About the workshop:
The Psychology of Fashion
The fashion industry is an important global economy. It generates £26 billion annually and employs more than 700,000 people in the UK alone. Although the relationship between psychology and fashion is not immediately obvious, the two disciplines are inextricably intertwined. Psychology matters not only for those employed across the industry, but also for its consumers. Whether or not we consider ourselves fashionable, we all select, buy, wear and dispose of clothing. Without doubt, fashion can be exciting, dynamic and creative, but it can also be damaging psychologically, economically and environmentally. Despite the obvious need to understand human behaviour within the context of fashion, empirical research is sparse and what does exist is piecemeal. This workshop will, discuss potential applications of psychology that could contribute to a more ethical and sustainable industry.
About Dr. Carolyn Mair
Carolyn Mair is a Chartered Psychologist and Chartered Scientist and Reader in Psychology at London College of Fashion. Her research interests lie in the application of theories from psychology, to improve performance and enhance well-being.
She has published more than 40 refereed papers. She developed the MA Psychology for Fashion Professionals and MSc Applied Psychology in Fashion programmes to address the many issues in fashion that impact psychological well-being. Her research centres around understanding and predicting human behaviour within and across the broad realm of fashion. She also researches the cognitive underpinnings and influences on learning in relation to academic, personal and professional achievement. She has completed several Research Council UK funded projects as Principal Investigator and others as Co-investigator. Mair was commissioned by the Higher Education Academy in collaboration with Bournemouth University to write the Guide to Psychological Literacy and Psychologically Literate Citizenship.
Mair holds a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience for investigations into spatio-temporal aspects of visual memory, an MSc in Research Methods in Psychology in which she investigated psychosocial aspects of facial disfigurement, and a BSc in Applied Psychology and Computing in which she investigated the semiotics of corporate logos. Prior to becoming an academic, Mair worked as a visual merchandiser, graphic designer, dressmaker and portrait artist.