Ben Barry on unpicking jackets, instituting justice and remembering the joy of fashion

In this episode you meet Ben Barry - fashion educator, designer-researcher and academic leader who is devoted to equity, inclusion and social justice in fashion education and the fashion industry.  

Ben Barry has been described as an ‘idea machine’ whose work has been lauded as ‘positive, determined action to undo stereotypes and redefine society's idea of beauty. He is Dean and Associate Professor of Equity and Inclusion in the School of Fashion – at Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Fashion is a great teacher talks to him about unpicking his suit jackets and inherent notions of masculinity, transformative educational experiences and using ones’ body to navigate the complexities of institutional change. Finding liberatory pockets and fashion utopia in everyday clothing. And how it all started with him playing in his grandmother’s closet. 

Sound editor: Moritz Bailly
Music by: Johannes von Weizsäcker
Graphic by: Studio Regular