FASHION- A Cultural Hub

Fashion as wearable art blends haute couture with artistic expression, treating clothing as a canvas for creativity, craftsmanship, and individual storytelling rather than mere utility. It bridges the gap between wearable items and fine art through handmade techniques, sculptural shapes, and conceptual designs that prioritize expression over trends. 

One of my Favourite Designers wearable art

Elsa Schiaparelli’s most famous collections from the 1930s combined surrealist art with haute couture, featuring iconic themes like the

Circus Collection (1938)

Pagan Collection (1938)

Zodiac Collection (1938).

Indian fashion design is deeply rooted in cultural motifs inspired by nature, mythology, and tradition, including the paisley (mango/kairi)for fertility, lotus for purity, peacock for grace, and elephant for power. These motifs are rendered through techniques like Zardozi, Chikankari, and block printing, reflecting regional identities from across India. 

Key Cultural Motifs and Their Meanings:

* Peacock (Mayur): Represents beauty, grace, and divine protection, widely used in textiles to signify immortality.

* Elephant (Gaja/Hathi): Represents wisdom, power, and prosperity, a popular motif in royal Indian attire.

* Parrot (Sita/Totapuri): Symbolizes passion and courtship, frequently found in Bengal and Gujarat textile designs.

Application in Fashion Techniques:

* Chikankari: Fine needlework from Lucknow often using paisley and floral patterns.

* Zardozi: Heavy metal embroidery, popular in North India, using intricate floral designs.

* Ajrakh: Intricate geometric block prints from Gujarat

* Kalamkari: Hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile from Andhra Pradesh, often depicting mythological figures.

Sources:-

https://weaverstory.com/blogs/news/stories-woven-in-threads-decoding-the-motifs-of-indian-textiles?srsltid=AfmBOopxea9t6tECHd3mYlHcmCqKjOs4ctD8cXFn3g_uIvHWU0hIwV_1

Fashion photography transcends mere commercialism to operate as a potent art form, utilizing, narrative, lighting, and composition to transform apparel into cultural commentary and fantasy. It bridges the gap between style and high art, often appearing in galleries and museums while pushing boundaries in photography technique and social representation.

Types of Fashion Photography

* Editorial Fashion: This genre is often seen in fashion magazines and focuses on telling a story through a series of images.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/fashion-editorial-portrait-27902336/

* Commercial Fashion: This genre is centered around advertising and selling products, with images that showcase clothing, accessories, and models in the most flattering way possible

https://rmphotographie.com/work/photographer/fashion-mode-commercial/

* High Fashion: High fashion photography features top models and couture clothing, often displaying avant-garde and boundary-pushing concepts.

https://www.vogue.com/article/best-fashion-photographers

* Street Style: This genre captures fashion in its natural habitat - on the streets, where photographers document the latest trends and styles worn by everyday people.

1. Madhuri Dixit's minimal green lehenga from Hum Apke Hain Kaun

2. Kareena Kapoor Khan's pastel sharara from Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham

3. Sushmita Sen's chiffon sarees from Main Ho Na

4. Kareena Kapoor Khan's white shirt, black corset and red skirt look from Jab We Met

5. Priyanka Chopra's golden saree from Dostana

6. Deepika Padukone's electric blue saree from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

7. Deepika Padukone's monotone golden look from Bajirao Mastani

8. Kareena Kapoor Khan's P.H.A.T pink ensemble from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

9. Deepika Padukone's lehenga paired with 'chandbaali' jhumkas from Ram-Leela

10. Rekha's iconic saree in Silsila (1981)

Where Empires Met: The Birth of Mughal Art

Mughal art originated in the 16th century as a distinct fusion of Persian miniature traditions, indigenous Indian styles, and later European influences, flourishing under the patronage of early Mughal emperors. Initiated by Humayun, who brought Persian masters to India, the style was formalized by Akbar through a royal atelier, resulting in a unique, refined aesthetic

Defining Grandeur: The Key Characteristics of Mughal Art

* Miniature Format: Small, detailed paintings, often in manuscripts or albums.

* Realism/Naturalism: Focus on lifelike, detailed portraits of people and animals.

* Synthesis of Styles: Combined Indian, Persian, and later, European techniques like foreshortening and shading.

* Materials: Used natural, mineral-based pigments, fine papers, and gold or silver detailing.

Themes of Majesty: Exploring the Soul of Mughal Art

* Court Scenes: Portraits of emperors, courtiers, and royal events.

* Historical & Literary Works: Illustrations of Persian and Indian literature, such as the Hamzanama and the Razm-nāmeh(Mahabharata).

* Nature Study: Detailed depictions of flora and fauna, particularly favored by Jahangir.

* Key Painters: Famous artists included Basawan, Lal, Miskin, Kesu Das, and Daswanth. 

Sources:-

https://smarthistory.org/the-mughal-painting-tradition-an-introduction/

One world, Many nations: Understanding Globalisation

Globalisation is the process of the world becoming more interconnected where countries, businesses and people share goods, services, technology and ideas across borders faster and more easily.

Switched across the border: Globalisation in fashion world

Globalisation in fashion is the worldwide integration of clothing in design, production, distribution and consumption by the MNCs and international trade agreement. One of the major shifts is cheaper “Fast Fashion” in the society.

Closets on Overdrive: What is “Fast Fashion” ?

Low priced but stylish clothing that moves quickly from design to retail stores to meet trends, with new collections being introduced continuously.

Trend Today, Trash Tomorrow ?

