“Can the way you dress change how people respond to you?”

How you dress is never neutral - it shapes how people respond to you.

Fashion is often dismissed as superficial, yet the clothes we wear are powerful social signals that shape how others see us and, of course, how we see ourselves. Marshall McLuhan reminded us that “we become what we behold,” which means that the things we focus on, consume, and surround ourselves with gradually shape who we are, our behavior, identity, and even the way we think.  In the fashion industry, this rings especially true.

To dress thoughtfully is to approach clothing not as fleeting trends to follow, but as an expression of authenticity and individuality. Being thoughtful about how you dress means choosing with purpose. Instead of asking what the trend is, ask what a garment says about you.  A handcrafted jacket by a South African designer, for example, is not only a stylish addition to your wardrobe but also a piece of cultural storytelling.  It carries within it the past, present, and future - the heritage and innovation of the designer - and it reminds us that fashion is not only about how you look, but also about the special connection between you and the garment, the garment and the designer, your choices, and the circles you move in.

Authenticity lies at the heart of this process.  South African designers offer inspiring lessons here: their work seamlessly blends heritage with modernity, telling stories that are deeply personal yet globally resonant. By aligning what you wear with what feels true to you, you avoid fashion as performance and instead embrace fashion as self-expression.

This is also a way to embrace individualism. South African fashion challenges the idea of mimicking global trends and instead rewrites them, showing us that uniqueness is not only possible but powerful.  As a consumer, you can mirror this by curating a wardrobe that reflects your own journey and by supporting designers who bring authenticity to their craft.

In doing so, you also step into the role of the creative consumer.  McLuhan reminded us that there are no passengers on spaceship Earth - we are all crew.  In fashion, this means every purchase is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in.  Your choices have weight, and being intentional makes you not just a consumer but a participant in shaping culture.

Because in the end, how you dress will always have some or other effect on how people respond to you.