DEW Magazine #51 The Skins Issue Summer 2024. This Summer, we invite you to harness your creativity and voice to spark a movement, amplify marginalized voices, and support those who cannot be heard.
As we approach the month of summer and Olympics, it’s essential also to use our time to reflect on the world beyond our surroundings. Summer is a time to enjoy freedom and ease, but it’s also a time to remember that we share this world with others. Despite our differences, we coexist as humans. While we indulge in the warmth of the season, many are enduring hardships. This summer presents an opportunity for us to utilize our time to take a step back and educate ourselves on what’s going on beyond our immediate surroundings.
As individuals, we are diverse in many ways, yet we share a commonality: our humanity. Regardless of our differences, we inherently deserve the same fundamental human rights that protect our dignity and freedom. We are currently witnessing numerous atrocities worldwide. As tensions escalate in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, raising awareness and using our voices on social platforms becomes increasingly important. During these challenging times, we must strengthen and support one another.
In recent months, we have seen widespread suffering, including war and genocide, affecting innocent civilians worldwide. For instance, focusing on Palestine, where genocide is unfolding, or Indonesia, where Papuans face the loss of their forests. In these difficult situations magnifying these voices becomes imperative. In our tech-driven society, acknowledging the significant role of social media in amplifying the voices of marginalized and oppressed communities stands as one of the most accessible means to raise awareness. Social media has become a powerful tool in this modern era, as it can be used to enhance the voices of the marginalized and oppressed. We must recognize our privileges and utilize social media as a platform for education and empowerment because at the core of our humanity lies the act of extending a hand to those in need, embodying compassion and connection.
Numerous movements and hashtags have emerged in social media in solidarity with the ongoing atrocities. Many social media accounts have utilized the power of hashtags to sustain momentum and capture the attention of the public eye. However, it is important to recognize that while social media allows for self-reflection, it can also give room for performative behavior, therefore, we need to be mindful of what we post by further educating ourselves beyond social media platforms. One notable incident involved the use of AI-generated images to symbolize the “All Eyes on Rafah” movement.
Similar to the transformative impact of social media, fashion has long been an effective medium for activism. Fashion serves as a catalyst for empowerment enabling individuals and brands to raise varying issues, challenge norms, and amplify marginalized voices through creative expression. As stated by the renowned artist and activist Vivienne Westwood, “I just use fashion as an excuse to talk about politics. Because I’m a fashion designer, it gives me a voice, which is really good.” An example of fashion’s role in activism can be exemplified by Bella Hadid wearing a Keffiyeh dress, designed by Michael and Hushi in 2001. The Palestinian Keffiyeh, a scarf that holds deep cultural significance, has emerged as an emblem of activism by Palestinians. The underlying messages present in fashion emphasize the significance of activism through creative expression, reminding us not to overlook its importance.
This leads us to the question: what additional avenues can we leverage to amplify our activism and raise our voices? In our Summer Issue titled, ‘Skins,’ we invite you to harness your creativity and voice to spark a movement, amplify marginalized voices, and support those who cannot be heard. (Text Emily Naima)
CREDITS
Cover story Mitsuki Takahata in MURRAL
Photography Kisshomaru Shimamura
Styling Yuma Tagawa
Hair and Make-up kika
Production support YAMANAKA Management