Fashion on a Soapbox: What Do You Think?
Tuesday August 21, 2007
A recent article from Time magazine, "Paper, Plastic or Prada?" cites designer plastic bag alternatives, including the most famous, the $15 Anya Hindmarch "I'm not a plastic bag" bag. Demand for the British designer's bag was so out-of-control that distribution was cancelled because of fear for customers' safety.
It's not the first time that designers have used fashion to raise awareness of a social, political or environmental issue: we've seen everything from Marc Jacob's famous "Hillary Clinton" T-shirt to Kenneth Cole's innovative social commentary advertising.
What do you think about fashion designers getting on a soapbox? Are they responsible for raising consciousness on certain issues because they have the power to make issues fashionable? Or is it pretentious to make serious issues trendy? I'd love to hear your take on it.
It's not the first time that designers have used fashion to raise awareness of a social, political or environmental issue: we've seen everything from Marc Jacob's famous "Hillary Clinton" T-shirt to Kenneth Cole's innovative social commentary advertising.
What do you think about fashion designers getting on a soapbox? Are they responsible for raising consciousness on certain issues because they have the power to make issues fashionable? Or is it pretentious to make serious issues trendy? I'd love to hear your take on it.
Comments
I think it really depends on how you view fashion designers. If you regard them as artists then they have the liberty to choose whatever they want to inspire their work, be it Hilary Clinton or dragonflies. The political ramifications their work might have, I would think, would be secondary to the work itself.
I think it’s perfectly appropriate for a designer to use his or her clout and fan base to get out a political message. I think it is socially responsible actually. Who do you think has the most pull in politics? I would say comedians would be on the Top 5. Why? Because people are listening to them. The more opinions there are out there and the more people voice them the healthier our political climate will be. George Washington’s greatest fear was that the US would fizzle back down to a two party government and it was before the end of his lifetime.
I think it also depends on the mindset of the buyer. Would I buy a Marc Jacobs’ Hilary Clinton shirt because I agree with him or just because it’s Marc Jacobs shirt?
Sadly, I think that most people with their finger on the fashion’s world pulse and who are flying out to buy plastic handbags are chasing the trend unicorn not looking to make a statement or become involved in a movement. In that manner I think that fashion going NPR can be seen as obtuse. But think it’s the fault of the buyer not thinking hard enough when they go shopping, not the fault of the designer.
Fashion designers should be careful. Some consumers will cease to buy any of their garments and accessories if the designer views run contrary to their own.
The whole thing is sort of “Instant Virtue in a Can”. Nothing has changed much since the snake oil salesmen of the pioneer days; except that now it’s medicine for our shallow souls.
People pay $400 for a piece of canvas to make themselves feel saintly. Never mind that it could have gone directly to the recycling organization or neighorhood landfill to actually help the problem.
Nevermind that the designer herself uses plastic bags, and there is just a hint of misinformation and alarmism in all these types of messages. Nevermind it doesn’t address the industrial world’s penchant for over-packaging all products, and the over use of plastic in our every day lives. Nevermind that these things can be reused and recycled with just a small committment of your personal time. Fear and implied virtue sell products.
If we are that brainless- that we’d buy into it, and not quietly apply the contribution where it counts- then we deserve to be manipulated by the fashion designers and anyone else. Twas ever thus, only these days people it’s more money, and more public, so we can all assure each other that we actually have a conscious.
while I can’t say that I think every customer buying designer whatever that is inspired by a cause is doing it for the cause instead of because of the designer(was that sentence complicated enough?) some might become interested. And that’s good. esposure of issues in whatever form possible is usually good.
I think it is a nonsence that ‘celebs’ speak out on topics that have nothing to do with their field. Look at how foolish Pink made herself look with her contact with PETA, she was obviously poorly advised.
I do believe that fashion designers are artist. I have been in the fashion business all my life and teach fashion. Fashion is inspired by society and revolves and evolves around it. I am sure the designer did not think her plastic bag would have the reaction it did from the consumer. I believe it is not the one indivual/designers that have the problem it is us as a society that puts to much importance on what “celebrities do and wear” We need to get our own opinions and support our own views because we believe in them not because it’s the trend. Remember trends end after a season but our believes do not.
The fact is that people are influenced by celebrities..fair or not a celebrity has to be responsible.
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I bought six large, woven, sturdy plastic bags about fifteen years ago and leave them in my trunk. They go in the store with me and back into the trunk after groceries are unpacked. It’s simpler than fooling with paper or plastic. Of course, they aren’t designer bags, but hey, if that’s what it takes to get people to switch, go for it.