Designer Tanya Taylor Debuts Clever NYFW Film Series to Encourage Voting
New York Fashion Week is typically about runway shows, celebrity front rows, peacocking street-style stars, and what trends Zara will inevitably knock off. But—as we all know by now—2020 is far from an ordinary year. Amid a global pandemic, devastating consequences of climate change, the fight against racial injustice, and what's probably the most vital presidential election most of us will see in our lifetime, many industries have undergone transformations to adapt for a more progressive future—including fashion.
This season at NYFW, several of the shows, presentations, and talks that take place were offered virtually for the first time. Designers were given the option to showcase their collections via livestreams, film, and behind-the-scenes clips, allowing for unprecedented access. However, clothes weren't the only thing designers decided to put on view.
For example: This season New York–based fashion brand Tanya Taylor opted to forgo showing its SS21 collection, which will be revealed closer to the retail launch in February. Instead, the label is using its slot to debut a new video series entitled “Things That Take Longer Than Registering to Vote.” As the title indicates, the clips—created in partnership with Fashion Our Future 2020, a campaign launched to increase political involvement among underrepresented communities through fashion—aim to raise voter awareness and engagement by showing just how quick it is to make sure you're registered to vote.
The first video will drop today at 12:30 p.m. E.T. on NYFW.com and opens with Taylor laying down some simple but important truths that served as the inspiration behind the series. “Watching a fashion show actually takes more time than registering to vote,” she says. “In fact, registering to vote only take two minutes, which is less time than most things you do every single day.”
The video goes on to show a compilation of prominent and famous women capturing themselves doing entertainingly mundane tasks, all of which apparently take longer than making sure you're able to cast a ballot on November 3.
There's Hillary Clinton playing catch with her dog, actors Stephanie Beatriz putting in her contacts and Mindy Kaling watering her plants, Olympian Michelle Kwan making tea, and comedian Michelle Buteau folding laundry. Clever! The talent—all shooting their own content—also includes Rosario Dawson, Iskra Lawrence, Zosia Mamet, Sasheer Zamata, and more. Following its NYFW debut, the compilation video will be streamed on Taylor's Instagram and individual clips will be posted by talent and rolled out on throughout the week.
While New York Fashion Week went largely remote this season as a way to adhere to social distancing guidelines, many were still expected to tune in. It's this visibility that led to the series, says Tanya Taylor. “There are a lot of eyes on us during NYFW and I feel it's my responsibility to use the platform I have within the industry to speak up and encourage positive change at such an important time in our lives.”
Many of us are spending our days at home, but that doesn't mean we've become completely inactive—our democracy depends on action. That's why Taylor's brand also updated its website to give visitors a quick and easy way to check their voter status, register to vote, and complete the census if they haven't.
When it comes to the future of fashion amid the chaos, Taylor is hopeful. “I think [it] will be more creative and thoughtful than what we’ve seen from the industry the past few years. What we’re doing and what I’m hearing a lot of other brands are doing is forgetting about industry-imposed rules and are instead embracing why they started their brands and what makes them unique.”
Originally Appeared on Glamour