Sometimes, a solution or a trend can become a major problem in an industry. Therefore, “Fast Fashion” is one of them in fashion industry which has a deep root cause driven by the society and high end brands role playing as a very innovative brand behind a maniac mask. Brands such as Zara, H&M, Shein and Temu.

Several high end fashion brands have been linked to forced labours cases, majorly supply chains in Italy,India and China (Xinjiang region). All of these issues are also linked with overconsumption. Over consumption and fast fashion goes hand in hand as people love the feeling of purchasing a lot of clothes and naming it as retail therapy which somewhere increases the use of fast fashion companies and increase in the rate if forced labours as the most of the consumers only like to purchase more and more rather than being a sustainable consumer.

Thrift stores and styling yourself with minimum clothes are some minor solutions to help. But, for vast industry like fashion, social awareness and strict actions should be taken to minimise environmental causes and high rate of child labour and forced labours.

✏️Step 1: OUTLINE THE BASE SHAPE

For practice first start with making a square and keep the edges clean as fur will slightly overlap later. If you’re directly making fur on an outfit you can skip making a square .

👩🏻‍🏫 Gather your supplies:-

• 3 different shades of brown (from darkest to lightest)

• 2 different shades of brown (1 dark, 1 light)

• Pencil and a scale (for making a square)

🌷Supplies used :-

• colour pencil - 043 Pecan , 008 Burnt Umber, 056 Spice

• markers - E18 Copper , E15 Dark Suntan

🎨 Step 2: Block in Base Colors

a) Divide the square horizontally.

b) Apply the darkest shade on top (deep brown/maroon).

c) Apply a lighter warm brown/orange tone at the bottom.

💡TIP- Leave a slight soft blend area in between.

🌷 At this stage, don’t focus on texture—just smooth color fill.

🌫️ Step 3: Blend the Gradient

a) Blend where the two colors meet to create a smooth transition.

b) Use horizontal strokes or light layering.

💡TIP- Keep top darker and bottom warmer/lighter. This creates depth before adding fur strands.

🖊️ Step 4: Start Adding Fur Strokes (First Layer)

a) Using a darker pencil:-

Draw short, slightly curved vertical strokes.Follow a natural downward direction.Vary stroke length.

💡TIP- Make strokes denser at the top (shadow area).Keep strokes soft—not too sharp yet.

✍🏼 Build Texture & Depth (Second Layer)

a) Add:

Mid-tone strokes over the blended base.Slightly curved and overlapping strands.

b) Increase contrast by:

Darkening areas between strands. Adding lighter strokes in front.Layering creates realism.

✨ Step 5 : Add Highlights & Edge Fur

a) Use a lighter pencil to:

Add thin highlight strands and emphasize fur direction.

💡 TIP- Let some strands extend outside the square at the bottom and sides. This breaks the rigid border. Makes fur look soft and fluffy.

🎯 Final Touches

a) Deepen darkest areas near the top for shadow.

b) Add a few sharper, longer strands at the bottom.

c) Slightly vary direction for natural movement.

90s Fashion: A Mirror of Youth,

Rebellion, and Change

90s fashion culture was a mix of grunge,minimalism, preppy & pop culture and streetwear & denim.

1. Grunge- ripped jeans, oversized flannel shirts, combat boots

2. Minimalism- A cleaner, simpler aesthetic that included slip dresses and neutral color palettes (black, white, navy), and sleek silhouettes

3. Streetwear & Denim- Baggy clothing like Jnco jeans and cargo pants

Baggy Jeans, Bold Dreams: Inside 90s Fashion

90s fashion industry was an astonishing blend of supermodels,THE BIG SIX-Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, and Kate Moss and west coast pop culture. West coast pop culture was all about versatility and laid back vibes such as oversized hoodies, graphic tees, flannels, distressed denim,vans , converse , UGG boots, Bucket hats, baseball caps. Moreover, a blend of 90s streetwear, bohemian-chic, and skater style. 

Style as Resistance: Black Artists Who Redefined Fashion

Many black artists influenced 90s fashion culture like:-

* Beyoncé-Beyoncé’s role in the music industry has made her an even bigger icon in the fashion industry. Some of her most iconic looks include her 2013 Super Bowl outfit and the iconic Versace dress she wore back in 2003 for the BET Awards.

* Rihanna-We can all agree that she is one of the biggest icons in fashion. Her role in the Black community, as well as in the fashion world, has changed the fashion and beauty industry for the better. Both her Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty brands promote diversity and inclusivity, which is not the case for other brands.

* Naomi Campbell-Naomi Campbell is one of the most iconic and well-known Black supermodels of the 90s. She is an international style influencer/icon that has walked for almost every high-fashion brand from Versace to Yves Saint Laurent.

Every person has its own way to express their own culture. Where, fashion plays an important role , fashion meets diversity and inclusivity. Fashion industry move beyond doing something particular, involving various body types,ages,genders, races and abilities into design, marketing and corporate structures. Diversification in fashion states evolution of any culture over a period of time.

Crafted in Culture

India’s fashion industry has enormous cultivation diversity which thrives on a blend of regional textiles, various drapes and local craftsmanship such as :-

1. Banarsi Silk- From varanasi, known for their opulent look and luxurious feel. Made from fine silk and often include gold and silver brocade work.

2. Azrakh- First started in Sindh region, later in Kutch, Gujarat. Known for its natural dyes and symmetrical patterns. It is one of the oldest block printing.

3. Kalamkari- It is an ancient traditional art of hand painting or block printing on fabric using natural dyes , originated from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.