Much like other influential events in the past that have formed a strong foundation for forecasting the ever-changing spirits of time (zeitgeist), the “2012 Apocalypse” or the impeding ‘judgment day’ has become a topic of global interest, transforming into a complete world movement and a culture in itself. Quick to pick up the vibes, the fashion fraternity has hooked on to the sentiments with many designers interpreting the ‘event’ in interesting ways. Even mass retailers have their own take, creating collections in anticipation of the 2012 Apocalypse… Team FASHION FORWARD TRENDS could not refrain from commenting on the impact of the event as a fashion influence which according to us is as colossal as its resultant…
Apocalyptic fashion impacts the globe…
A glimpse of apocalyptic fashion first featured in a creation by British designer JOHN GALLIANO in his Men’s Autumn-Winter 2008-2009 Ready-to-Wear collection in Paris, where post apocalyptic models walked down the runway with bloody chiseled bodies, bizarre headgear and decorative nooses portraying a gallery of buff men in survivalist rags. Taken up yet again in 2010 in ALEXANDER MCQUEEN’S Spring 2010 collection – ‘Plato’s Atlantis’ in London, the range showcased an apocalyptic vision of the ecological meltdown of the planet witnessing a reversal of evolution, how life would evolve back into the water if the ice caps melted and humans being reclaimed by nature. Using natural camouflages, animal patterns and aerial views of land, nature was the primary vehicle for the Sublime in this collection with starry skies, stormy seas, turbulent waterfalls and vertiginous mountains as inspirations.
Slowly but steadily the concept is being interpreted by many other players around the world in their apparel collections be it the positive or the negative, and creative heads are moving forward, hoping to find answers to what happens if the world ends. Today, spread all over on e-shops like amazon, zazzle and etsy are products in the form of T-shirts, and with local and boutique retailers situated in the smallest of regions worldwide. Popularly recognized as ‘doomsday clothing’ amongst the masses, the movement seems to have become a perfect example of how fashion instead of trickling down actually trickles up first from the streets and then reaches the Stewarts, as this concept was picked up much faster by the cults than most of the designers realizing its impact in time. While extracts from the rebellious Punk and Goth fashion that sports a lot of leather, random sports gear like football pads and a darker colour palette are some of the common features of the overall look available everywhere, there is also a prevailing surplus of military inspirations that are making a logical comeback in fashion apparel in order to instigate a soldier mentality amongst the defending crowd. Moving from mass retail to as high as couture collections at a rapid pace, there are a fleet of established designers now showing a keen interest in the same, giving new directions to the idea.
The most current “APOCALYPSE” range comes from Berlin based fashion label SADAK, which has recently unveiled its S/S 2012 collection in silks, cottons and leather. With roots in Kovacevic’s Serbian heritage, Apokalypsis represents the thematic intersection of apocalypse and rapture, a combination of age-old belief systems and post-modern science fiction in shapes achieved through draped robes and capes. Another example is of DAWID TOMASZEWSKI, a German-Polish designer, who has interpreted his Fall 2012 collection – “Apocalypse” – as after all deconstruction there is enlightenment. New forms being created out of broken pieces signifies a ‘new beginning’ in his range which is projected through a palette of black, tartan and sand tones, strong lines, the rawness of nature and the power of the elements with the use of natural materials like leather, metal, feathers, cashmere, virgin wool, and Swarovski crystals.
Being featured in Silverlake, CA, is yet another collection called SKIN.GRAFT.DESIGNS that portrays an afterworld, based out of the thought of recreating our dream world with our characters inspired by story books and fairy tales and dreams of the future. The elements in the range are semi-precious stones, bones, small birds, and chains transforming a woman into queens of the forest. The basic idea is to take old bits of jewellery pieces from the past and work in how they may be worn in a future world, and offer it for living in the present.
Fashion – Post Apocalypse?
Refusing to believe 2012 is the end of the world, while there is an increasing segment of people who are looking at the apocalypse as a life defining moment, there is another segment that is looking beyond 21.12.2012 to retaliate the prophecy. Comparing it to other millennial dates such as the solar eclipse of 1999 and the Y2K millennium bug of 2000 in the past which didn’t really happen as predicted, there is a complete society of designers that is skirting the rules and rethinking the future.
Starting from the scratch to form a new world, fashion in 2013 will seek inspiration from a world beyond human imagination, but seeking reference from the mysteries of the existing flora and fauna. Taken into account as the most obvious insights will be fantasy plants, digital flowers, imaginary flowers, primeval forests and jungles, insects and the deep underwater creatures and elements that have never been exposed to the naked mind before.
Direct examples of primary reference of ‘a fantasy world beyond’ was witnessed in the Vandam Tokyo show this year by a fleet of designers, starting with SWANZI who exhibited this sentiment with aqua, cobalt, and lime snake-like chiffon prints that, like a clitoral orgasm, literally vibrated with each step. The sea seemed to play a role in the colour palette and almost seaweed and coral like nature of the lattice work, a theme conventionally kept to Spring/Summer. MI-S BY MASATO MIYATA, used neon orange opaquely layered on top of the Japanese tree images, while other pieces had long skittish inked stripes, on traditional menswear garments, such as structured blazers, pants, and buttoned-down shirts, reminding us of flora and the beauty of paper in an advancing technological world. Last but not the least, there is another designer CHERYL LEE, who has created a story with bizarre creatures that are perhaps beautiful mutant remains after the 2012 apocalypse armed with whatever they can fit in their belted satchels and structured jackets, dip dyed unevenly on the earthy textured coats.
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