Artist's Statement
“There is nothing new except what has been forgotten.”
—Marie Antoinette
National
Geographic recently published an article on the world’s oldest known piece of
clothing (Watson). The 5,000-year-old garment was discovered in an Egyptian
tomb, but the interesting thing is, it looks like it could just as easily be found in a department store today.
The modern look
of the piece prompted me to consider the fashion industry as a whole. A quick
look into current trends revealed what some websites call a “90s revival” (Leaper).
Vogue’s coverage of the upcoming season displays denim, chunky heels, sequins, and
high wasted jeans, which is more than enough to induce flashbacks of shows like
F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and Clueless.
This renewal of
the past is hardly unexpected, however. During 2015, the bold prints and
bohemian cuts screamed viva la hippie era (Ferla), and the 2013 fashion collections
did the 1960s proud (“’60s Revival in Today’s Fashion!”). Granted, there are
modern variations and adaptions with each release, but considering how our
clothes today reflect 3,000 B.C., it’s undeniable that the fashion world
operates on a cycle of reoccurring trends.
With this in
mind, I felt inspired to comment. I chose to approach this element of fashion the
way Scott McCloud did in his editorial on comics. McCloud used the very medium
he was describing—the comic book—to show how the components of this art form come
together. Likewise, I felt that the best way to remark on the repetitive nature
of fashion design was to recreate a motif of the industry and do a stylized
shoot. I limited myself to only using what I felt embodied the spirit of “la
mode”—recyclable materials.
Each “fashion” piece
was made from aluminum, steel, plastic, paper, or a combination of these. The
earrings were built out of soda can tabs and connected by twist-ties. The
collar was crafted using twisted plastic bottles strung together by a grocery
bag handle. A crushed can made up the hairpiece, and as for the eyelashes, they
were cut from a magazine. Last but not least, the backdrop of the photo was
made entirely from paper advertisements.
My reason behind
my commentary isn’t necessarily to find fault with how the fashion world is
run, but rather to point out that the recycling of ideas is a common trope that
exists in the industry. In fact, it seems to be an inseparable element of the
medium, and will likely continue that way. As John McCartney sang in his song, “Vintage
Clothes”: “A little more, a little tall, check the rack/What went out is coming
back.”
 |
| Il Se Recycle |
Works Cited
Leaper,
Caroline. “The Spring 2016 Trend Report: Your Ultimate Guide To The New
Fashion Season.” Marieclaire.co.uk, 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 21
Feb. 2016.
Ferla, Ruth La.
“The ‘70s are back in Fashion. Again.” Nytimes.com,
18 Mar. 2015.
Web.
21 Feb. 2016.
“Fashion
Trends.” Vogue.co.uk. Web. 21 Feb.
2016.
Watson, Traci.
“See the World’s Oldest Dress.” News.nationalgeographic.com,
18 Feb.
2016. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
“’60s Revival In
Today’s Fashion! How To Do 60s MOD & Styles in 2013 Spring?”
Thefashiontag.com, 26 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
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