In fashion, the concept of “cultural reference” is a very common one. Almost every other collection, especially these days, references an old culture or takes inspiration from traditions and established aesthetics. Thus, when one learns about fashion and style, it is extremely important to learn about visual culture and to make sure that one adds as much as possible to their visual culture.
Think about it: if cultural norms were not existent, would there be a society or civilization today? Even though many people have disassociated themselves from their cultures, the relevance of these simple, yet persistent values cannot be understated. In today’s world, navigating various cultural contexts has become an essential life skill. There has been a tremendous public debate about the requirement for putting more emphasis on the development of intercultural capabilities in students. Perhaps the primary inquiry you ought to ask yourself is, “Does culture play a significant role in modern society?”
Geographical boundaries bound different people in their countries. However, time has eliminated such limitations and allowed people to move across the globe freely. One of the most exciting things about culture today is that most societies are open. They consider them as opportunities to learn about other people’s way of lives. Looking at the overall picture, it seems like cultural education is very important.
However, today it is quite hard for people to tackle the idea of cultural education. Many college students, if asked to write a paper on the matter would probably go online and make a search for “buy essay online cheap“, as they would not know how to go about it. The reason for this is because today, given the fact that we are at the beginning of a truly inter-cultural world, culture has become extremely political. In this context, we should most likely try to understand cultures in their depth, with both their good and bad aspects and to celebrate the positive ones, without forgetting the negative aspects. Moreover, we should not be fearful of debate and of “cultural appropriation” (which many consider to be a negative thing), as in the end, all culture is appropriation. Nobody really owns culture.
If we have a fair and celebratory aspect towards culture, we will be able to enjoy it and, when we enjoy it, we will be able to create new cultural products that will be of high quality and that will withstand the test of time.
If you really think about it, some cultures have become truly international: these days, you don’t really have to be Irish in order to be culturally Irish. Celebration and enjoyment are the keywords for successful outcomes. In fashion, adapting ideas from various cultures has had its peaks and valleys of course, but today we are seeing a slight come-back of this idea and we will see it in the future more and more.
Also, there are some up and coming brands and designers such as Boris Bidjan Saberi or GmbH who are mixing cultures or different aspects of various cultures in their aesthetics. Some are doing it better than others, of course.
Creativity and culture come a lot from exchanges and this is why people should always be open and keen on cultivating their visual culture, as the more you know, the better you can understand and do things.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
6 Fashion Subcultures You Should Know About
A Critique to Fashion and Fetishism
P.S. We want to hear from you! Which cultural aesthetic do you like most? Why? How do you relate to your own background? 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!