What are body positivity and diversity?

Body positivity and diversity are the interconnectedness of individuals and communal welfare that creates inclusive and sustainable values. This promotes a culture of acceptance, inclusivity, and body positivity to inspire individuals to love and appreciate themselves just the way they are. Embracing unity in diversity with an open heart, the notion that everybody matters by breaking the stereotypes of shapes, sizes, and shades. Celebrating body positivity motivates an individual to embrace beauty beyond boundaries, which empowers the movement of self-love and self-acceptance in society.

Potential Outline of Body Positivity and Diversity:

• Self-Acceptance: Practicing self-love and self-compassion, embracing individuality and uniqueness, and letting go of negative self-talk and self-criticism
• Mindful Representation: Diverse representation in media and society that challenges the harmful stereotypes and biases, celebrating diverse body types, ages, abilities, and identities
• Inclusive Wellness: Fostering a sense of belonging and community that provides accessible and adaptive wellness practices, prioritizing mental and emotional well-being
• Empowerment Through Education: Learning about body history, cultural context, and systemic oppression, which helps them to understand the impact of diet culture and beauty standards, Developing critical thinking and media literacy skills
• Collective Action: Building a supportive community and network that advocates for policy changes and social justice, Creating inclusive spaces and initiatives
• Inner Wisdom and Intuition: Tuning into intuition and inner guidance, trusting bodily autonomy and decision-making, and embracing the imperfection and uncertainty

 JD Institute of Fashion Technology adopts body positivity and diversity by integrating it into their curriculum, campus culture, and community engagement. Empowering future fashion, interior, graphic, and product design leaders to celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity, and embrace body positivity in all aspects of education and industry practices

Glimpse of Body positivity and diversity approach at JD Institute of Fashion Technology, which broadens creativity, embracing diverse perspectives and ideas, increased empathy, and social responsibility, which prepares the designers to understand and design for diverse user needs and to work effectively in diverse workplaces.

Fashion Design: Students learn to create garments for diverse body types and sizes. Showcasing models of different ages, sizes, colors, abilities, and ethnicities, Breaking the stereotype standards and inspiring traditional notions of beauty and fashion standards to promote self-acceptance and self-love

Interior Design: Creating spaces that are accessible and inclusive for all cultural sensitivity, spaces that respect and reflect diverse cultural backgrounds that are usable universally.

Graphic Design: Using diverse metaphors and layouts in design inclusive messaging that resonates with diverse audiences, avoiding cultural inappropriateness and stereotypes

Product Design: Designing products that are convenient for everyone, regardless of age, size, color, or ability, by testing them with diverse user groups and packaging that is accessible and easy to use for everyone.

Campus Initiatives at JD Institute of Fashion Technology: Establishing a student-led club promoting body positivity and self-love to encourage a healthy environment and a committee to address diversity and its importance in society and on the campus. Inviting guest lectures and webinars from industry experts and activists to give a broader perspective on body positivity and diversity as a designer and its impact on mental health. Internal teams of staff and faculties actively anticipate promoting body positivity and diversity movement.

Industry Collaborations: Collaborating with brands that prioritize body positivity and diversity, organizing fashion shows and events that deliver diverse models of their race, color, age, abilities, and sizes. Conducting events, seminars, and workshops on body positivity, diversity, mental health, women’s empowerment, and equality for a safer environment.

Student Council: JD Institute of Fashion Technology emphasizes supporting access to discrimination, mental health, and counseling facilities on a very personal note for the welfare of the students. We offer scholarships and support for students from underprivileged and disability backgrounds to give equal opportunity to everyone. A healthy campus creates healthy future designers and individuals.

Recruiters Prioritizing Body positivity and diversity: The industry has acknowledged the statement of unapologetically me where there is no room for discrimination, brands like Victoria Secrets, Being User, The Label Life, Fab Alley, Zivame, Feather Line, Durian, Evoke, and Boeing. Designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Rohit Gandhi, Rahul Khanna, Prabal Gurung, and Ashley Graham promote body positivity and diverse designs.

Conclusion: Body positivity and diversity are the talk of the industry, where schools, institutions, and organizations are including the curriculum and policies to promote the empowerment of Unapologetically Me. Promoting body positivity and diversity offers opportunities for individuals to contribute their unique perspectives and skills. This fosters a culture of body positivity and diversity, preparing students and individuals to become inclusive and empathetic leaders.