#week7

@summer-of-bad-batch

Alternative Prompt: Family Portrait

20/39

@summer-of-bad-batch || banner by @blackseafoam

More detailed versions below the cut ! some of the faces...angles are hard

I’d like to ask, does the term “slow fashion” actually click with anyone’s lifestyle? I believe some will… but let’s be real, most of us probably won’t 🤓

Just for context, slow fashion basically refers to a more conscious and ethical approach to clothing, focusing on sustainability, quality, and mindful consumption instead of just buying whatever is trendy at the moment. It’s about thinking twice before purchasing, and being aware of how our choices impact the environment and society. Studies have shown that slow fashion is closely tied to ethical values and conscious consumption, where people consider not just style, but also about social responsibility (Lira & Costa, 2022; Domingos et al., 2022).

Talking about social media influencers and slow fashion together though, I do believe most people would have at least one influencer in mind. And for me, that influencer is Mia Maples. If you are someone who loves watching YouTube and fashion contents, you’ll know her! She’s someone who consistently promotes more mindful consumption, especially through her clothing review videos. She is always looking out for any sustainability actions performed by the brand itself. For example, in her most recent brand reviewing video, “Watch BEFORE You Buy from Peppermayo”, she dives into their website to search for any statements or actions regarding sustainability.

She also often promotes thrifting in her contents, which aligns closely with the idea of slow fashion. And honestly, influencers like her play a huge role in shaping how audiences will think and behave. As discussed by Ozuem and Willis (2025), influencers today are increasingly shifting from promoting fast fashion to advocating for more sustainable consumption, using their platforms to influence followers’ attitudes and choices.

But here’s the thing… as much as I adore the idea of slow fashion reality hits. In today’s economy, not everyone can afford to fully commit to it. Sustainable clothing is often more expensive, the closest example in our real life is Uniqlo… they aren’t the cheapest brand as we know. And when you’re trying to balance budget and lifestyle, sometimes… price just wins. And that, I feel, is the biggest challenge of slow fashion. It’s not that people don’t care, it’s that not everyone has the privilege to choose it.

So yeah… basically, while influencers can inspire change and raise awareness, the actual adoption of slow fashion still depends on individual circumstances. And overcoming that gap is quite a challenge. It’s a nice idea, a meaningful movement… but also a complicated one. 🥹

References: Domingos, M., Vale, V. T., & Faria, S. (2022). Slow fashion consumer behavior: A literature review. Sustainability, 14(5), 2860.

Lira, J. S. D., & Costa, M. F. D. (2022). Theory of planned behavior, ethics and intention of conscious consumption in Slow Fashion Consumption. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 26(5), 905-925.

Who is She? 👩‍🍳

She is Jaime a social media influencer. Her homeland is Malaysia but live in New York. His social media username is igumdrop and her account has 742K followers in Instagram and 571.7K followers in TikTok 📱. His major content is cooking 🍳, but she also does cosplay 👧🏻, dancing 💃, and lifestyle 📷 content in her social media account.

What Happen on Jaime❓ 

Last few days, she attends the MasterChef program. She represents Malaysia to cook a Malaysian dish to the judges. She cooks a wagyu beef satay 🍢 to the judges and the judges provide a good review about his dish. In the end, the judges congratulate she and achieve the MasterChef apron 👏🎉.

Here the video:

🤔Critical Reflection

When I watch this video, I was praising ❤️ her effort for bringing Malaysia cuisine in a global stage. This is a cultural representation, as Wykes mention is a signifying practice, which shape how audiences understand people, events, and identities (Hall et al,2024). Moreover, her cooking skill in the video🎬, has proven that her cooking goes beyond social media content. As a Malaysian, I am very proud on her dish and was able to get the MasterChef apron 👏🎉.

👥 The Community

Since this video gain a lot of viewers 👥, let talk about the community online 🌐. Based on the comment section in TikTok and Instagram, the community congratulate her and very positive towards this video. Here are some comments:

This is a convergence culture (Jenkins, H., & Deuze, M. ,2006), where social media influencers are not limited to just only online, they can also cross into traditional media like television📺. Moreover, Jaime joins this program reflect a shift in media landscape✨.

💫 Conclusion

Overall, her story is not about just her personal success, is about the journey that she across. Hope your dream to open a food truck with your dad can come true 🚚🍴.

📚 References

Hall, S., Evans, J., & Nixon, S. (2024). Representation: cultural representations and signifying practices.

Jenkins, H., & Deuze, M. (2006). [Rev. of Convergence culture: where old and new media collide]. New Media and Society, 8(4), 691–698.

Khamis, S., Ang, L., & Welling, R. (2017). Self-branding,‘micro-celebrity’and the rise of social media influencers. Celebrity studies, 8(2), 191-208.

Leaver, T., Highfield, T., & Abidin, C. (2020). Instagram: Visual social media cultures. John Wiley & Sons.

"Don't avoid the question" Omega picked up a friend at the beach! She is not allowed to keep it.

Week # 7

Main Prompt: "And what have we learned from this?"

Alternate Prompt: Family Portrait

Tags: #summerofbadbatch2025 #week7 #and what have we learned from this? #family portrait