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Fashion Observed


Trend observations with a sociological eye from afar...

by Darryl S. Warren  

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Stargazing

There is a game of sorts when observing fashion, and that is to figure out what is a flash that comes and goes like a shooting star and what seems to simmer in the way a supernova slowly reveals itself across the cosmos, spreading new ideas to guide the others whose voice is more of the collective rather than that demonstrated through bravery in declaration of one’s own voice. That we are passing the cusp of centuries as well as millennia provides a unique standpoint; we are able to witness the shifts not only in generation but in landmark markers put forth through our invention and marking of time.

Whether we like to admit it or not, the designers of the 20th century represent that century. They own everything that it represents and are the experts in the voice it projects of who we have been. But for us to progress new voices need to emerge. This can be exciting as we look to who may provide the stepping stones to clear room for whatever will come our way. And that will happen with or without the fashion community’s ascent, this I can assure you for history repeats.

With the hundreds of points of view, who do we look at? There is genius expressed in most of the ones that are presented in the Big Four, producing beautiful clothes burdened with the task of compromising vision with profit to maintain sustainability. Austere times can force the hand of evolution, stunting progress when survival takes precedence. But when the good times return the luxury of unbridled expression will again take hold to open our minds further along.  

Technology is setting the stage with nanotechnology providing some of the most exciting and promising materials to lay as foundation for this jump, offering function and qualities that will blow our minds. Materials that will offer lightness even in harsh weather conditions will allow new approaches to vision interpretation. New nanotechniques with colour and texture will enrich the creative palette, as will enhanced performance including power source inclusion within the fibers itself.

But those innovations are meaningless without vision to take them outside of where we have already gone, and new design talent will shape these materials as they dictate the new voice of our century. In the meantime, there are clues within the new arrangement of construction that explores the possibilities in the same spirit that Art Nouveau design paved the way for Modernism and what became a freer way to dress in the era that followed.

It’s not easy to thrust upon the public new vision when their comfort zone is contracted in the face of practicality when eyeing clothing as investment and maximizing dollar per wear. Exciting promise through new approaches is balanced with pragmaticism in mixing with familiar components, especially within the realms of designers such as J.W. Anderson, M. Patmos  and Zero + Maria Cornejo. All these creatives provide that balance that brings what is to come without leaving the consumer utterly abandoned in unfamiliar territory. They are on a measured and progressive journey that intrigues rather than alienates.

Some designers seek to explore materials and cuts to break free of convention in an intelligent and  fashion forward way, such as Dion Lee and Threeasfour. These designers embrace technology with an excitement that is almost electric, utilizing technology with that extra step of creative exploration. Their aesthetic is the fizz in fashion’s cola, their compass looking forward and taking us along.

Then we have designers who are already launching off fresh directions and take it along on less travelled paths; these are designers who may show us where we can be (and might be) headed, taking inspiration from the mashed cacophony of styles and cuts that have presented themselves form designers before and bring them to an intriguing place that is at once familiar and yet new. Not all of them showed during 2013 Resort, forcing us to wait longer to see what they have to say (and how they intend to stay true with their course): Creatures of the Wind, David Koma, Kinder Aggugini, Mark Fast and VPL all have shown intriguing collections to make one think about the future in new terms. Their vision piques curiousity, for their future is credible.

All of these designers hold the key to where we are going and I leave you to explore Style.com to see for yourself. These are fresh voices that speak 21st century, or at least are speaking more of this century that we have before. As one gazes into the far reaches of the night, pondering how we are going to look in the next decade, you may want to see what these bright creative minds have to say.  They may very well provide the platform for where the future of fashion is, if not already providing appetizers to its full realization.

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