eCREATIVE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2016 | Page 15

eCREATIVE Photo: Heath Latter commitment to aspirational high fashion for every body type, we will be at the forefront of a movement that I am hoping will spread throughout fashion programs, designer workrooms, and retailers across the country and will begin to alter body image attitudes,” noted Todd Conover, assistant professor and coordinator of the fashion design program. Celebrities can also play major roles in the fashion diversity conversation. “It’s wonderful when a celebrity gets mad enough to speak out on this issue,” said EMME. She referenced comedian Rebel Wilson’s confident “rocker chick” style at Torrid and actress Melissa McCarthy who recently launched her own clothing line at Macy's after having a difficult time finding clothes for herself. Actress Tia Mowry recently made headlines when she addressed her curvier figure on social media after fans attributed her weight gain to pregnancy. “I am not pregnant, I am just happy,” Mowry told The Huff Post Life. “I’ve gained these extra pounds because of my cooking show. Right now I’m happy with who I am.” Mowry is now advocating for other women in the media who may have felt the pressures of adhering to a certain size. “We need to be more supportive with body images, especially with women, showing that all sizes are beautiful,” she said. According to EMME, there is a smart and inclusive way to thank those in the media who shed light on the issues of body image and fashion diversity. “Before we sprint, we have to crawl and walk,” she added. “Where we didn’t get coverage 20 years ago, we getting so much more on this issue today. Communication is the only way this industry is going to stay viable, survive, and change where it needs to. This is an industry not a trend as it's been portrayed in the past.”