THE AMERICAN DREAM
It’s safe to say that 2016 has been a pretty strange, turbulent year in America. But as November 8 turned to 9, we saw the biggest, most worrying shakeup of all.
Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, a shock to the nation. We saw a bastion of hate and bigotry take down a candidate who – though far from perfect – was immensely qualified to continue the progress sparked by the remarkable Obama administration. Many Americans instantly felt fear for their safety and their futures, envisioning all of our country’s recent positive change being wiped away by a demagogic, borderline fascist Trump administration.
Racism, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia have all continuously tainted our country’s history, and though we’ve made great progress, these things never went away. However, they never seemed more apparent than throughout Donald Trump’s political campaign. Trump vilified people of color, implicitly and explicitly referring to them as inferior. He regarded women as objects, thus perpetuating an already repulsive rape culture. He disregarded immigrants’ wellbeing and security. He directly attacked everyone from Mexicans to Muslims, and he threw away any consideration for LGBTQ Americans, too, all bundled up with the idea of “making America great again.” His victory not only implied that all of these things are acceptable, but it ignited even more blatant hatred and aggression from his followers, while it proved just how divided our country still appears to be.
Following the devastating election, we thought about scrapping Phosphenes #2; how could we put out something that even remotely seemed to support this country when we felt so ashamed and disgusted to be American?
Then we realized: giving up would be allowing people like Donald Trump and his narrow-minded supporters to win this battle. We knew that after the election, there would still be crucial voices to be heard, issues to discuss, and people to represent. “Americana” was created – just like everything else we do – with the intention of empowering and advocating for often-marginalized groups. We are not going to allow a misstep in our nation’s history stop us from fighting for women, people of color, women of color, the LGBTQ community, or anyone else. We will continue to strongly stand by our message now more than ever, using fashion as a creative platform to promote these values.
Phosphenes #2 – “Americana” is a call to action and a call for unity; the battle has just begun, and we’ve got a lot more to fight for now than ever before. This issue aims to openly discuss the conflicts holding us back, while still noting America’s strengths and using our fashion stories to celebrate the elements that make America great: diversity and possibility. No matter what, these things can’t be taken from us.
In 1931, James Truslow Adams coined the concept of the American Dream saying, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”
With our second edition of Phosphenes, we present our vision of the new American Dream. This is the new Americana, highlighted by a hopeful, inspiring melting pot of potential, bolstered by movements thrusting this nation towards progress. We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.
Power to the people.
For more on Phosphenes #2 – “Americana,” click here. To purchase directly, click here.