Throughout history, culture has heavily influenced the designs, patterns, quality, and cost of fashion; it’s often a recycling of old styles into new trends.
In recent years, fashion has thrived off trends, specifically catering to Gen Z. The popularization of trends happens through advertisements by fast fashion retailers and media platforms.
However, conversations about the history of current trends aren't talked about enough, as the roots of a trend are an important and interesting factor to be aware of.
The purpose of this story is to acknowledge the origins of popular fashion trends, by giving recognition to the communities and cultures who birthed them. Certain clothing pieces and styles serve as representations of cultural identity and have deep value within history.
The following are examples of popular trends that derive from diverse cultures and communities.
Streetwear
Retrieved from https://www.st-artmagazine.com/fashion-1/2020/10/27/the-evolution-of-streetwear
Streetwear took off in the 1980’s, heavily influenced by the inception of hip-hop music.
As hip-hop spread downtown into Brooklyn and the Bronx, young people of color were the first to introduce this movement to the world. They wore baggy clothes, name plates, and started sneaker culture.
The hip-hop genre and streetwear movement demonstrates backlash in response to the injustice from Ronald Reagan’s War on Drugs, a period of criminalization and mass incarceration of black and hispanic male drug users across the United States.
Oversized clothing is associated with clothes often being handed down or second-hand to save money. Sneaker culture and scripted jewelry are symbols of identity during this influential music era for marginalized communities.
Hip-hop and rap artists popularized these styles and resonated with fans, which allowed the pieces to enter retail stores around the country and gain notoriety across all demographics.
It’s helpful to have an understanding of the history of streetwear, as it has a powerful connection with music and politics, while also distinctive to a particular culture.
“Clean girl aesthetic”
In 2022, the trend, “clean girl aesthetic,” went viral across social media platforms including Tik Tok, Instagram, and Pinterest. This trend is a look that involves glowy, natural makeup, gold hoops, and a slicked-back bun. Celebrities like Hailey Bieber and the Hadid sisters are known for displaying this look with their everyday outfits.
The clean girl aesthetic, also known as the “model-off-duty” look has actually been around for a long time, going back to the heritage of black and hispanic women. Slicked back hair and hoop earrings are a rite of passage in their culture.
Hispanic girls get their ears pierced at just a few months old and at a young age, start wearing gold hoop earrings gifted from another family member.
Jewelry is cherished by the black community and is an illustration of cultural identity, showcasing “strength, femininity, and identity,” said the news outlet Common Sense. Icons Josephine Baker and Nina Simone signatured hoop earrings to promote the Black Power movement, a social movement in the 1960’s and 70’s that highlighted racial pride.
Having a sense of awareness on the backgrounds of trendy aesthetics is important, as they can be a major part of one’s culture and upbringing.
Kimonos
Retrived from https://www.cnn.com/style/article/kimono-fashion-history-cultural-appropriation/index.html
Kimonos, a wrapped-front dress, have been trending for some time now, and are
often worn as streetwear or outerwear paired with jeans, a white tee, and a pair of boots.
Adopted in the mid-19th century, this traditional dress originates from Japanese culture, and was also worn in China during the Wu Dynasty. Kimonos are known to be an integral part of Japanese culture because they became an essential garment for all social classes and sexes in their history.
Traditional kimonos have unique designs, the most popular being illustrations of a crane. The bird is a symbol of longevity and good fortune, thus granting prosperity to the wearer. Colors also have metaphorical meanings, where blue symbolizes peace, red symbolizes love, and green represents new beginnings.
There is an intricate evolution of the kimono, changing in correspondence with the current political events and advancing technology. Kimonos are expressions of “social status, personal identity, and social sensitivity,” said The Collector.
Now, fashion designers, like Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, have been inspired by the kimono. It’s useful to have knowledge about the roots of kimonos in Japanese culture, as the original designs are complex and symbolic of the time periods.
Fashion is an intersectional form of expression that allows cultures to create their own styles through the influences of music, politics, art, beauty, and more. Though cultural fashion can be an inspiration for modern-day fashion, it’s imperative to know where trends come from before participating, because it recognizes the rich history and symbolism that is special to the originating culture.
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