Colèchi talks to Adina Nicola about the positive and negative influence of religion on self expression via our clothing.
‘With a lot of people recognising where Christianity and other big religions of the world have failed, we must now find a collective way of forming new belief systems that celebrate each other and the rich customs around the world’ (p. 15).
What is the title of your work?
Christian Dress: Colonisation, Female Restriction, and Forming New Inclusive Ways of Spirituality
Abstract
The world as we know it and many of our perceptions of how humanity works has been largely shaped by the major religions that came into existence. One of them, currently having the most adepts, being Christianity.
This essay will analyse how Christianity has attempted to control women’s bodies throughout history as well as erasing and converting indigenous communities.
In order to better understand these themes, the first chapter will cover the meaning of dress in religion and its role in defining status, standards, and social norms, as well as differentiating one religion from the other. In analysing these themes, the essay will start by examining the meaning of dress in different cultures and draw parallels between practices. The Christian views on dress will also be discussed, along with its vision and morals. The second chapter will dissect the role of women’s bodies and how dress was used as a tool to control. We will look at the attempts of banishing the ritualistic garments of Indigenous people with the intent of colonisation and culture erasure in the third chapter. Last, the essay will aim to show how alternative practices have co-existed with oppressive religious groups and prove that spirituality can also be an inclusive and accepting practice.
The primary research used in this essay will further demonstrate the argument throughout the chapters with a detailed survey on people’s thoughts on Christianity, the personal relationship with religion and the use of social media in the rise of a spiritual youth movement. This will include anonymous quotes received through the medium of the survey that prove the arguments in this essay on a personal level. The purpose of the quotes is adding a deeper level of complexity and understanding in the modern psyche of the collective on the matters discussed. The survey will also plan to demonstrate the impact of religious oppression and how it can still be felt in our society nowadays by capturing the reaction of the participants. The survey was carried out in an ethical way, with the consent of the participants being informed on the purpose of the questions asked and how their answers will be used further.
From your research, what do you think is the influence of religion on fashion?
My research explored the idea that clothing can give both a sense of restriction and liberation to the wearer through the means of religion and spirituality. The main part of the essay discusses Christianity and how it managed to colonise and impose its power on indigenous groups by erasing their sense of identity given through traditional indigenous clothing. Using Christianity, colonisers imposed their values and eradicated a big part of different cultures around the world. The same technique is used on women’s bodies as a form of restricting their sexuality and making them feel ashamed of their bodies. These two examples show just how important clothing is as a form of self-expression and identity as well as the importance of garments for spirituality and rituals. In order to understand how we can make spirituality and religion more inclusive, I also researched religious groups that celebrate freedom, self-expression and accept the difference between different cultures and rituals, admitting that we’re all different and need different beliefs systems.
‘We must recognise that each culture is different, therefore in need of different deities that represent the people in concordance to their experience on earth. In order to understand this aspect, we must look at the practices and civilisation from the past that managed to maintain their faith in spite of oppressive super religions and implement an inclusive and accepting form of spirituality (p. 15)’.
Did you make any interesting discoveries whilst researching religion and fashion?
The human species, unlike any other species on earth, has always been in the search for meaning, universal answers and a higher power. It is now obvious that most people need a purpose.
What do you think is the importance of clothing?
My research revealed the importance of dress and how clearly it encapsulates the beliefs and ideologies of an era. It also raised the question of how we can create clothes that complement a lifestyle where the meaning of the wearer is compassion, understanding and inclusion – where one’s search for meaning does not come at the expense of millions.
How do you think your discussion could impact the future of fashion culture?
My work provided an insight into how religious beliefs have failed us in the past and how religion was often used in the quest for power. Despite this, I am not disregarding religion and I recognise that people will always need a belief system in order to find their purpose on earth. Because of this, I have proceeded to look at better examples of spirituality and how it managed to celebrate instead of controlling the differences between people. The fashion industry is still pretty much controlled by the same old people. In our quest for diversity and inclusion, my essay serves as a good insight in how clothes have the power of self expression.
Since writing your body of work are there any new trends that you would include if you were to rewrite the piece?
I would explore the digitalised era and how people are sharing their spiritual practices with each other (through the medium of social apps, such as Instagram and TikTok) and forming new inclusive communities. Nowadays, although you might be born into a religion that you don’t feel you belong in, people (and especially the younger generation) are forming their own communities in which they feel heard and accepted, creating their identity based on their most authentic self.
