Celebrating Diversity Through Fashion

From hairstyles to sunglasses to everyday outfits, a new Georgia Southern University Museum exhibition features the fashion choices students, faculty and staff make each day. The “Let’s Get Dressed” exhibition celebrates the diverse identities in the campus community including race, ethnicity, gender, religion, culture, ability and body size. It was designed by senior students in the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art and curated by Addie Martindale, Ph.D., an associate professor of fashion merchandising and apparel design, in the School of Human Ecology.

Graphic design major Sam Glover, the primary student lead on the project, worked extensively with Martindale to bring the show to life. Glover’s responsibilities included developing the color palette and designing the overall look, feel and aesthetic of the exhibit. Glover, who identifies as nonbinary, said the primary challenge they faced was time management. Balancing the project with other responsibilities, such as work and school, required extra effort. Despite the obstacles, Glover shared they learned many valuable and positive lessons.

“As a designer during COVID, we didn’t get to produce a lot of physical work,” Glover noted. “But getting to see this exhibit come to life helped me see I’m capable of much more than I realized. And I learned how much I really love what I do. Getting to see it go from being on a screen and seeing all the pieces come together has to be my favorite thing about graphic design — seeing the production and how it impacts people.”

Inclusivity is a top priority of the exhibition. Martindale, an accomplished scholar in the field of fashion, is focused on expanding inclusive practices in the industry and improving functional design for underrepresented populations to increase wearer empowerment. She explained why it was important to her that people felt represented by the displays, which include pieces that represent a variety of body sizes, ethnic and racial backgrounds, and LGBTQ representation.

“When I was young, they didn’t have sizes for me, and I had to have someone who made clothes for me,” the professor said. “Shopping in the plus size section in the 90s was hard. Inclusivity and accessibility are the heart of what I do and unfortunately, something I believe fashion tends to exclude. So, my experience in fashion has been about providing solutions to give more options. …There is seriously more clothing for dogs than for people with disabilities. The fashion industry caters to a very narrow market. I love the diversity of my students and I still don’t see them represented the way they should be, so I’m always seeking opportunities to have their stories heard.”

Geneisa Ragin, a recent graduate from Warner Robins, Georgia, has a passion for vibrant cartoon characters, anime and video games, and she spent much of her childhood years indulging in these hobbies. Her love for these pastimes continues to this day, as she incorporates them into her everyday life by wearing unique, colorful outfits that bring her joy. She also creates images from those hobbies in her cosplay designs.

“Dressing up boosts my energy to do what I want to in my day-to-day life,” Ragin said. “After graduating my plan is to just focus on cosplay commissions, design, and figuring out myself.”The exhibition will run in the University Museum throughout the year. Each display piece features a QR code that allows visitors to listen and learn more about the item they are viewing. 

— Julianna Leverette, Georgia Southern graduate and a
reporter for Grice Connect in Statesboro, Georgia
Photos by Jonathan Chick