The philosophy behind fashion | Andrea Mason | TEDxURI

I cannot sit people where I did it all

I cannot sit people where I did it all that is to know that you are I double

that is to know that you are I double

that is to know that you are I double majored in textile fashion merchandising

majored in textile fashion merchandising

majored in textile fashion merchandising and design and philosophy now I know

and design and philosophy now I know

and design and philosophy now I know from experience that many of you right

from experience that many of you right

from experience that many of you right now are thinking some variation of what

now are thinking some variation of what

now are thinking some variation of what is she going to do with that

is she going to do with that

is she going to do with that what’s a fashion designing philosopher

what’s a fashion designing philosopher

what’s a fashion designing philosopher anyway well I still can’t tell you what

anyway well I still can’t tell you what

anyway well I still can’t tell you what I’m going to do with what I’ve studied

I’m going to do with what I’ve studied

I’m going to do with what I’ve studied in terms of getting a job but what I’m

in terms of getting a job but what I’m

in terms of getting a job but what I’m here today to share with you is what I

here today to share with you is what I

here today to share with you is what I can do with what I’ve studied on a daily

can do with what I’ve studied on a daily

can do with what I’ve studied on a daily basis and the best way I know how to do

basis and the best way I know how to do

basis and the best way I know how to do that is with a story at the top of

that is with a story at the top of

that is with a story at the top of campus there’s a coffee shop named

campus there’s a coffee shop named

campus there’s a coffee shop named bagels and sometimes when I’m craving

bagels and sometimes when I’m craving

bagels and sometimes when I’m craving caffeine which is all the time I’ll go

caffeine which is all the time I’ll go

caffeine which is all the time I’ll go there for a coffee and one of these days

there for a coffee and one of these days

there for a coffee and one of these days there was a particularly long line so I

there was a particularly long line so I

there was a particularly long line so I did with anyone with a design background

did with anyone with a design background

did with anyone with a design background does I look at stuff and particularly

does I look at stuff and particularly

does I look at stuff and particularly for me I look at clothing and as I gaze

for me I look at clothing and as I gaze

for me I look at clothing and as I gaze out over a CEO of sorority letters and

out over a CEO of sorority letters and

out over a CEO of sorority letters and sweatshirts leggings and jeans that’s

sweatshirts leggings and jeans that’s

sweatshirts leggings and jeans that’s when I see her she’s been standing in

when I see her she’s been standing in

when I see her she’s been standing in front of me this entire time a girl my

front of me this entire time a girl my

front of me this entire time a girl my age wearing pajama pants it’s fuzzy

age wearing pajama pants it’s fuzzy

age wearing pajama pants it’s fuzzy fleece staring me right in the face and

fleece staring me right in the face and

fleece staring me right in the face and loud alternating stripes of gray and

loud alternating stripes of gray and

loud alternating stripes of gray and black something about it makes my skin

black something about it makes my skin

black something about it makes my skin crawl

crawl

crawl makes a shiver go up my spine a voice

makes a shiver go up my spine a voice

makes a shiver go up my spine a voice inside my head screams wrong because the

inside my head screams wrong because the

inside my head screams wrong because the designer inside of me will admit it I

designer inside of me will admit it I

designer inside of me will admit it I cannot stand it when people wear pajama

cannot stand it when people wear pajama

cannot stand it when people wear pajama pants in public but in the next moment

pants in public but in the next moment

pants in public but in the next moment my background in philosophy rubs up like

my background in philosophy rubs up like

my background in philosophy rubs up like an engine and starts a conversation of

an engine and starts a conversation of

an engine and starts a conversation of sorts a philosopher and a designer

sorts a philosopher and a designer

sorts a philosopher and a designer materialize on each one of my shoulders

materialize on each one of my shoulders

materialize on each one of my shoulders the philosopher looks through the

the philosopher looks through the

the philosopher looks through the designer and says but why can’t you

designer and says but why can’t you

designer and says but why can’t you stand it when people wear pajama pants

stand it when people wear pajama pants

stand it when people wear pajama pants in public the designer says yeah

in public the designer says yeah

in public the designer says yeah it just it looks lazy the philosopher is

it just it looks lazy the philosopher is

it just it looks lazy the philosopher is not satisfied with that answer

not satisfied with that answer

not satisfied with that answer you see people tend to think of the

you see people tend to think of the

you see people tend to think of the philosopher as the one with all the

philosopher as the one with all the

philosopher as the one with all the answers

answers

answers you know the old wise one but really I

