ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces a growing area of interest, positive psychology, and one of its components, psychological wellbeing. It discusses reports of mental health issues among fashion designers and models. Fashion has the power to contribute to improving mental health, not only for its workers but also for its consumers. The fashion industry's unrealistic ideal of physical perfection is at odds with good mental and physical health. After years of ignoring activism and facing criticism, the fashion industry has taken steps to ban very young and very thin models. The Mental Health Foundation reports that depression, anxiety and drug use are the primary drivers of disability worldwide, impacting length and quality of life. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence for the existence of a relationship between creativity and mental health, a connection has been demonstrated through the increasing numbers of creatives presenting with mental health issues.
