When we think about the future, I believe we have an innate desire to paint images of the unprecedented, the yet-to-be-discovered. We often visualize "the future" as a place where novelty is celebrated and the unknown awaits our arrival. However, there is a belief within my heart that contradicts this perception with which most people may disagree. I am convinced that everything we create today, everything that “breathes” in the present, is deeply entwined with the past. Whatever we create may appear modern, but if we look at its essence, we will notice that it is age-old; we will discover that the things have been done in the past, but what we do now is simply give those concepts a fresh coat of paint, one that is relevant to our times and is molded by our experiences, values, and beliefs.
I see this idea of the future actually being in the past depicted in the realm of fashion. Fashion, in my opinion, should wear its past as a badge of honor. I regard fashion as a world where the past is felt clearly in the present, displaying a tapestry as rich in tradition as it is in contemporary vigor.
In essence, fashion is a medium of expression, a mirror reflecting the zeitgeist, and a bridge fostering a connection between self and society. It is not about the fabric that graces our bodies, but about the stories, emotions, and ideas that it embodies and evokes. That is the allure of fashion; that is fashion.
If we look at the surface of fashion, we can see that the silhouettes, colors, and textures we see today are articulations imbued with echoes of previous eras, yet they resonate with modern senses, evoking a vivid conversation between then and now. Because of these defining traits, fashion is a crucial medium for exploring the ongoing dialogue between the past and the present. ( These thoughts are coming from someone who is not a fashion guru. And to be honest, fashion has never been about the garments for me, which is perhaps one of the reasons why I didn't care as much about understanding and studying the process of garment development and what it entails.) So, even without this understanding, I feel that if we look closely at the past, we may see how it is brilliantly mirrored in the present, albeit in a different way.
Nonetheless, my opinion that fashion's future lies in its past and that this industry epitomizes the idea that what we have today or in the future is a reinterpretation of what we had in the past, stems from its core. I believe that only by peeling back the surface layers of fashion can we truly see this idea acknowledged.
If we look back in time, the very nature of fashion is making her visible across multiple periods, each with its own unique voice but a shared underlying tune. The Flapper Era, for example, emerged during the Roaring Twenties, when fashion became a colorful statement of women's embracement of freedom and defiance of conventional norms. The flamboyant dresses and bobbed hair reflected a growing yearning for independence and a break away from convention.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the streets witnessed the emergence of the Streetwear and Punk movements, which represented bold statements of counterculture and individuality. The rugged denim, leather jackets, and daring prints were more than just garments; they were a fabric rebellion, a reflection of societal and political undercurrents, and, most importantly, a means of expression, connection, and reflection for the people.
When we consider these two eras, which are separated by 50-60 years, we can see that their essence is the same, but the way it is manifested differs. Whatever age we consider, fashion has always served as a canvas for individuals and communities to express their identities, aspirations, and beliefs. We can see that fashion was never about dressing the body, but about dressing the soul and embodying a narrative that transcends oneself.
Now, if we look to the present, I believe the essence of fashion continues to echo through our sartorial choices. I believe that, while the story appears to have taken a subtle but substantial turn, fashion's essence remains unbroken. By this "turn", I mean that the appeal of brand names frequently overshadows the inherent essence of fashion. The logo on a T-shirt or the signature handbag frequently takes center stage, overshadowing fashion's deeper nature of expression, connection, and reflection.
Yet, while this shift toward brand-centric consumption reflects a modern socio-economic narrative, it also calls for a pause and reflection. It seems to invite us to consider if the heart of fashion is being nurtured or gradually being obscured by the shimmer of brand logos.
Personally, I believe that even if we wear beloved designers' creations and use logos as the loudest statement, muting the profound dialogue between the self and fabric, the individual and society, fashion's essence remains strong, with each of these things prompting us to consider the expression, reflection, and connection that fashion inherently provides. It may not be obvious, but if we peel back the outer layers, we will notice that what fashion was in the 1920s or 1980s is still today, but only in another form.
