Kathryn Answers 12 Questions About Dressember
How this movement to end human trafficking relates to art and mental health for one writer
As I announced yesterday, I’m participating in Dressember to raise awareness about human trafficking through the lens of how the issue relates to art and mental health. I’m interviewing participants on the topic throughout the month. Learn more here.
Not interested? You can keep all other posts but opt out of Dressember posts here.
On the other hand, if you love this work, consider a paid subscription. I am donating ten percent of all December Substack income to Dressember. PLUS, for every five new annual subscriptions this month, I’m immediately subscribing to another Substacker to support other creatives writing about art and mental health.
I thought I’d kick things off by answering the Dressember interview questions myself. So, here we go:
What does Dressember mean to you? Why are you participating this year?
Dressember for me means the opportunity to connect with a diverse group of people who are all creatively working to raise awareness about a critical issue. I am participating this year because I believe that there’s a unique opportunity here to amplify the voices of other participants by focusing the topic through my lens of the complex relationship between art and mental health. Being in community with people in this way is important to me.
Have you participated in the past? If so, what have the best parts and the most challenging parts been?
I participated the first time a few years ago, kind of on a whim, because it sounded a little bit fun and a little bit interesting and a little bit useful. And because I’ve found that I creatively benefit from periodically doing slightly structured challenges like a “30 day challenge” so I figured it would be good for me in that way.
The most challenging part was wearing a dress every day and posting about it which sounds a little ridiculous honestly but it’s still true. I do wear dresses a lot but I also love jeans and a cozy sweater.
The best part was definitely connecting with community. I have not done any solo fundraising for the project since that time but I’ve participated in various Dressember groups through social media to raise awareness of other people’s participation in small ways. I’ve loved seeing what they are doing.
If you’re participating in Dressember and want to complete an interview: go here.
What does "mental health" mean to you? How does it relate to your own life and/or your understanding of the Dressember cause?
Mental health for me is the overall picture of the fluctuating state of our thoughts, moods and emotions. I believe that we all exist on a spectrum of mental health - or perhaps a spiral.
As such, any cause is going to involve mental health considerations for me. Dressember, specifically, addresses human trafficking which relates to mental health a diverse number of ways including:
the trauma of human trafficking impacts the mental health of those who survive it, their family members, and the people working against it
people with mental health challenges might, in some cases, me more susceptible to becoming victims of human trafficking
In what ways does Dressember allow you to express yourself creatively while raising awareness and funds?
Fashion is self-expression! When you choose a dress to wear and know that you’re going to photograph it to raise awareness, you’re engaging in an act of creativity. The posing and filtering and all of that can also be an act of creativity.
This year, I’m utilizing my writing, which is my primary creative tool, to create these interviews throughout the month, which feels like a powerful new way to combine self-expression with activism.
In what other ways do you think creativity and mental health intersect through the Dressember project?
The clothing chosen and the way it’s styled might reflect the person’s mental health that day
Alternatively, sometimes you can alter your mental health through your choices so the clothing might affect, rather than reflect, your mental health
Many people find that dresses have loaded symbolic meanings that might be vulnerable for them and the project can be a way to creatively work through that
People participating in the project share their personal stories which is a creative narrative act of activism that often also intersects with their own mental health
Creatively participating in Dressember raises awareness about the mental health issues associated with human trafficking
What is the aspect of Dressember's cause that you most want to highlight?
Obviously, this year I’m bringing my own lens to the topic so I want to highlight how Dressember is a creative act and how that intersects with mental health in varied ways.
What do you wish people knew about human trafficking that you suspect most people don't know?
That there’s more than you can do about it than you might think; we aren’t entirely helpless even though it sometimes feels that way.
In your own words, how does wearing a dress every day for a month make a difference?
More than anything, the commitment to taking that action and using that action to share the story every single day for 31 days has the power to raise awareness among your own circle, which is where all of our efforts often must start.
What else do you want to make sure people know about the Dressember cause?
The fast fashion industry is one huge contributor to global human trafficking. Participating in slow fashion, buying sustainably-made and ethically-sourced clothing, and handcrafting your own clothing are ways to help.
Tell us a little bit about creativity, mental health, and/or the way that they intersect in your own life (outside of Dressember stuff) ...
I am here building an online library of resources and community exploring the complex relationship between art and mental health, something I’ve been studying in one fashion or another for well over a decade. I share lived experience, interviews with artists, and thoughts from history, psychology, philosophy, literature, and contemporary writings. This is the work that I believe I’m meant to do in the world and I’m wholly committed to it.
What's another random thing we might be interested to know about you?
What do you want people to know about your specific fundraising team and goal?
I will donate ten percent of all December Substack income to Dressember so it’s a really great time to subscribe. I also offer Pay What You Can Options. Because every little bit counts.