Article Written By: Zoe West
Fashion serves purposes that go beyond the latest styles and trends, and these days this is more prominent than ever. A new generation has entered the industry - shaking the paradigms of what constitutes as fashionable or acceptable. As proud fashionistas, it is always impressive seeing fashion being used for empowering and political purposes; especially in modern times when higher agendas are so problematic. Making a statement is more important than ever, and it is increasingly evident that fashion allows us to adopt the voice needed to express more controversial attitudes in today’s fragmented society.
In recent times, the environmental crisis is seen to collaborate with fashion in order to express the importance of change. It goes without saying that first impressions are crucial, and how better to catch they eyes of the people than to style activists in thought-provoking outfits that promote the cause right from the offset. Throughout history, fashion has served as a vehicle for protest, acting as a catalyst in achieving public attention and visible reactions. Methods of such were used by the punk fashion icon Vivienne Westwood. For example, earlier this year at London Fashion week, we saw individual acts of protest towards contemporary political matters such as Brexit and climate change by her models. Fashion aided in these demonstrations through Avant Garde outfits and bodily exposure such as slipped nipples which fabulously discomforts the mainstream viewer. Discomfort leading to discussion.
The simple act of getting dressed in the morning can be observed as a symbolic act as to which identity we want to present to the world and what response we hope to gain as a result. In the news recently, we have seen an upsurge in artistic protest in the Red Rebel Brigade movement. Worldwide media has had no choice but to pay attention to the flood of red-robed, quirky partakers sporting a ghostly and unnerving white face. Representative of the blood of the species in need of saving, the fashion has acted as an empowering medium which has allowed them to stand out as unconventional. This has particularly resonated with myself- and many others I presume- because the bold, fierce red oxymoronically conflicts with the silent, slow movement of the passive protesters. The violent connotations of the blood-red attire opposes the non-violent, emotive ethos of those involved. Beautifully, the impact of such contradicting notions allows fashion to do its job in leaving a footprint in our mind.
Fashion here is not necessarily implemented in relation to beauty, their motivations are strictly political – their make-up is not sculpted along modern guidelines of tans and contour, rather their faces allude a daunting expression – which the founder Doug Francisco notes as relatable to “classical Greek characters”- which only add to the cause, as though these characters are visiting from another time and warning us of the looming destruction of our planet. Their fashion hides the silhouette of the body, and by not framing the body, the fashion of the Red Rebel Brigade takes a different direction from an industry obsessed with the ‘correct’ body image by collectivising those involved as one unified image: a mob of morphed individuals that move as one body. What I also find extremely compelling is the image of the Red Rebel Brigade against the modern, industrial backdrop of London which just emphasises the stark contrast between the activists cause and modern everyday life.
When speaking to a young women named Elle who took part in the peaceful demonstration, she enlightened me to the fact that all the clothes worn were either donated or bought from charity shops; highlighting the importance of sustainable fashion that us at Fabrik love to promote! Stemming on from this, the Fabrik nudity runway show on 27th October has incorporated the sustainable recycling of clothes from our own team lending their own garments out to Brighton vintage and antique shops, such as Snoopers Paradise, adding to the collection.
At Fabrik, we are proud to contribute to the politicisation of fashion like other organisations such as the Red Rebel Brigade. Fundamental to our own development within, but also outside, the fashion industry is the ability to look beyond traditional conventions of beauty; to confidently wear our own skin. For too long, the conceptualisation of whose appearance is deemed suitable for mainstream media has placed expectations for beauty into unrealistic confines that shy away from scars, plus sizes, disability … the list goes on!
The first Fabrik runway hopes to cause contradictions to existing paradigms by offering different representations of body and offering risky concepts which aid to the changing attitudes of the fashion industry happening right now. Be apart of the movement by showing support this Sunday!
Article Written By: Zoe West
Photography By: Josh Edgoose - @spicy.meatball on Instagram
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