you know the old wise one but really I

you know the old wise one but really I think the true spirit of a philosopher

think the true spirit of a philosopher

think the true spirit of a philosopher is that

is that

is that little kid who looks up at his or her

little kid who looks up at his or her

little kid who looks up at his or her mom and dad and says but why but why but

mom and dad and says but why but why but

mom and dad and says but why but why but why until they get an answer that’s

why until they get an answer that’s

why until they get an answer that’s solid that they can hold on to because

solid that they can hold on to because

solid that they can hold on to because they’ve seen it in other places other

they’ve seen it in other places other

they’ve seen it in other places other situations so the philosopher questions

situations so the philosopher questions

situations so the philosopher questions are further but why does it make her

are further but why does it make her

are further but why does it make her look lazy the designer gets frustrated

look lazy the designer gets frustrated

look lazy the designer gets frustrated and says because you’re not supposed to

and says because you’re not supposed to

and says because you’re not supposed to wear pajama pants in public you’re

wear pajama pants in public you’re

wear pajama pants in public you’re supposed to wear them when you’re at

supposed to wear them when you’re at

supposed to wear them when you’re at home or when you’re sleeping the

home or when you’re sleeping the

home or when you’re sleeping the philosopher smiles and says aha here is

philosopher smiles and says aha here is

philosopher smiles and says aha here is something for us to work with where do

something for us to work with where do

something for us to work with where do these little rules come from in the

these little rules come from in the

these little rules come from in the first place supposed to do this here not

first place supposed to do this here not

first place supposed to do this here not supposed to do that there

supposed to do that there

supposed to do that there well according to German philosopher

well according to German philosopher

well according to German philosopher Martin Heidegger we exist in worlds that

Martin Heidegger we exist in worlds that

Martin Heidegger we exist in worlds that themselves exist almost within and on

themselves exist almost within and on

themselves exist almost within and on top of this earthly plane of existence

top of this earthly plane of existence

top of this earthly plane of existence that our physical bodies occupy the

that our physical bodies occupy the

that our physical bodies occupy the material world and they’re only here

material world and they’re only here

material world and they’re only here because humans are here to create them

because humans are here to create them

because humans are here to create them there are n a need to give context to

there are n a need to give context to

there are n a need to give context to the things that surround us this is the

the things that surround us this is the

the things that surround us this is the hallmark of our species this is how

hallmark of our species this is how

hallmark of our species this is how cultures are formed how Heidegger’s

cultures are formed how Heidegger’s

cultures are formed how Heidegger’s worlds are formed people within

worlds are formed people within

worlds are formed people within proximity of each other agreeing on the

proximity of each other agreeing on the

proximity of each other agreeing on the meaning of shared experience

pants that we call pajamas that are

pants that we call pajamas that are meant for sleeping belong to the world

meant for sleeping belong to the world

meant for sleeping belong to the world of sleeping which itself is a greater

of sleeping which itself is a greater

of sleeping which itself is a greater world of relaxation comfort it’s a place

world of relaxation comfort it’s a place

world of relaxation comfort it’s a place where we explore our privacy our

where we explore our privacy our

where we explore our privacy our personal space it’s a place where we

personal space it’s a place where we

personal space it’s a place where we enter a state of total vulnerability

enter a state of total vulnerability

enter a state of total vulnerability that we do not carry with us to the

that we do not carry with us to the

that we do not carry with us to the public world the world of public

public world the world of public

public world the world of public interaction and that is your problem

interaction and that is your problem

interaction and that is your problem with the pajama pants in public says the

with the pajama pants in public says the

with the pajama pants in public says the philosopher not what they are but what

philosopher not what they are but what

philosopher not what they are but what they mean

they mean

they mean luckily Heidegger helps us with a way

luckily Heidegger helps us with a way

luckily Heidegger helps us with a way out of this problem he says that because

out of this problem he says that because

out of this problem he says that because we create contextual worlds out of the

we create contextual worlds out of the

we create contextual worlds out of the material world that we live in every

material world that we live in every

material world that we live in every single thing on this planet truly exists

single thing on this planet truly exists

single thing on this planet truly exists on a spectrum to explain this concept he

