Though I’m still figuring out my exact topic, I’m focusing on the relationship between Buddhism and fashion. I’ve always been really into Buddhist teachings, and have wanted to learn more about it. I took a class in high school where we studied philosophies from around the world, with Buddhism being one of them. This interested me because I can relate to many of the beliefs Buddhists have. Buddhists believe that happiness in life can be achieved by letting go of things that hurt us, and accepting change even when it seems frightening. I believe this is a really valuabe idea, often ignored by people who desire things that often bring suffering. Buddhists also believe that though vegetarianism isn’t always an option redly available to everyone, killing animals is wrong, and one cannot escape karma for this. I have avoided eating meat for the majority of my life, out of both principal and personal taste, and I respect Buddhism for including the plight of nature and creatures within nature, not just humans. As a designer, I love Asian art as a whole, since it’s so different from western art that I usually see. I especially like their use of color and patterns; many pieces I saw at the Rubin Museum contained many layers of intricately detailed fabric carved into statues, painted on canvas, or photographed. I also like the incorporation of Asian aesthetic into fashion, such as the dress by Roberto Cavalli, which recreates the beautiful traditional blue design often found on Asian pottery.
Dress by Roberto Cavalli
I’d like to learn much more about Buddhist symbols, because many works of art in the Rubin have tons of symbolism weaved into them. Certain jewels, crowns, and fabric colors symbolized different things, and these traditions should be preserved when translated into modern fashion. Though the aesthetic aspect is very important in fashion, the story behind the garment is also important. Historical background can make an outfit much more complex and meaningful. I feel culture shouldn’t be just approipriated into a garment with no understanding of the original concept, but should instead be honored and displayed to teach viewers about different cultures. Western culture can sometimes be close-minded, and ignorant about the rest of the world. Eastern art has such a rich history, and I think it should be more closely studied, especially because Eastern ideals are quite different than western ideals. The only way to educate others is to educate yourself first, so I’m looking forward to learning about Buddhism, and passing what I learn onto others.
