If fashion is for everyone, is it fashion? The answer goes far beyond the collections and relates to the speed of fast fashion. There is no longer a time gap between when a small segment of fashion-conscious people pick up a trend and when it is all over the sidewalks.
Interpretation
The quote questions the true nature of fashion in the age of fast fashion and instant trends.
Suzy Menkes' quote explores the implications of fast fashion on the concept of fashion itself. It suggests that if trends are so rapidly adopted by the masses, the essence of what fashion means may be diluted, shifting from a niche, creative expression to a ubiquitous commodity devoid of exclusivity. This reflection prompts a deeper consideration of the value and meaning of fashion in contemporary society.
In practice
Discussing the influence of social media on modern fashion trends.
There are some designers who flash and burn - Courreges is an example of that. But he still marked fashion history. And I don't think that longevity is always a badge of honor. Modern brand management means that we are always celebrating birthdays, when what is exciting about fashion is innovation, not repetition.
I am in a fabulously lucky position in that I get to wear beautiful, beautiful gowns for functions, which I can then give back. That way, they're not sitting in my wardrobe with me looking at them and feeling guilty. I love that, and I think when people have a fabulous function to go to, I'd recommend renting.
I want to be honest about the world that we live in, and sometimes my political persuasions come through in my work. Fashion can be really racist, looking at the clothes of other cultures as costumes. . . . That’s mundane and it’s old hat. Let’s break down some barriers.
Fashion fades, only style remains the same.
People, when they say 'streetwear,' they miss the central component, which is that it's real people; it's clothes that are worn on the street.
When I started Giorgio Armani in the mid-'70s, I realized that women needed a way to dress that was equivalent to that of men - something that would give them dignity, an attitude that would help them handle their work life.
Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.
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