on a spectrum to explain this concept he

on a spectrum to explain this concept he uses the example of a statue of Apollo

uses the example of a statue of Apollo

uses the example of a statue of Apollo the Greek god of sunlight prophecy and

the Greek god of sunlight prophecy and

the Greek god of sunlight prophecy and music on one end of the spectrum the

music on one end of the spectrum the

music on one end of the spectrum the statue is simply a piece of granite and

statue is simply a piece of granite and

statue is simply a piece of granite and all of the characteristics that make up

all of the characteristics that make up

all of the characteristics that make up granite it’s something that’s hard it’s

granite it’s something that’s hard it’s

granite it’s something that’s hard it’s something that’s heavy it’s something

something that’s heavy it’s something

something that’s heavy it’s something that’s rough but on the other end of the

that’s rough but on the other end of the

that’s rough but on the other end of the spectrum the statue is a shared belief

spectrum the statue is a shared belief

spectrum the statue is a shared belief its physical characteristics fall away

its physical characteristics fall away

its physical characteristics fall away as those who understand it to be Apollo

as those who understand it to be Apollo

as those who understand it to be Apollo and all the things he represents and

and all the things he represents and

and all the things he represents and presides over look at it on one end of

presides over look at it on one end of

presides over look at it on one end of the spectrum the statue is a piece of

the spectrum the statue is a piece of

the spectrum the statue is a piece of rock on the other end of the spectrum

rock on the other end of the spectrum

rock on the other end of the spectrum the statue is a piece of a story

the statue is a piece of a story

the statue is a piece of a story now the pants the girl was wearing in

now the pants the girl was wearing in

now the pants the girl was wearing in front of me looks at look as if they’re

front of me looks at look as if they’re

front of me looks at look as if they’re made of an imitation fleece which itself

made of an imitation fleece which itself

made of an imitation fleece which itself is a hundred percent polyester fabric

is a hundred percent polyester fabric

is a hundred percent polyester fabric made from which is a synthetic

made from which is a synthetic

made from which is a synthetic petroleum-based fiber when cut into

petroleum-based fiber when cut into

petroleum-based fiber when cut into pajama pants with a straight leg and a

pajama pants with a straight leg and a

pajama pants with a straight leg and a drawstring waist

drawstring waist

drawstring waist these pants are just soft they’re

these pants are just soft they’re

these pants are just soft they’re lightweight they’re breathable they’re

lightweight they’re breathable they’re

lightweight they’re breathable they’re fuzzy but when someone wears them and

fuzzy but when someone wears them and

fuzzy but when someone wears them and they belong to the world of sleeping

they belong to the world of sleeping

they belong to the world of sleeping they become something that facilitates

they become something that facilitates

they become something that facilitates the ability to sleep the ability to

the ability to sleep the ability to

the ability to sleep the ability to relax the ability to become totally

relax the ability to become totally

relax the ability to become totally vulnerable

vulnerable

vulnerable the philosopher looks at the designer

the philosopher looks at the designer

the philosopher looks at the designer and says are you seeing it the way I’m

and says are you seeing it the way I’m

and says are you seeing it the way I’m seeing it the designer says I guess but

seeing it the designer says I guess but

seeing it the designer says I guess but how is this going to help us it’s going

how is this going to help us it’s going

how is this going to help us it’s going to help us because understanding how

to help us because understanding how

to help us because understanding how things exist on a spectrum gives us

things exist on a spectrum gives us

things exist on a spectrum gives us alternate ways of viewing them and we

alternate ways of viewing them and we

alternate ways of viewing them and we get to decide how we look at them if we

get to decide how we look at them if we

get to decide how we look at them if we decide the girl in front of us is

decide the girl in front of us is

decide the girl in front of us is wearing pajama pants our thought process

wearing pajama pants our thought process

wearing pajama pants our thought process tells us that pajama pants belong to the

tells us that pajama pants belong to the

tells us that pajama pants belong to the world of sleeping and since she’s not in

world of sleeping and since she’s not in

world of sleeping and since she’s not in that world while wearing them she’s

that world while wearing them she’s

that world while wearing them she’s behaving wrongly and that is the shiver

behaving wrongly and that is the shiver

behaving wrongly and that is the shiver that went up your spine says the

that went up your spine says the

that went up your spine says the philosopher her failure to comply with

philosopher her failure to comply with

philosopher her failure to comply with what the pants mean however we could

what the pants mean however we could

what the pants mean however we could also decide that the girl in front of us

also decide that the girl in front of us

also decide that the girl in front of us is wearing pants cut with a straight leg

