Culture
Fashion is something that relates to people everyday and is a part of modern day culture. Although many may say that they are not interested in fashion, what people wear is reflective of them whether it is through personal expression or indifference. Just in the way history can repeat itself, fashion trends can also repeat themselves. Trends can be created by either an individual or group, but ultimately are inspired by past creations.
Trends have changed, women of different ages have interpreted fashions differently, new designers have emerged, but above all fashion has constantly remained a source of expression for women and men around the world. Designer Yves Saint Laurent once said, "fashions fade, style is eternal" and these words have never been more true than today. Trends oscillate. Every season and every fashion week remnants of old trends emerge cloaked by new ideas and styles. To learn more about this I sought out the opinion of two fashion insiders. Below is what I learned.
Valerie of the Idiosyncratic Fashionistas
IT: How have you seen the fashion industry change?
V: I've seen it lose a lot of its individuality. Conglomerates buy up small companies, so the small companies, which may have been creative and not necessarily financially savvy, have to tone down their creativity, since creativity can cost money. If you suddenly have a very limited budget to work with, as dictated by the conglomerate, then you start to cut corners. 10 new designs instead of 20, polyester instead of silk, 2 darts instead of 8, 5 buttons instead of 6, tailors in China instead of tailors in your own backyard. A dress that a designer might have been available in 5 different colors - black, white, navy, yellow and purple - to suit his diverse clientele - will only be available in two colors - black and white, because those are the colors they are least likely to take a loss on.
Times have changed. I grew up in the 60s and 70s when things were kind of wild, but the pendulum has swung back the other way, and clothing is very conservative. Successful designers are very conservative. There are still avant garde designers, but they are not celebrated the way they used to be, or copied the way they used to be.
By Isabella Tognini
Old Is New