Is There A Deeper Meaning To The Superficial Nature Of Fashion?
By Will Robins
To start this I have to say I’ve never been much into fashion, nor the latest trends but I have always loved the idea behind fashion. For my love does not come from the subject itself but for what It can represent. For what it can offer to anyone. Clothes are not simple pieces of fabric and material coating our bodies for warmth and protection, we are far beyond those days. Well, at least most of us. It has embedded a new meaning, so ask yourself this question, what does fashion mean to you?
For me it separates us from animals, it highlights our ability to create and express. Even if it is a subconscious act of expression, It still says something. There are not many things more pure-hearted than wanting to express an emotion or characteristic through the use of clothes. As humans, it is our right and our duty to indulge in this luxury and this luxury should not be stopped at the visually able. So here is another question, Is someone with visual impairment be that, colour blind, blind or any other impairment worth more or less when it comes to fashion? I hope you answered that they are worth the same! and if not, maybe you need to have a self-reflection on what you consider to be a characteristic that shapes the intrinsic values of someone’s merit and whether that means they are worth less in this world, because that would be pretty messed up.
So how are people able to thrive in this cut-throat environment of fashion when there are people able to see such an ‘important’ element of the industry, colour. There is much more to fashion than just the colour to comprehend. There are textures, patterns and fabrics which all create the foundation of a good outfit. A good analogy to compare this creative profession is with the film industry. A filmmaker can have the best camera to make the shots look pretty but without a coherent storyline with a solid beginning, middle and end It will never be a good movie. This is the same for fashion, without the depth texture adds or the character created by the unique patterns or intelligence from the fabric, fashion would simply not be as breathtaking as it is today.
In the early 20th century, a cutting-edge new form of fashion emerged from the rebellious and genius minds of some of the greats including Elsa Schiaparelli, and Alexander McQueen. Avant-garde. Famous for its ability to deconstruct all social norms in the industry. Abandoning traditional norms of beauty and functionality with the use of silhouettes, unusual materials, and unusually impactive proportions creates depth in fashion never seen before. One of these great minds at the centre of this rebellion leading at the frontlines was Alexander McQueen. McQueen earned the British Fashion Council’s British Designer of the Year award four. After being teased for his homosexuality, it caused him to drop out of school at 16 years old seeking work in local suit tailors. Shortly after his career skyrocketed. Whether McQueen ever identified himself as disabled when he was alive was unclear but, his aim which he repeatedly stressed during numerous interviews was to reflect the prejudices and limitations of the audiences’ aesthetic judgments. Creating this new form of fashion, which has opened many doors for people who otherwise, would have never thought the life of a fashion designer could become true, now is well within their reach. After the tragic loss of a close friend and colleague Isabella Blow, and then 2 years later the loss of his mother, he was found dead in his apartment one day before his mother’s funeral, the cause of death was determined suicide.
This is what fashion means to me. Expression. Power. Opportunity.
You can find more of Will’s work on Instagram @ _will.robins_