In the post-COVID era, many social paradigms were deconstructed as the world grappled with unprecedented challenges – geopolitical instability, public health crises, and widespread protests for social justice. Central to these shifts was a growing demand for safer, more inclusive environments, especially for marginalized communities. From protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd to movements questioning the state’s role in preserving individual rights for the collective good, this era provided young people with a platform to challenge the status quo. Central to these reforms was the concept of ’safe spaces‘ – places where individuals, particularly those from vulnerable groups, could express themselves freely without fear of discrimination, harassment, or harm. But as we emerge from the COVID era, the question remains: Are safe spaces realistic, and can they truly exist in industries such as fashion?
Safe Spaces: A Noble but Complex Ideal
In modern discourse, safe spaces refer to environments – whether physical or virtual – where individuals, especially those from marginalized groups, can engage without fear of judgment, hostility, or harm. These spaces are intended to be supportive and inclusive, with rules that prioritize emotional and psychological safety. In principle, safe spaces restrict speech and behaviors that may be harmful, triggering, or marginalizing, creating a sanctuary for honest self-expression.
However, the idea of safe spaces has been critiqued for assuming that environments can be made completely risk-free – a notion that oversimplifies the complex nature of social dynamics. While the intent is noble, real-world spaces, especially in public domains and industries, are influenced by unpredictable human behavior and deeply rooted power structures. This becomes particularly evident when we examine the fashion industry, which has both embraced and resisted the concept of safe spaces in recent years.
Fashion’s Struggle with Inclusivity and Safe Spaces
The fashion industry has long been criticized for its exclusivity and its role in perpetuating harmful beauty standards. In the wake of the global racial justice movements and public demand for greater diversity, the industry appeared to respond. Fashion brands began prioritizing inclusivity campaigns that centered body positivity, racial diversity, and awareness of microaggressions. For example, in 2020, brands like Gucci and Balenciaga made high-profile pledges to diversify their runways and internal teams. Black and Brown models were more frequently featured, and many brands began to prioritize plus-size representation, signaling a commitment to changing the industry’s historical exclusivity.
One striking example was the increased use of plus-size models during the late 2010s and early 2020s, seen at major events like New York Fashion Week. According to The Fashion Spot, the Spring 2021 runway season saw the highest percentage of plus-size models to date – more than 46 appearances, representing 1.6% of total models used, compared to 0.6% just a few years earlier. Similarly, the representation of non-white models on runways increased, with many major brands featuring diverse faces in response to calls for racial justice.
Yet, despite these gains, the fashion industry has struggled to maintain this momentum. In recent years, many of the initiatives introduced post-George Floyd have been quietly rolled back. For instance, the ‚Ozempic craze‘ in the fashion world, driven by a renewed obsession with extreme thinness, has contributed to the sidelining of plus-size models. A 2023 Vogue Business report noted a marked decrease in the representation of larger bodies on the runway. Furthermore, some fashion houses have scaled back their diversity initiatives, with many brands abandoning the commitments they made just a few years prior. This backslide raises a critical question: Were these efforts ever truly about creating safer spaces, or were they simply reactionary, performative measures?
The industry’s struggle to sustain inclusivity initiatives suggests that safe spaces in fashion may be more fragile than they appeared. The rapid abandonment of diversity campaigns, coupled with the resurgence of exclusionary beauty standards, reflects the difficulty of enforcing lasting change in an industry driven by profit and trend cycles.
The Limits of Safe Spaces in Public Spaces
Safe spaces were originally conceived as a way to protect marginalized communities and foster inclusion. However, the concept has its limitations, particularly when applied to industries like fashion that operate in highly competitive, profit-driven environments. The primary limitation is that it assumes that spaces can be made entirely free of harm – a notion that is, unfortunately, unrealistic.
No matter how well-intentioned, industries cannot fully guarantee safety for all participants. Social interactions, biases, and behaviors are too unpredictable. As philosopher Judith Butler argues in Undoing Gender, no public space can ever be entirely safe because safety is a socially constructed idea that varies across contexts. The unpredictability of harm means that while we can reduce the risks of discrimination or harassment, we cannot eliminate them altogether. Therefore, the concept of safe spaces must be understood as a protective measure, rather than a perfect solution.
The idea of safe spaces sometimes becomes overextended. In an attempt to avoid discomfort, individuals may overuse the term ’safe space‘ to shield themselves from necessary challenges. For example, uncomfortable but critical conversations about race, power, and privilege may provoke discomfort, but they are essential for genuine growth and transformation. The risk is that in weaponizing the idea of safety, we dilute its impact and fail to distinguish between genuine harm and discomfort. In doing so, we may create environments that prioritize emotional comfort over critical engagement and accountability.
The Role of Self-Advocacy in Creating Safe Spaces
Ultimately, the responsibility for creating safety does not lie solely with external institutions or industries. While industries like fashion must be held accountable for their harmful practices and exclusionary tendencies, individuals also need to cultivate their own sense of safety. This involves advocating for oneself, setting boundaries, and sometimes walking away from environments that perpetuate harm.
For those who feel unheard, unseen, or underrepresented in spaces like the fashion industry, self-advocacy is crucial. While collective efforts can push for inclusivity and change, true safety can only be achieved when individuals take ownership of their own well-being. For example, many models of color and plus-size models have launched their own platforms, such as Precious Lee who, advocates for broader change within and outside the fashion industry. They’ve taken the lead in redefining beauty standards and demanding safer spaces by creating their own opportunities.
True safe spaces are not created through top-down mandates but through continuous, accountable actions by both individuals and industries. If we place all our hope in external spaces to provide us with a sense of safety, we may end up disillusioned when those spaces fail to deliver. Instead, we must work to foster safe environments both within and around ourselves, recognizing that discomfort is sometimes necessary for growth.
Conclusion: Safe Spaces as a Shared Responsibility
Safe spaces are vital tools in pushing industries like fashion to confront their harmful practices and lack of inclusivity. However, they are not a panacea, and the limitations of safe spaces must be acknowledged. While the fashion industry has made some strides in addressing these issues, it has shown that it cannot fully guarantee safety, especially when long-standing exclusionary practices reemerge. The responsibility for creating safe environments lies not only with industries but also with individuals themselves. By holding industries accountable, practicing self-advocacy, and being willing to challenge discomfort, we can cultivate safer spaces for marginalized voices. But perhaps the safest space of all is the one we create within ourselves.
Chiderah Sunny is a Nigerian born-Canadian writer, founder, and model based in Berlin. She explores pop culture through an intersectional lens, often using her own personal experiences to examine the world around her.