Schlagwort-Archive: fashioncommentary

Allgemein, Fashion, Fashion history

Raffia Fibers in Fashion

This is an article I wrote for work a couple of months ago about a product we used in the new Collection and how to inform the other stylists about the history and origin.

Raffia Town – where is the inspiration drawn

During the British Era of 1903 in Nigeria Raffia City was a popular post for its location near the coast. Later on during its independence it formed itself into the capitol for its political and cultural progress.

How does that tie into our collection?

The towns cultural nature has a high market for its Raffia Fiber which is won from the Raffia Palm Trees of its region. The fibers are largely used around the world since it is durable and strong, yet still holds a soft ad pliable nature and is easy to dye as well as being biodegradable making it an excellent material for weaving (hats, baskets, as well as textile) the fibers of the leaf of raffia palms are wove by archaic technique of vertical or oblique loom. These types of production looms are indicative to the Asian market since its inception.

When covered with a fine layer of polyethelene it is water and stain resistant enough to be used daily. Many designers have turned to the fibers in the trends in the past several years as basketweave handbags and hats have come back into style. As an example stands out Helen Kaminski’s designs in New York who was a front line pusher for the trend in 2016/17, while using natural Raffia fibers to give it an authentic and durable feel. Quickly adding on others who have joined the trend in 2017 with no price range left out of the trend. Christian Siriano used in his Spring/Summer Collection floral French knots over Chiffon Dresses that were inspired by theRaffia Trend and Dolce and Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent used Raffia in their Collections Basket Handbags, as an homage to the small town feel of its origin. As well as Scotch&Soda who has had straw hats for the past several Spring/Summer collections including the clutch in the authentic holiday summer look in 2018 (style # 143909) which was woven in the Coil Pattern Weave with a braided surface to give it its signature look.

The rustic and holiday feel is of course not a nw concept, yet the importance here lies in the fibers and the production. As already stated the plant is mostly at home in Africa and Madagascar, as well as Central and South America. Tropical climates are the best condition for the Raffia Palm to thrive and so it is no surprise that it would soon be used as a natural product not just for everyday use but luxury items as well. Through its natural properties it is able to hold onto dye very well and is therefore a favorite of high end brands.

How to broach the Topic with Customers

The topic of inspiration for our products and collections is something that we as a Brand praise ourselves for, so use it when romancing a particular product in our Raffia Town collection. Explain the inspiration of a cultural style and feel, the traveled look of the Uniform pieces we try to bring into the homeland and the excitement of new discoveries.

When asked about the name think of the Where, Why and How to convey what Raffia Town means and explore within a group in Store how to best bring forth this new information to paint a bigger picture for the customer as well as the Team.

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Allgemein, Fashion, Social Commentary

“Florals for spring? Groundbreaking.”

How the media shapes and influences the fashion industry

We all know the famous quote by Miranda Priestly in the Devil wears Prada but its not just a fun gimmick made up for a perfectly quotable movie. It goes much deeper than that, so much so that movies like that have not only become a fun recreational activity but influence the people who are being targeted by the Fashion Industry, the Consumer. Wether its Chers’ amazing plaid two piece from Clueless or Andreas Chanel Boots in the Devil wears Prada, movies and the media shape the collective mind of a generation of consumers. 

In the last ten years it even extended into the social media sites where Ootds’ are posted in fabulous locations, instagrams influencers being marketed as ambassadors to brands to reach the new customer wave. The glitz and glam of the Fashion industry has become both more accessible and more out of reach than ever before. Since these influencers are paid to make it look like they are out in their own element and portraying their every day lives. A super saturated version of their everyday lives.  Nonetheless it is infectious to believe in the smoke screen of these fabulous clothes and events, in the make believe that we too could wear that and have amazing adventures if we only buy those just dropped Balenciaga shoes.  

As consumers we buy as much the illusion as the item of our dreams, and in a sense that has always been the truth about fashion. We clothe ourselves in exquisite fabrics to dream and to interpret an artists vision. Clothes are only a small fragment of the actual fashion industry, the Art behind it all is the actual selling point. What makes a designer a success is the whimsical way they create their unique illusions and make us as consumers want to take part in their Dreams.

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Allgemein, Fashion

Ageless Fashion

When have we grown too old to be ourselves? That question came to the forefront of my mind as I was assisting a woman in her mid 40s. She looked incredible in a vibrant and colorful dress that hugged her body just right, her eyes shining with the knowledge of her beauty. Then she turned to me and said: “It’s beautiful, but I’m too old for that.” With a resigned smile she turned back into the dressing room and left me at a loss for words. I didn’t know what to say to someone who looked happy and beautiful in an outfit, but ultimately thought about societies view on what women are supposed to wear past their 20s.

Even after she had left her comment still made me think on the unrealistic way we, as a society, pressure women to dress past a certain age. We all go through transformations, that is a part in growing and reaching new things, but to strip an integral part of ourselves away out of fear of ridicule or humiliation is ludicrous. Our tastes evolve over time and our choices morph into its next level but what is irrevocably our own is our style. Because style isn’t necessarily ‘fashion’ it is our unique flavor of self-expression, the flair and confidence we bring to an outfit. Style cannot be trained or bought, it is inherent and part of our minds and our bodies. While trends come and go, style sticks with everyone individually. So we experiment with trends and ‘fashion’ but our style shines through and makes it unique to us.

So to tell a woman to change her style because of her age, ethnicity, body type, hair color, etc. is telling her that her soul and mind need to change. But how can we change the fact that a lot of our current society is narrow minded in the way of personal self expression? We need to challenge them head on and invoke the curiosity of others by being unapologetically ourselves and express our style within ourselves and our appearance.

Become ageless in fashion and maybe we’ll be able to change at least one part of the bigger picture and pave the way to acceptance, so that we can break down dozens of walls more heavily secured by intolerance. A droplet of water onto a still lake will still push ripples, it just needs to let go first.

Chantal Eisinger

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