Culture

For years double denim has been seen as a fashion crime, something which is frowned upon and should never be worn. However, with our forever changing world of fashion and more outgoing society, have we finally reached a time in this life where such an absurd style is now accepted?

Around a year ago, my friend and I decided we wanted to launch a business in the CBD industry. For a few months, we looked at different products we could launch, but found that there were a lot of companies all selling essentially the same thing with little difference other than the name.

CBD, or cannabidiol, has been making waves in the media as more and more states are legalizing the use of marijuana. Although it is the second-most prevalent chemical compound in cannabis, CBD is actually derived from the hemp plant, a cousin to the marijuana plant; it does not induce a “high,” and is instead promoted for its supposed health benefits. No concrete studies have been performed or published as of 2019, but many people laud the healing powers of CBD when it comes to anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia, and even epilepsy; as a result of these claims, the compound can be found in everything from lotions to bath bombs to toothpaste!

Pants and jeans

While we are all tripping over ourselves with a moderately disappointing Met Gala Ball hosted by the esteemed Anna Wintour each year, other gala's of fashion are worth the attention, too. Don't get me wrong, I live for the Met event every year and I am always most fascinated with who is ACTUALLY ON THEME and what amazing looks they come up with. But this isn't the only high fashion event that deserves our attention. Award show red carpets have lost their thrill and since the passing of Joan Rivers on the counsel of Fashion Police, I just haven't been too invested.

Hey lovelies, here's a topic that needs to be discussed; cultural appropriation. What is cultural appropriation? When does it happen? Why does it happen? Well here is a simple answer to those simple questions—some people are just unoriginal. There is another side when it comes to cultural appropriation, the part where there is miscommunication involved. In fashion we see a lot of cultural appropriation going on, for example girls wearing headdresses to events like Coachella, but what does this symbolize other than free spirits… cultural appropriation. In mass media, there have been many stereotypes made, for example, African Americans wearing tribal clothing, or Japanese wearing their traditional kimonos. However that is not the case, fashion has evolved, and so has the use of cultural appropriation. Fashion in different cultures has been stereotyped through mass media. It tends to give us a misunderstanding of what one wears when it comes to their own cultural and traditional recognition. There has been a limited worldview opinion on how a simple fashion statement could lead to cultural appropriation. However attitudes are changing in the fashion community, many are realizing that it’s not okay to copy someone's traditional clothing. When newcomers arrive in Canada or America, they don’t know about the type of clothes they have to wear in order to fit in. For example, an Indian woman would end up wearing their typical salwar kameez or sari rather than jeans and a typical t-shirt. This could lead to an act of mocking, because Canadians are not used to seeing people wear a sari. Mass media promotes cultural appropriation through movies, television shows, commercials, ads, etc...