This editorial was first published in InCompany by Attire Club, Autumn 2018.
French philosopher Albert Camus wrote in 1951 a book-length essay called “L’Homme Révolté” (“The Rebel”), in which he focused on the metaphysical and historical development of rebellion in the world. His essay can be boiled down to a simple quote from it: “What is a rebel? A man who says no.”
The October 2018 issue of InCompany by Attire Club is dedicated to all those who break boundaries and say a clear “no” to the world at hand.
Rebels are, in the end, the people who drive society, they are those who dare not only to think outside the box, but to confront the world and establish a new standard.
Culture has a strange way of working: the establishment always opposes the rebels, yet later praises them, at the same time while opposing the new rebels. This is the way it has been since the earliest days of humanity and is a phenomenon that is still happening today.
Rebels are people who look beyond the immediate and who act in ways that are not understood by their environment yet, whether it’s by creating something new, by saying something “outrageous” or by acting in a special manner. However, as it happens, they are the ones who shape not only the future, but often the present as well, sometimes even without the knowledge of others.
If one is to ponder on this idea for a while, one will soon come to the realization that each era is defined not so much by its status quo, but by the ruptures in the fabric of culture. Each time is described by the new and the misunderstood.
Being a rebel should not make us renounce or give up though, it simply means to engage more with life and to work on shaping it in the manner we want. After all, Camus’s quote goes on and says “What is a rebel? A man who says no: but whose refusal does not imply a renunciation.”
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. We want to hear from you! What is rebel to you? Who is your favorite “rebel”? Why? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!