By: Delaney Callison
I’ve always loved fashion. Whether I was wearing my hot pink poodle skirt ensemble, or an Ohio State cheerleading outfit, you could usually find me playing dress-up in my younger years. I don’t think I really realized it at the time, but I loved fashion because it allowed me to create my own unique identity for myself, along with showcasing my personality through various colors, textures, and patterns. Because of this, I learned to understand the value of the messages that can be sent by fashion trends at a young age. Fashion and current trends can be used to send an individual message, but can also be used to address important societal issues. Fashion and trend cycles are used more often than many people think to communicate nonverbally and create opinions about others.
How Has Fashion Been Used in Advocacy?
Many well-known fashion brands and designers have utilized their platforms to advocate for important issues that they may believe in. Some designer brands, such as Alexander McQueen and Hermès, have marketed campaigns which center around the reuse of fabrics and the importance of recycling. Sarah Burton, a designer for Alexander McQueen states, “I made a decision early on in lockdown only to use fabrics that we already had on hand: Print on them, reinvent them, and make them feel new. It also made me very aware—again—of how much time things take to make, and the importance of only making things I passionately believe in.” Here is a list of 15 Designers, Scientists, and Environmental Activists, on Sustaining the Fashion Industry.
How Do Trend Cycles Allow Us To Communicate With One Another?
Trend cycles serve as an ever-changing language in society, enabling individuals to communicate their unique values and aspirations through their fashion choices. As trends shift and evolve over time, they reflect changing cultural norms and ideals, allowing individuals to showcase their belonging to specific social groups or subcultures.
Aside from this, the cyclical nature of trends facilitates connections and conversations among peers. By adopting or rejecting certain trends, individuals are capable of expressing their individual styles, preferences, and even values. Therefore, trend cycles function as a form of nonverbal communication, helping us navigate social dynamics and communicate our place within society. This article by Forbes discusses the rise and fall of trend cycles and how they affect our society as a whole.
So, How Do Fashion and Communication Connect?
Fashion and communication are intertwined, with each influencing and enhancing the other in many ways. At its core, fashion is a form of visual language, allowing individuals to convey messages, express emotions, and communicate identity nonverbally. From the colors and patterns we choose to the styles and silhouettes we embrace, every fashion decision sends signals to those around us, shaping perceptions and interactions. Similarly, communication plays a crucial role in fashion, as designers, brands, and influencers use various channels to showcase trends, narratives, and messages to a wide audience.
Whether through runway shows, social media campaigns, or fashion editorials, communication amplifies the impact of fashion, turning clothing and fashion as a whole into powerful symbols of culture, creativity, and identity. All in all, fashion and communication truly are more connected than many of us may think.