My Passion altogether: FASHIOTICS (fashion and politics)

Fashion in the Philippines is just mistaken as luxury. Even though we are a Third World country, that does not mean that we don’t have the right or that we should in Parliamentary procedure define as, to “lay on the table” (attend to something more important) activities as such. Art is indefinable. It does not look for credentials or qualifications. Just like religion, it is free- it depends upon an individual. Fashion is indeed art- everyone has their own point of view and it is crucial.  Every country in the world was given eyes to see and talents to represent in the industry. Without it, one of our basic needs- clothing, would not be welcomed.

Filipinos maybe very dependent in the eyes of the Westerners and other foreign nations but it is incorrect and impossible to say that we have no originality. Culture, the most significant power we have to represent is incomparable to any country. The first thing to notice-our flag, Three Stars and the Sun (red, white, blue and yellow), is phenomenal. Second, a Filipino’s tongue is multilingual. No matter what accent, language or dialect you portray, a Filipino can imitate like no other. Third, our natural resources or shall I say, natural ‘richness’ can be proven every day, history books can’t help but show why the Spaniards settled in the Philippines for more than three hundred years.

The Filipinos of mixed descent (through various combinations of Malay, Chinese, and Spanish intermarriage) have traditionally formed the country’s elite in business and politics. That made us broaden our traditional culture into a more unique taste that no one could ever explain. Until the westerners in the contemporary world influenced the Philippines into a more intriguing way so as to clash with the art we live by. No matter how our country became as dependent to other countries in every predicament- politics, economy, and social – they never gave up as a country; instead they used this as strength to stand out as a Third World.

THE GREAT ALEXANDER

Fashion is absolutely in the eye of the beholder. Nothing is wrong and right. I believe that one wins through majority. Even though it is what it is, the beauty one sees is art. Art is life.

The addiction of watching my favorite fashion shows connected to the industry, made me see something that I think will grow as a result of it.

I have so many favorite designers but I was blown away by Alexander McQueen. His every single creation is breathless. He just scares me of how big of a designer he is, it’s like no one could ever beat him. His talent is extra-ordinary. I mean, he makes plenty of clothes effortlessly, it’s like every collection is easily breathed but passionately made, with his very own enormous imagination. Everything is fashion to him.

Lee Alexander McQueen was a British fashion designer known for his unconventional designs and shock tactics. He worked as the head designer at Givenchy for five years before founding the Alexander McQueen and McQ labels. McQueen's dramatic designs, worn by celebrities including David Bowie, Björk, Lady Gaga, Ayumi Hamasaki and Kelis, met with critical acclaim and earned him the British Designer of the Year award four times.

 

While on Savile Row, McQueen's clients included Mikhail Gorbachev and Prince Charles. At the age of 20, he was so fortunate to have spent a period of time working for Koji Tatsuno before travelling to Milan, Italy and working for Romeo Gigli. Being that young to work in a fashion industry and be a client of one of the best designers in the world is phenomenal. For me, I think that is truly raw talent.

               McQueen's early runway collections developed his reputation for controversy and shock tactics earning the title "l'enfant terrible" and "the hooligan of English fashion", with trousers aptly named "bumsters" and a collection entitled "Highland Rape.” McQueen was known for his lavish, unconventional, runway shows, such as a recreation of a shipwreck for his spring 2003 collection, spring 2005's human chess game and his fall 2006 show, "Widows of Culloden", which featured a life-sized hologram of supermodel Kate Moss dressed in yards of rippling fabric.

               McQueen's "bumsters" spawned a trend in low rise jeans; on their debut they attracted many comments and debate. Michael Oliveira-Salac, the director of Blow PR and a friend of McQueen's even said that "The bumster for me is what defined McQueen."McQueen also became known for using skulls in his designs. A scarf bearing the motif became a celebrity must have and was copied around the world.

 

               McQueen has been credited with bringing drama and extravagance to the catwalk. He used new technology and innovation to add a different twist to his shows and often shocked and surprised audiences. The silhouettes that he created have been credited for adding a sense of fantasy and rebellion to fashion. McQueen became the first designer to use Indian models in London. It shows here how international his designs are.

                It hurts so much to learn that he passed away last February 2010. I can’t believe he committed suicide 9 days after his mother’s death. For us fans, it is just devastating, to lose someone who is an immaculate designer.

  

               Right now, there are so many people who could not understand anything about the fashion world, and the worst part is that it is just luxury to them- something useless, plus they even make fun of it if they could not see beauty. All I can say is that the fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar company which will never die. They don’t create these pieces and show them off for no reason. What designers create is to show people how magnificent they think, they imagine, they execute and feel about art with the use of one of the human being’s essential needs-clothing. I love the fact that it is more appreciated now because of shows like, “Project Runway”, “Project Catwalk”, “Stylista” and different TV shows which celebrities promote.

I just learned from one of my favorite designers, Zac Posen, that Fashion could be connected to the importance of life because of how it is in relation with time-how important it gives the awareness of time to generations that come. Like the clothes which come back as a symbol of significance to people who don’t recognize the change or renovations of history and the present. “Fashion is timeless”, as he would say.

                To appreciate art for me is deep and fashion is the biggest art that influenced me right now. Someday I want to learn fashion design. I know that I am creative but I still haven’t seen the real art that screams my passion for fashion. I still don’t have that point of view which designers have, which stylists breathe. Alexander McQueen is an inspiration. I pray that he rests in peace because we all love him.