GENDER & SEXUALITY

There are interesting new directions is fashion design that some designers are beginning to explore. Can there be androgyny in fashion?

"The boy meets girl reference is not the start or an end of a love story, it is the new story in the world of fashion. The gender-bender notion that fashion designers are heavily banking on is gaining ground. The style statements from big-wigs of fashion industry are enough testimony to the same. Karl Lagerfield, Neil Barrett and Helmut Lang gave two-piece a glam-rock edge whereas Phi and Haider Ackermann revamped the blazer. The gallery comprising every one from Gucci to Nina Ricci is a sneak-peak into how the line between feminine and masculine trends is blurring."

http://www.styleguru.org/entry/boy-meets-girl-androgynous-fashion/

MEN’S WEAR & UNIFORMS

I had never really thought about where some of our fashion trends have derived from. Its amazing how so many details in day to day fashion have come directly from details on uniforms.

A uniform can be seen as a power symbol raising your status but is also able to eliminate the individual wearing it. There are many different types of uniforms; school, armed forces, prison, scouting and sports to name a few. No matter what uniform you are wearing it shows other people that you are a part of a group/organisation bigger then yourself.

DASLU: LUXURY, CONSUMPTION AND ETHICS

After being introduced to this utopia of luxury consumerism, I immediately felt as though I had been let in on a secret world. This concept excited me I wanted to go there and see this for myself, I felt as though being there was the pinnacle of wealth. Then this intrigue subsided to a wave of guilt and questioning. 

I was in wonder at how this shopping utopia had grown from such a tiny boutique into a private village tailored for the elite. I find this topic interesting not because of the glamour it holds for those able to enter this club, but because of how an idea that was marketed well has taken off to become what it is today. I think I am excited about the concept of Daslu existing with a phenomenal amount of wealth, without the government being able to control it.

This topic raises massive ethical issues for me. It’s hard to appreciate Daslu when the people who are members of this society are tailoring their existence to be completely ignorant of the poverty that is literally next-door. There is even an option to arrive to their shopping experience by air to avoid having to be near the reality on the ground. It’s not the fact that Daslu exists that I find hard to deal with, it’s the complete oblivious nature that the fashionista’s and socialites have to the state of the ‘outside’.

SUBCULTURES & INDIVIDUALISM

I am not particularly interested in subcultures however after reading some responses from other students on this topic I have found some interesting points of view.

Some class members have said, ‘we always seem to focus on punks’ I agree and would be interested to explore a different subculture that is not as well known. Saying this I understand that punks were extremely significant and pioneered a huge movement particularly in the UK and USA with viewpoints such as, non-conformity, anti-capitalism anti racism etc. Subcultures such as Emo’s have even descended from the Punk scene.

I think that subcultures today are less pivotal because they lack any major political viewpoints. Society has been exposed to radical movements and is now more able to tolerate and ignore difference. 

FAST FASHION & SUSTAINABILITY

This is an incredible exciting time for change that is influencing innovation in design across not only the fashion industry but other major industries as well.

I found the APOC theory really innovative and exciting. We need to go backwards almost and find new ways to produce garments with minimal waste in mind.

After having the debate in class, I chose be on the for fast fashion team. During this task I realised I didn’t agree with this side and found myself really interested in involving sustainability into Studio for this year.

There are some aspects to which I might be able to approach this:

·      Try use have zero waste from production, use all of the fabric the positive and negative space.

·      We almost need to go backwards and instead of this global designing where everyone can get everything, you design locally and invest in the specific needs of your specified niche.

Offer a quality product targeting a specific local niche, price points will be higher but you will have loyalty and a solid clientele.

·      APOC theory. Maybe I can try and minimise waste and use all of the fabric, or use reclaimed fabrics. Looking at the fabric first and designing for the fabric instead of making the fabric fit the design, this will minimise waste. Trying to use everything might open up new design opportunities.

·      Do classic styles last longer? Are people willing to pay more for something of high quality that will last longer?