T6 Ep. 7 Fashion & Education: The Systematic Revolution

In this episode of Dressing Woman, writer Vanessa Rosales interviews education pioneer and revolutionary Dr. Ben Barry, Chair of Fashion at Ryerson, recently appointed Dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons School of Design.

In his working years, Dr. Barry has made a changemaking case for a fashion that seeks to include social justice, equity and diversity. This has meant bridging the gap between academic knowledge and the industry as well as reshaping academic curriculums to include non-binary fashion, gender studies, race studies, decolonization, sustainability.

His work has amply explored the intersectional experiences of disabled, fat, trans and queer people, and he has collaborated with them to co-design clothing and fashion media. His leadership has also movilized education programs that focus on anti-racist and inclusive fashion practices for global brands.

In this enlightening conversation, they discuss his path, the ways in which the fashion industry can show receptiveness for a more diverse and inclusive practice; the meanings of decolonization; the ways in which the program about to begin at Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, in Colombia, directed by Rosales reflects and synchronizes with a lot of the luminosity Dr. Barry is bringing to the field of fashion.

It’s also a dialogue filled with valuable information for a Latin American audience interested in the critical study of fashion and the production of situated and contextual knowledge. His is an incomparable light for the present and future of fashion.