Ethnic Influence on Apparel Design

Looking at clothing today, it is quite obvious that designs are greatly influenced by different ethnicities. In researching this ethnic influence, I decided to take a look at the popular retailer, Forever 21, and observe just how much these styles have integrated into clothing lines.

When visiting the Forever 21 website (http://www.forever21.com/) I noticed, first off, that ethnic patterns and designs are very apparent. Just by looking at the first page of shirts alone, there were two that immediately stood out as being characteric of a certain culture.

photos courtesy of forever21.com

The first of these shirts is called a Jeweled Asian Flower Shirt. (www.foreve21.com) By looking closely, it is easy to see the ethnic influences in this design. The presence of Chinese lettering and Asian flower go to show just how popular Asian designs are today. The second shirt is called a Cheyenne Knit Tunic (www.forever21.com) Obviously the pattern is a tile design in earthtones, suggestive of a Native American cultural infulence. By looking at just these two articles of clothing, it is easy to see how cultural and ethnic influences are currently being mainstreamed in retail stores.

Personally, I think there are more ethnic influences in fashion than we realize. Designers draw their inspiration from things such as artwork, architecture, etc. Honestly, when you think about it, artwork and architecture are typically specific to a certain ethnicity. Therefore, it is only understandable that fashion has direct cultural influences.

NY Fashion Week trends

After watching several of the NY Fashion Week runway shows, I am most intrigued by Calvin Klein's line designed by Francisco Costa. Costa created a geometric and tailored look, while still having the element of softness very apparent. When I think of the word geometric, I definitely think of distinct, hard lines and angles. Although these lines were definitely present, there is still a softness suggesting a femininity to the designs.

The colors in this collection were very cool, with most pieces in white. This being so, my favorite article was a dress that was "polar blue" as reported by style.com. Personally I think the choice to stick with a cool color palette aided in the approval of these designs. Just picturing some of the pieces in darker colors such as black changes my whole perspective. Darker, or even more vibrant and warm colors would give tihs line a very harsh facade. I think Costa realized that his color choices had to be incredibly feminine, or else critics would ridicule him.

All in all, I think the most interesting aspect of these designs lies in the future. I am anxious to see how such geometric and 3-D styles will filter down in the industry. In future years, it will be interesting to see which other designers develop similar collections, for better or worse. Time will definitely tell if this innovation will live on. At least for now, I'm sure that soon enough, we will see dresses in stores such as Forever 21, that reflect on Francisco Costa's designs.

Organic Clothing

First and foremost, I'll begin by saying that I truly believe the environment is in need of attention. However, I don't feel as though this crisis is something that has magically surfaced within the past couple years. The state of the environment has been unstable long before Al Gore, or anyone else for that matter, decided raise awareness. As much as I would love to believe that so many people are genuinely concerned about the well-being of the environment, I personally think manufacturers and retailers are taking advantage of such a marketable cause.

Looking at the situation from the retail standpoint, it's fantastic that such masses are jumping on the "go green" bandwagon. I, myself, am even guilty of purchasing a shirt that states "Do Your Part", when I don't even recycle every soda bottle I consume. Just because someone buys a shirt that is tagged organic doesn't make them an environmentalist. Retailers are thriving by buying into the clothing, shoe, and other lines that are either organic, or support the "green" lifestyle. These items are what consumers want, especially now. Since environmental awareness is at such a heightened level, retailers are making the correct business decision by marketing such product lines.

Some may argue that products such as organic clothing are better for the consumer. "Regular cotton", used in most clothing manufacturing, is hosed down with gallons upon gallons of pesticides that are said to cause health issues ranging from headaches to birth defects. I may be wrong but I cannot bring myself to believe that a t-shirt I choose to wear may cause a birth defect whenever the time comes for me to have children. I think this absurdity is environmentalists way of going completely over the top. American people have more important problems than a cotton shirt causing health issues. So, basically, I see the marketability of organic goods, and yes, I believe that some manufacturers produce such goods for the betterment of the environment. However, looking at consumer trends makes me think this whole fanaticism of organic goods and "going green" is just the popular thing to do at the moment.

Focus Blog 1

As all girls do, I have dreamed about my wedding day ever since I was a little girl. Yes, it's fun to imagine all the details about that special day, but for me, one detail is of utmost importance. Right after finding the perfect husband, there is nothing a bride wants more than a perfect wedding dress. This is why I chose Oscar de la Renta as my favorite designer.
Mr. de la Renta's bridal collection has something for every bride. The dresses range from the simplist of simple to some designs that borderline avant garde. As exciting as it is to dream about my perfect wedding dress, it is also fun to look at all the different dresses in the collections and imagine the wedding where each particular dress could be worn.
Having a bridal collection must be rewarding. It means designing a dress for the most important and happiest day of someone's life. I am drawn to bridal collections for this very reason. Just as I envision my wedding, I am sure there are multitudes of women of all ages having the very same daydreams that also look to the designs of designers such as Oscar de la Renta. His classic and timeless appeal definitely caught my eye and I look forward to each new season as he premiers wedding gowns crafted from new designs and ideas.