Resetting Fashion Media

Erica Barrientos

This project investigates how critical thinking can be fostered in contemporary fashion media. In an era dominated by social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the ways people engage with fashion are increasingly influenced by short-form content and influencer-led narratives. This environment raises urgent questions about misinformation, consumerism, and the role of fashion media in shaping cultural values.

Traditional forms of fashion media, including magazines, books, reviews, interviews, and established journalism, have historically encouraged reflective engagement and fact-based evaluation. Today, however, they compete with influencer content that often prioritizes immediacy, entertainment, and parasocial trust over critical analysis. Users frequently accept influencer opinions as authoritative, blurring the line between education and marketing.

Through this project, it challenges both traditional and digital fashion media by exploring how critical thinking can be reintroduced into contemporary fashion discourse. Through an interdisciplinary publication and a photo gallery exhibition, it encourages audiences to question consumer culture, evaluate sources, and engage with fashion thoughtfully.

Media

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Erica Barrientos

Hello, my name is Erica Barrientos (she/her), and I am a Fashion Creative Freelancer specializing in creative direction, editorial styling, and fashion publishing. With a background in Fashion Communications from Toronto Metropolitan University and through my hands-on freelancing experiences, I bring both conceptual vision and strategic thinking to every project I undertake. Whether I am directing a photoshoot, styling, or contributing to fashion media, I aim to create work that is both visually compelling and socially conscious. Contemporary culture, digital spaces, and the evolving relationship between fashion and community deeply influence my creative process. As a creative professional, I value collaboration and adaptability, often working across various disciplines to bring my ideas to life. I aspire to continue building meaningful work within the fashion industry while contributing to more inclusive and innovative creative spaces.

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