008 | The Importance of Conversation

08/11/20 • 58 min

In this episode of Dressing for Wellness, Taylor (Inherent Clothier CEO) and Steven (Art Director) talk to their friend Chaz about his experience as a Black man growing up in the very white area of Colorado Springs. They discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, the George Floyd protests, and the necessity of conversation around difficult subjects.

3 Key Points

Talking to people who are outside of your regular experience is crucial for understanding and empathy.
Appreciation does not equal appropriation.
One conversation may not change somebody, but maybe the second one will, or the fifth, or the seventh.

Episode Highlights:

Chaz’s biggest goal as a person of color during the Black Lives Matter movement is to have conversations with people.
As a person of color, there’s a lot of history that you feel like you need to live up to, or not, and it caused significant confusion in identity for Chaz.
There’s a difference between Black Lives Matter the movement and Black Lives Matter the organization.
In fashion, Black people didn’t have a style icon until the 1950s when Black people were first allowed on TV.
Chaz thinks appreciation tips into appropriation when there’s no recognition of where something originated and when credit is not given; for example, that Frank Sinatra’s style is inspired by Nat King Cole and that almost all popular music originated with Black artists.
If you’re having mental health struggles, talk to someone.

Resources Mentioned:

3 Key Points

Talking to people who are outside of your regular experience is crucial for understanding and empathy.
Appreciation does not equal appropriation.
One conversation may not change somebody, but maybe the second one will, or the fifth, or the seventh.

Episode Highlights:

Chaz’s biggest goal as a person of color during the Black Lives Matter movement is to have conversations with people.
As a person of color, there’s a lot of history that you feel like you need to live up to, or not, and it caused significant confusion in identity for Chaz.
There’s a difference between Black Lives Matter the movement and Black Lives Matter the organization.
In fashion, Black people didn’t have a style icon until the 1950s when Black people were first allowed on TV.
Chaz thinks appreciation tips into appropriation when there’s no recognition of where something originated and when credit is not given; for example, that Frank Sinatra’s style is inspired by Nat King Cole and that almost all popular music originated with Black artists.
If you’re having mental health struggles, talk to someone.

Resources Mentioned:

Previous Episode

007 | How Can a Custom Suit Affect Your Mental Health?

In this episode of Dressing for Wellness, Taylor (Inherent Clothier CEO) and Steven (Art Director) discuss Steven’s experience with an Inherent custom suit. Steven talks about what he used to think of suits, how his appearance has affected the way others react to him, and more.

They also discuss the important impact that a custom suit can have on your confidence, and in turn, your mental health.

3 Key Points

When you feel so great because of what you’re wearing, that translates into people approaching you and treating you differently.
How you feel can change how you see and respond to struggles that arise.
Inherent will now be featuring a photo of Steven’s that aligns with the mental health theme in the suit lining.

Episode Highlights:

Growing up, Steven’s dad put on a suit every day and went to his office job, so Steven never viewed suits as a form of self-expression until starting his own menswear journey.
People perceive suits as uncomfortable, but custom suits are not because they’re made for your body.
Inherent has been able to scientifically link the confidence from a custom suit to overcoming mental health struggles.
Clothing can’t take away how you feel or cure mental health struggles, but it can affect how you see things and respond to things.

Resources Mentioned:

Next Episode

009 | A Conversation With Eduardo Xavier

In this episode of Dressing for Wellness, Taylor (Inherent Clothier CEO) speaks with Eduardo Xavier of European Custom Tailors. They discuss the importance of hats, how to cultivate your personal style, the importance of travel in understanding your style and communicating with other people, and more. Eduardo also shares his perspective on building your personal image, and how that has an inextricable relationship to your mental health.

3 Key Points

Exploration, whether travel or just via Instagram, is crucial to developing your personal style.
Learning to style the pieces you have is often more impactful and important than the quality of the items themselves.
Developing your personal image is a way to develop greater self confidence.

Episode Highlights:

The quality of a suit has less of an impact than overall styling does.
Eduardo’s advice to someone looking to develop their personal menswear style is to explore Instagram, but understand your body and look for models with similar bodies to yours.
Exploration is key to figuring out your style.
Styling has to do with your overall image—as you learn about yourself and what you like and what image of yourself you want to show the world, the world starts to notice and perceives you differently, which reflects back to you whether that’s the image you want to have.

Resources Mentioned: