The Creative School students co-host fashion symposium with Parsons School of Design
This spring, the School of Fashion at The Creative School partnered with the Parsons School of Design to co-host Unraveling Fashion Narratives, the first Fashion Studies Network Symposium. The two-day event, which took place in New York, NY, brought together graduate students, makers, and artists to examine fashion through lenses such as sustainability, decolonial perspectives, and identity politics.
Organizers posing on the first day of the symposium at The New School in New York, NY. Image courtesy of Nimla Alam.
A Platform for Critical Conversations
The symposium aimed to foster innovative research and dialogue while showcasing the relationship between fashion and social dynamics. Carlea Blight, a graduate student in the TMU-York Communication and Culture Master’s program, shared her thoughts on the importance of alternative fashion narratives.
“One of the most memorable moments was listening to our plenary speaker, Preeti Gopinath, who delivered a talk about conscious and authentic making. Preeti’s holistic ideas and beautiful delivery were deeply profound, resonating with everyone in the room,” she noted.
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TMU panelists Charlotte Little and Kirsten Mann presenting Making Material Intimacies: Theorizing Research-Creation Through Embodied Practice on the second day of the symposium. Image courtesy of Kirsten Mann.
Fostering Collaboration
The partnership between Parsons and Toronto Metropolitan University was pivotal in the symposium’s success. “Collaborating with Parsons over the past few months has given us every opportunity to bring our big ideas to life,” Blight explained. “Providing students with the chance to learn from each other in the magic of New York City would not have been possible without the Parsons team.”
Kyle Shepherd, a TMU Fashion student, emphasized the value of this collaboration, noting, “The opportunity to host a symposium at a forefront fashion institution certainly inspired me and gave a voice to the work being done at the many institutions represented at the symposium.”
Outside The New School in New York, NY, where Unravelling Fashion Narratives was held. Image courtesy of The New School.
Organizers welcoming attendees and participants at Unravelling Fashion Narratives. Image courtesy of Fashion Studies at The Creative School.
Enriching Learning and Networking
The symposium provided participants with a wealth of opportunities for growth and connection. When discussing the event’s outcomes, Blight hoped that participants would leave with an understanding of the many opportunities available to them in the field of fashion—as students, creatives, and scholars.
Shepherd also reflected on the symposium’s success in encouraging community. “I believe that the research being done in fashion studies is robust, nuanced, and intersectional, and I hope that everyone was able to feel a sense of pride and camaraderie during the 2-day symposium,” he remarked.
Panelists from the Continental Histories session engaging in a Q&A. Image courtesy of Cara Green.
As participants immersed themselves in New York City’s cultural landscape and engaged with diverse perspectives, Unravelling Fashion Narratives highlighted the significance of collaboration, innovation, and exploration in the field of fashion and at The Creative School.
