While taking a fashion technology course under the instruction of Galina Mihaleva, I developed a tracksuit incorporating concealed LED displays that are capable of scrolling customizable text on the sides of the garment. I expanded on this futuristic execution of politically charged clothes by utilizing a more realistic application of the LED technology in the Bouis Vuitton project. This project is a collection of six white vinyl bags with semi-flexible LED displays projecting revolutionary slogans through the vinyl textile.
The bags act as an appropriate housing for technology that is intended for significantly longer use, as bags have a longer lifespan in wardrobes than clothes and return to trend more frequently. The production investment in the technology is more equitable to the investment in the production of a bag and facilitates the wearer’s broadcasting of concise messages. The result is a collection of functional, utilitarian pieces with a clean, futuristic look and a mixed modern and vintage silhouette scrolling pro-revolutionary messages.
Broadcasting the knock-off name ‘BOUIS VUITTON’, I’ve inserted only my first initial into the reputable luxury company and paired it with slogans: ‘EAT THE RICH’ and ‘HEADS WILL ROLL’. The collection articulates a sense of nihilism felt by the youngest generations growing up on the outside of a very exclusive economic and political sphere. Three upcycled vintage luggage pieces evoke associations with the white American upper-class society of the 1960s. The luggage pieces were retrofitted in white vinyl and white-enameled metal fixtures. Three additional soft bags made of the same material reflect a utilitarian style of functional bags on trend with Spring/Summer 2019 streetwear. For the runway presentation of the bags, the models are dressed in navy-colored Dickies boiler suits, white retro-style Fila sneakers, and white ascots reminiscent of the historical male ruffled cravat. The contradictions of iconic silhouettes from both upper and lower-class American fashion history further the juxtaposition of anti-capitalist slogans posted on luxury goods.
Bouis Vuitton: Bags for the Revolution is intended to embody an unapologetic disregard for established wealth and political power in the most public of venues: the sidewalk, the mall, the high and the low-income neighborhoods – wherever people are wearing clothes. Fashion is the modern protest that requires no permit, and the new poster is a luxury bag.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 drastically altered what was once accepted as reality. As society shifted to an online universe, causing rampant isolation, the world faced many uncertainties. This dramatic transformation affected every global industry and because fashion and culture are intertwined, the industry became a direct reflection of the new social climate. This ASU Barrett Creative Project explores the current direction in fashion and identifies two contrasting cultural aesthetics that arose from the 2020 pandemic. Through ample research surrounding various topics such as generational escapism, mental health as it relates to the pandemic, increased psychedelic use, fashion technology advancements, the metaverse and non-fungible tokens in fashion, and the current political and social environment, I identified and named two separate fashion blanket trends: Kaleido and Chernobyl. Photographic evidence from Vogue Runway and the latest fashion seasons were included as support for these predictions. Inspired by Fashion Snoops, a prominent fashion trend forecasting agency, I created a trend packet, including a mood board, pattern and color palette, cultural influences, key items, and a fashion buyer’s checklist for both trends. Finally, I reported on my findings when researching Pinterest Predicts, a resource for creative businesses to predict trends, which identified three specific fashion trends, deemed Athflow, Cocoon Swoon, and Up Clothes and Personal, and I circled back to how it relates to both Kaleido and Chernobyl. Reminiscent of pandemic-induced escapism, 3D-printing in fashion, the metaverse, and a worldwide psychedelic awakening, Kaleido features many avatar-like garments with an otherworldly flair, complete with funky abstract knitwear, bold prints, eye-catching cutouts and textures. Leading brands reflecting Kaleido are Chet Lo, AVAVAV Firenze, and Marco Garro. Finally, Chernobyl has a direct correlation with the cultural annihilation 2020 left in its wake, voicing the civil distress that continues to echo universally suggesting an uncontrollable warfare on a preexisting reality. Characterized by deconstructionism, distressing, layering, and an emphasis on outerwear, the dark dystopian expression of “Apocalyptic Chic” is conveyed. Leading brands within this trend are Maison Margiela, Rick Owens, and independent label, Kepler London. Additionally, a permanently altered post-pandemic society saw stretchier, more casual outfits taking over the average wardrobe. As a result, designers within this new fashion season brainstormed new ways to transition from loungewear and leggings back into elevated fashion. Knitwear became the preferred method to achieve this progression and thus, the era of presentable and editorial athleisure began. In conclusion, the current course of fashion is boundary-pushing, innovative, and culturally reflective, featuring a multitude of innovative layering and patchwork, as well as interesting takes on silhouettes and pattern contrast. Elevated knitwear has a prominent place within new collections as the world transitions from working at home and living in athleisure to rediscovering the outside world. Because of the direct connection between fashion and culture, the newest outputs in fashion are either reminiscent of a dismal post-apocalyptic future, or “Chernobyl”, or appear to have arrived from a different, more optimistic dimension, or “Kaleido”.