Fashion as Design: Expression and Community

Overview

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Clothing is not only a personal choice, it is a visual language that connects us to others and defines our place in the world. This course explores how fashion functions as a powerful tool for self-expression and a catalyst for community building. The Museum of Modern Art invites you to hear directly from designers, activists, and photographers who use clothing to tell stories and challenge social norms. You will explore the history of borrowing and remaking styles, to understand clothing as a living cultural archive. You’ll gain the fluency to decode the social signals of style and understand the profound impact of the clothes that make us stand out and belong.

Syllabus

Introduction

What we wear informs our everyday experience of self and society. Explore how the clothes in your closet connect you to others and make you stand out through items that express identity, create and demonstrate community ties, and borrow and remake existing styles.

Individuality

In this module explore garments that have been used as a tool for expression—from religious wear to clothes that play with gender and performance. You’ll consider the role of fashion in distinguishing yourself as an individual.