Mental health awareness has gained traction and become a big talking point in the last few years. As this topic gains prevalence in many industries in the business world, it continues a discussion in the fashion world. Designers can benefit from keeping mental health impacts and information in mind when working on their designs in a few different ways.
The Psychology of Self-Expression
Self-expression is a big part of everyday life, whether people do it through artistic means or not. Developing self-expression can lead to a healthy mindset and helps consumers understand their passions and reach personal goals. Self-expression is also one of the key factors of individualism, which contributes in large part to mental health.
Fashion Expression Has Positive Impacts
All fashion consumers express themselves through their clothing, style, and apparel. That’s because garments and style inherently showcase personality, culture, lifestyle, creativity, or a multitude of these factors. Particularly, those who have a difficult time expressing themselves with words or who naturally tend toward introversion can benefit from using fashion expression to show their personalities, resulting in a mental health boost. Additionally, what people wear can give them a sense of confidence and self-worth, which can also tie into the impacts of fashion on mental health.
Particular Fabrics and Colors to Consider When Designing with Mental Health in Mind
Factors like the materials and colors of fashion apparel have subconscious effects on the wearer’s mental health. When it comes to the fabrics, some health-conscious consumers may be more inclined to wear materials and natural fabrics that are marked “clean” and include a low number of harmful chemicals and dyes. Some natural fabrics like these include:
- Bamboo
- Silk
- Linen
- Organic Cotton
- Wool
- Cashmere
When it comes to color, certain shades elicit moods that can impact mental health. Some colors even cite mood impacts based on studies, like:
- Blue – Blue is known to be an antidepressant color and relaxing to the viewer.
- Green – Green can reduce anxiety and have a calming effect on the viewer.
- Gray, Brown, Black, and White – These colors can help people enter a contemplative and zen state.
- Red, Pink, and Purple – These colors can inspire a sense of purpose and optimism.
- Orange and Yellow – These colors are both bold and humorous.
Focusing on these colors in fashion design can help you positively impact your consumers’ subconscious moods, in turn benefiting their mental health.
As you design your next season, bear in mind the ever-present correlation between mental health and fashion – especially if positive mental health is a cause that your brand champions in its values or mission. Of course, there are various organizations that raise mental health awareness that businesses can support and partner with, but looking at ways to incorporate positive mental health features and themes into product designs can also make an impact while tying more directly into your label’s bottom line.
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