is wearing pants cut with a straight leg

is wearing pants cut with a straight leg and a drawstring waist made out of a

and a drawstring waist made out of a

and a drawstring waist made out of a fabric that’s synthetic and is soft

fabric that’s synthetic and is soft

fabric that’s synthetic and is soft that’s flexible that’s lightweight

that’s flexible that’s lightweight

that’s flexible that’s lightweight that’s breathable we could look at it in

that’s breathable we could look at it in

that’s breathable we could look at it in its material and once we do that the

its material and once we do that the

its material and once we do that the girl in front of us is no longer wrong

girl in front of us is no longer wrong

girl in front of us is no longer wrong because in fact we have something in

because in fact we have something in

because in fact we have something in common because the leggings that you’re

common because the leggings that you’re

common because the leggings that you’re wearing right now are made of synthetic

wearing right now are made of synthetic

wearing right now are made of synthetic fibers you own jeans that are made with

fibers you own jeans that are made with

fibers you own jeans that are made with polyester the synthetic fiber and I know

polyester the synthetic fiber and I know

polyester the synthetic fiber and I know for a fact that right now hanging at

for a fact that right now hanging at

for a fact that right now hanging at home in your closet are a pair of pants

home in your closet are a pair of pants

home in your closet are a pair of pants with a straight leg a drawstring waist

with a straight leg a drawstring waist

with a straight leg a drawstring waist made of synthetic fibers that you

made of synthetic fibers that you

made of synthetic fibers that you yourself have worn in public because

yourself have worn in public because

yourself have worn in public because they’ve been named palazzo pants which

they’ve been named palazzo pants which

they’ve been named palazzo pants which are defined as belonging to the world of

are defined as belonging to the world of

are defined as belonging to the world of public interaction the world that we

public interaction the world that we

public interaction the world that we dress up for and present ourselves all

dress up for and present ourselves all

dress up for and present ourselves all of this is to say we can take two pieces

of this is to say we can take two pieces

of this is to say we can take two pieces of the same matter manipulate them in

of the same matter manipulate them in

of the same matter manipulate them in slightly different ways give them two

slightly different ways give them two

slightly different ways give them two different names and meanings and they

different names and meanings and they

different names and meanings and they get to go on to belong to two different

get to go on to belong to two different

get to go on to belong to two different worlds and do two entirely different

worlds and do two entirely different

worlds and do two entirely different things

things

things all because we decide it to be so now

all because we decide it to be so now

all because we decide it to be so now some of you may be thinking what good is

some of you may be thinking what good is

some of you may be thinking what good is any of this this girl spent six years

any of this this girl spent six years

any of this this girl spent six years working towards two undergraduate

working towards two undergraduate

working towards two undergraduate degrees and had her parents pay for 10

degrees and had her parents pay for 10

degrees and had her parents pay for 10 semesters of college tuition also she

semesters of college tuition also she

semesters of college tuition also she could talk to herself about pants

could talk to herself about pants

could talk to herself about pants while waiting in line for a coffee why

while waiting in line for a coffee why

while waiting in line for a coffee why does any of this matter it matters

does any of this matter it matters

does any of this matter it matters because I can take the logic from this

because I can take the logic from this

because I can take the logic from this one instance to conclude something way

one instance to conclude something way

one instance to conclude something way more fundamental we’re living right now

more fundamental we’re living right now

more fundamental we’re living right now in a time that’s extremely polarized we

in a time that’s extremely polarized we

in a time that’s extremely polarized we have many many groups coming forward and

have many many groups coming forward and

have many many groups coming forward and demanding the respect they want and the

demanding the respect they want and the

demanding the respect they want and the respect they deserve these are groups

respect they deserve these are groups

respect they deserve these are groups that have been oppressed for years

that have been oppressed for years

that have been oppressed for years that haven’t been acknowledged as

that haven’t been acknowledged as

that haven’t been acknowledged as existing or as deserving to exist

existing or as deserving to exist

existing or as deserving to exist because they belong to worlds that are

because they belong to worlds that are

because they belong to worlds that are different from the ones we’ve been

different from the ones we’ve been

different from the ones we’ve been conditioned to think are the right or

conditioned to think are the right or

conditioned to think are the right or correct ones the ones that have

correct ones the ones that have

correct ones the ones that have prevailed through our culture and

prevailed through our culture and

prevailed through our culture and society most dominantly we are

society most dominantly we are

society most dominantly we are contextual beings the stories we’ve been

contextual beings the stories we’ve been

contextual beings the stories we’ve been told about the world we belong to follow

