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| Weaving a Worldly Bridge by: Nicole Marie During the 20s, women danced to jazz in tasseled flapper dresses while sipping on illegal booze. These short and loose dresses, coupled with cropped bobs, reflected the rebellious nature of the decade. The 60s were plagued by the Vietnam War when life was supposed to be about love, freedom and equality. Both men and women grew their hair long, dressed in tight bellbottomed jeans, and girls wore big billowing shirts to hide their feminine curves and achieve a look that drew the sexes closer together. Greed and capitalism ruled the 80s, and women signaled power through business suits splashed with bold colors and lined with thick shoulder pads. Today, in the millennium, life is all about globalization and that too, is starting to be reflected in the fashion world with the “ethno-mix.” No, the “ethno-mix” is not a music soundtrack, it’s a fashion trend. For the upcoming spring season, designers are mixing and matching cultural looks, creating a blend that is truly worldly. Balenciaga mixed Middle Eastern dresses with crisp prep school jackets, and turbines topped Hermès models sporting traditional English riding pants. While this look is fresh off the runway, it won’ t be long before Asian crates are docking on American shores and stocking the shelves of H&M and Forever 21. |
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| But this international trend is not just reflected in the clothing style - the theatrics of the runway are also dancing across borders and facilitating cultural meetings rather than clashes. This past October, Karl Lagerfeld & Co. flew halfway around world, and probably paid buckets of cash for government permission to hold the Fendi runway show atop the Great Wall of China. This lavish event had photographers, writers, starlets, and PR reps jetting in from all over the world. With media attention increasing around these runway shows, designing dramatic and congruent shows becomes just as important as the clothes themselves. Although the outlandish outfits that glide down the runway may not always have fashionistas texting |
| buyers even before models reach backstage, they do generate an atmosphere of innovation and imagination. This lasting impression is intoxicatingly euphoric and the reason why fashion is in a unique position to help integrate cultural differences positively and gradually. As hit shows like “Project Runway” and “America’s Next Top Model” pop up left and right, it is clear that the fashion industry is segwaying further into the entertainment industry and garnering more press than ever. Artists have always used their work as a forum for messages and social discussion, but today’s media coverage is increasing the visibility of the fashion world and the global implications of designer’s work. While you may not be wondering whether the War in Iraq was a point of inspiration for your new jacket, historians and sociologists will surely be analyzing your choices in coming decades. To get this look, try Shopbop.com which has a great trend section called ‘World Traveler.’ But for a better bargain, Zara.com has a similar section called ‘Global Mix.’ |