Cem Akdeniz
Lucas Ballestin
August 31, 2018
Intro To Fashion Studies
Aphorism 1: Fashion is made manifest in material forms. It demands study in the same way that ancient artifacts are made meaningful by archeologists: through careful excavation.
Fashion, trends and everything that is an outcome of an idea needs the same attention and action taken on a fossil excavation. One needs to dig deep into the idea on any given garment or style to find the initial inspiration behind it. Today many things can spark the inspiration in a designers mind; examples include history, emotions, interactions, communications, experiences and many more. Therefore fashion, just as any other subject of design, needs rigorous and careful inspections on its meaning, inspiration, and execution.
Aphorism 2: Fashion is gossip. Never underestimate the power of gossip. Semiologists are driven into ecstasies of supposition by it whispers.
‘’Have you heard/seen the new _____?’’ This, I believe, is the best way to market any brand, garment, design etc. Using psychology as an ally can manipulate one’s mind by tricking them to buy or learn to like the new _____ thing that is ‘in’ even though, initially they might dislike or even hate it. Fear of missing out also knows as FOMO is what drives people to step out of their comfort zones and push the boundaries of their ‘used to’s’. This kind of power creates trends, but there is also a downside to it. As the human psychology is both predictable and unpredictable, ‘the setup talk’ of the town or the trends can be diminished as fast as they rose to fame. Therefore one should never foresee the power of human psychology and the power of ‘the talk’.
I agree with both aphorisms because I believe design, throughout the years, shaped itself with the help of created cultures, countless experiences and the articulation between civilizations. These factors are made a reality due to human’ thirst for the idea of the new and constant cravings for power. Fashion can and will make people feel a certain way from a confidence booster to creating an elite aura, fashion is the way to physically portray a message and to articulate one’s character with its surroundings.
