These Models Will Change the Way You Think About Social Media

Updated on 11/6/2015 at 2:45 PM

Instagram | constancejablonski

There's no avoiding it: social media has become not just a hobby or pastime — it's part of our everyday lives, including our jobs. In the fashion world, this is even more obvious; top models have millions of Instagram followers, and even designers are changing what they do for Instagram. So when I had the chance to talk to fashion insiders at last night's WSJ Magazine Innovators Awards, my mind immediately went to the innovation that has changed the way the entire industry works, for better or worse.

Controversy over the reality behind social media has left many questioning the benefits, but according to these four insiders, it's not all bad. In fact, there are plenty of benefits that come from the rise of sharing sites like Instagram. From Victoria's Secret model Martha Hunt to designer Thakoon Panichgul, read on for a refresher on exactly what social media means to some of the most important people in fashion.

Martha Hunt on the importance of social media:

"I think it's very important because fans want to see, they want to relate to you and they want to see your work humanized a little bit."

Martha Hunt on what she shares on Instagram:

"It's easy to just post professional photos of us looking beautiful, or photoshopped or with our hair and makeup, but it's nice that fans get to see this glimpse into me in my kitchen cooking at home, or just having a girls' night with your friends. They can see all of these things that in the past people couldn't see."

Martha Hunt's Instagram tip:

"Keep it real; the more genuine you are, the more people want to get to know you, and they see the real you."

Constance Jablonski on the best part of social media:

"Well, the best is that we have the power now, everything is in our hands. We have a voice . . . we can voice whatever we want and the next day 500,000 people will hear us — it's a direct reach, there is no one in between the fans and us, that is so amazing."

Constance Jablonski on what's difficult about social media:

"People forget to live in the moment. It's more about 'What am I going to post?' 'What will be my next tweet?' Sometimes it's sad because you wish you would be more there and enjoy it fully."

Constance Jablonski on her favorite Instagram accounts

"It's very cheesy, but I follow so many animal Instagrams. I have all the puppies, and all the tigers. Also, all the ones for the climate . . . I think it's amazing to be able to follow, and to learn as well."

Thakoon Panichgul on how social media has changed fashion:

"What I like about it is that it's really opened up the conversation to everybody. It's not just the elite or just a select few people in fashion, it's something you can put out there and get a response from the collective. That kind of immediate response is really important for what I do as a designer. "

Thakoon Panichgul on how social media influences his design:

"What I like in fashion is to design clothes for women. I think that kind of response is good for me to go back and say, 'OK, you know people love this, people don't love this.' I think digital culture influences what comes down the runway."

Lily Donaldson on the best of social media:

"It's quite fun sometimes. I'm English, and a lot of it is tongue-in-cheek; I'm not so serious about it. Especially if I post a picture of myself looking serious, I try and make fun of myself; that's an English trait."

Lily Donaldson on the downside:

"What I don't like about it is that it's so immediate. Sometimes you go through days where you have so much to do, and it's too much."