Yet, I anticipate that instead of fashion's core being concealed by logos and names, things will take a new turn in the future, with these names and logos taking a backseat to expression, reflection, and connection. One reason that makes me believe this is the digital age we live in. And with this digital revolution, I believe a paradigm shift in fashion will occur, with the acknowledgment of digital fashion (I say acknowledgment rather than emergence, because I believe we've been living with digital fashion for so long, and it is only in this era that we begin to refer to it as fashion - think about gaming skins or AR filters on social media platforms – at their core they are digital fashion ). The digital space provides a vast canvas for sartorial creativity. Physically, we are constrained by the laws of physics or material constraints, but digitally, these boundaries are surpassed, providing an infinite palette for imaginative expression.
One of the things that makes digital fashion so appealing is that, due to its limitless creative possibilities, it offers a profound medium for individuality and expression. What do you think will happen in a world where practically anything can be made and worn? Brand logos and names will give way to the garment and its story. More than anything else, the narrative in which the garment is worn, created, and exhibited will be substantial. In the digital future, it will be the brands that are able to connect and resonate with people's identities the most that will stand out. It will no longer matter whether you wear brand X or Y, but rather what story you wear.
This digital frontier also encourages a collaborative culture in which we are no longer just consumers but active participants in a brand's narrative. We will become co-authors of their sartorial narrative through co-creation, imbuing clothing with personal essence, aspirations, and creativity. Garments will be lived, loved, and resonate on a profound level thanks to this collaborative approach. It will no longer be the garment that starts discussion, but the story behind it.
I believe that the digital realm and collaborative culture will highlight fashion's core essence - a medium of expression, reflection, and connection. People will seek out garments that reflect their own identity, values, and aesthetics, rather than the emblematic identity of a brand. Garments will evolve from a billboard for brand advertising to a canvas for personal narrative. (In Breaking the Dictate, I discuss more about this culture of collaboration and why we may not have purchased the garments that we actually desired, but rather those that brands "compelled" us to.)
I have the impression that a renaissance of self-expression is about to begin, in which garments will become more deliberate expressions of individual and communal narratives. As strange as it may sound, this digital evolution is steering fashion back to its core essence, where the value of a garment is defined not by the brand it bears, but by the story it tells and the personal resonance it evokes.
Fashion transcends the transient and embraces the timeless in this digital rebirth, mirroring the cyclical journey we went over earlier. We are adorning narratives as we dress in digital attire, celebrating a return to the praise of fashion's quintessence, where the garment is a medium for self-expression, a reflection of our personal ethos, and a bridge to communal dialogue.
As much as I feel that the digital realm rekindles the intrinsic essence of fashion, I also believe a ripple effect will begin to resound in the physical world. The allure of tailored digital garments, created from a collaborative ethos, will fuel a desire to extend this personalized narrative into physical space as well. There will be a longing to feel the weave of a cloth fitted to one's story, to embrace a garment that connects with one's personal ethos and aesthetics.
This shift in sartorial perceptions, in my perspective, will be more than a passing fad, but an awakening. A lovely paradox emerges as people tailor, adorn, and cherish garments that reflect their identity. The digital journey, which helps us think about and envision the future, brings back fashion's core essence: a canvas for expression, reflection, and connection.
If we were to embark on a journey in the future, to fast forward a decade or two, I believe that reflecting on fashion's history would lead to a profound realization. By peeling back the surface layers of evolving trends, logos, and names, we may see that the tapestry of contemporary fashion is actually a subtle re-interpretation of previous narratives. The past's silhouettes have not vanished, but have found new resonance and embodiment in the present-day narrative.
When we consider the past, present, and future of fashion, we may realize that it is a timeless journey rather than a linear one. It is a symbiotic cycle in which every stitch, hue, and texture tells a story that echoes beyond time, a wonderful blend of legacy and contemporaneity.
As I have stated, and as I passionately believe, this sartorial renaissance that we may be witnessing is about rekindling an age-old dialogue between the self and the fabric, the individual and the societal tapestry. Every thread we weave today echoes the everlasting essence of fashion, taking us on a journey not into the unknown, but into the heart of authentic expression, tracking back to where it all began, to the core of human expression, hidden inside the folds of a garment.
Thank you for reading!
Have a fantastic day!
Eduard🌹
