Equality Enlivened

Clothing are universal objects that have been heavily shaped by social norms. Men adopting feminine clothing form is not a sign of the devaluation of masculinity, nor is it the sign of elevating the feminine to the status of the masculine. Instead, it is simply the act of accepting the beauty of the other gender, just as women have learned to embrace the beauty of masculine clothing.

“Equality Enlivened” came from the concepts of different feminist movements, as well as my own observations on female self-acceptance. From these sources, came to the realization that many masculine qualities have been universalized by both sexes. Women wearing men-oriented clothing, such as pants and suits, are perfectly acceptable. Thus, in order to achieve true equality, men too must be able to accept feminine qualities into their being.  

In today’s society, the female form has come to inhabit male clothing as a sign of empowerment. Woman adopting masculine clothing is seen as a symbol of power, acceptance, and equality. Yet, for true equality to occur, acceptance must come from both spectrums. The act of women accepting men’s clothing while men continue to shy away from feminine clothing is sending out a disturbing message: women must strive towards masculinity, while men remain comfortable in their own being. In other words, being masculine is good enough, and being feminine is not. This is power play, not equality.   

Strives to champion equality through the reciprocal acceptance of clothing. The piece is a mixture between three techniques: fashion design, photography, and book design. The blue outfit is my own original design, while the white outfit is a collaboration with Tanaboon Vachirasrisoontree, a fashion design student from Institut Français de la Mode, Paris. The end piece, a photobook, is derived from the exploration of the outfits on the male form from different angles and settings.

www.bcuinspired.com/bica/portfolio/fahon-mongkolrat/