told about the world we belong to follow

told about the world we belong to follow us long after we know that logically

us long after we know that logically

us long after we know that logically they’re outdated or they just they’re

they’re outdated or they just they’re

they’re outdated or they just they’re just misconceived part of the reason

just misconceived part of the reason

just misconceived part of the reason being we still live in a material world

being we still live in a material world

being we still live in a material world and we’re surrounded by things that have

and we’re surrounded by things that have

and we’re surrounded by things that have been assigned meaning according to

been assigned meaning according to

been assigned meaning according to prevailing rights and wrongs of past

prevailing rights and wrongs of past

prevailing rights and wrongs of past times we cannot change the way the

times we cannot change the way the

times we cannot change the way the material world looks quickly enough to

material world looks quickly enough to

material world looks quickly enough to accommodate the pace with which we want

accommodate the pace with which we want

accommodate the pace with which we want to and we know that we need to change

to and we know that we need to change

to and we know that we need to change our viewpoints we want to give each

our viewpoints we want to give each

our viewpoints we want to give each other respect but we don’t always know

other respect but we don’t always know

other respect but we don’t always know how we want to look at each other free

how we want to look at each other free

how we want to look at each other free of deep-rooted meanings and feelings but

of deep-rooted meanings and feelings but

of deep-rooted meanings and feelings but I don’t think we’re taught how to do

I don’t think we’re taught how to do

I don’t think we’re taught how to do that only that it’s something we should

that only that it’s something we should

that only that it’s something we should be doing looking at a girl wearing

be doing looking at a girl wearing

be doing looking at a girl wearing pajama pants and thinking she is wrong

pajama pants and thinking she is wrong

pajama pants and thinking she is wrong is like a knot that exists in the fabric

is like a knot that exists in the fabric

is like a knot that exists in the fabric of my own perception a knot of

of my own perception a knot of

of my own perception a knot of conditioned thought about what is right

conditioned thought about what is right

conditioned thought about what is right and what’s acceptable but if I can

and what’s acceptable but if I can

and what’s acceptable but if I can untangle that knot using logic and

untangle that knot using logic and

untangle that knot using logic and thought to weave a new understanding of

thought to weave a new understanding of

thought to weave a new understanding of a girl who’s wearing pants that are

a girl who’s wearing pants that are

a girl who’s wearing pants that are virtually the same as mine

virtually the same as mine

virtually the same as mine then I

then I

then I tolerance and if I can do that then I

tolerance and if I can do that then I

tolerance and if I can do that then I can look at a homosexual man or woman

can look at a homosexual man or woman

can look at a homosexual man or woman and rather than seeing someone who loves

and rather than seeing someone who loves

and rather than seeing someone who loves another in a way that’s just harmonious

another in a way that’s just harmonious

another in a way that’s just harmonious with how I experience love I can see

with how I experience love I can see

with how I experience love I can see someone who wants to love and be loved

someone who wants to love and be loved

someone who wants to love and be loved back

back

back free of prejudice and discrimination

free of prejudice and discrimination

free of prejudice and discrimination from bystanders which is the same way

from bystanders which is the same way

from bystanders which is the same way that I want to be loved again

that I want to be loved again

that I want to be loved again I’ve untangled a knot and I’ve sown

I’ve untangled a knot and I’ve sown

I’ve untangled a knot and I’ve sown tolerance into the fabric of my

tolerance into the fabric of my

tolerance into the fabric of my perception I’m training myself to see

perception I’m training myself to see

perception I’m training myself to see that even though we go on to belong to

that even though we go on to belong to

that even though we go on to belong to different worlds we immerse ourselves in

different worlds we immerse ourselves in

different worlds we immerse ourselves in different contextual experiences we are

different contextual experiences we are

different contextual experiences we are made of the same thing from the start

made of the same thing from the start

made of the same thing from the start the same matter the same material we’re

the same matter the same material we’re

the same matter the same material we’re human beings in the end the designer

human beings in the end the designer

human beings in the end the designer looks to the philosopher and says I

looks to the philosopher and says I

looks to the philosopher and says I understand why I was bothered now and

understand why I was bothered now and

understand why I was bothered now and why I don’t have to be thank you for

why I don’t have to be thank you for

why I don’t have to be thank you for that phosphor says you’re welcome that’s

that phosphor says you’re welcome that’s

that phosphor says you’re welcome that’s what I’m here for

what I’m here for

what I’m here for they evaporate off my shoulders and the

they evaporate off my shoulders and the

they evaporate off my shoulders and the girl in front of me in line is handed a

girl in front of me in line is handed a

girl in front of me in line is handed a coffee and to go back I smile at her as

coffee and to go back I smile at her as

coffee and to go back I smile at her as she leaves she looks pretty comfortable

how many knots of condition thought did

how many knots of condition thought did you encounter throughout your day to day

you encounter throughout your day to day

you encounter throughout your day to day or the day before that things that made

or the day before that things that made

or the day before that things that made you uncomfortable and think they’re

you uncomfortable and think they’re

you uncomfortable and think they’re wrong how many of those knots can you

wrong how many of those knots can you

wrong how many of those knots can you untangle thank you

untangle thank you

untangle thank you [Applause]