of fifteen articles were selected for the literature review and overall development of the research paper.
Keywords: Drug use in the fashion industry, Drug abuse in fashion, drug culture in fashion, Drug dependency and fashion, and Drug addiction in the fashion industry.
Literature Review
The fashion industry is perhaps one of the oldest economic industries in the world, providing basic clothing and beauty apparel worn across different generations CITATION Hoc88 \l 1033 (Hochswender, 1988). The industry has since evolved over different generations to become one of the most lucrative and glamorous economic industries worldwide. It is without question that it enjoys one of the largest customer bases owing to the global clothing need and affinity for fashion trends among individuals and groups across the global society CITATION Men211 \l 1033 (Menon, 2021). The fashion industry influences society’s perception of how to wear or put on clothes, apply different makeup products, wear jewelry and other beauty apparel, carry handbags, and style up one’s hair for different occasions. The global appeal and influence of the outlined elements on individuals and groups across different societies around the world thrive on an intense work environment characterizing the highly competitive industry.
Drug use in the Fashion Industry
According to Woody Hochswender (1988), the link between drug use and the fashion industry can be traced back to the 1960s. Though not widely encouraged or embraced by the fashion industry players, drug use in the lucrati...