FUNCTION OR FASHION?

I've been encouraged to get a pair of Doc Martens since about the age of 10 as I'm part of a family of Doc-lovers, and nearly ten years later I've caught the bug and done just that. I've never been a fan of the classic Doc styles hence why it's taken me so long to get on the bandwagon, but the new styles that the brand have recently released sparked an interest. Initially it was the Jadon's that caught my eye - a take on the classic Doc boots but with a significantly bigger platform, aligning itself with the chunky shoe trend that is doing the rounds and doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. 

After scrolling ASOS, as I usually find myself doing when I want some style inspiration or an excuse to make a new purchase, I came across the Farylle chunky leather boots and decided that they were the Docs for me. The combination of the chunky platform, the oversized metallic loop holes and the metal cap toe is the perfect bridge between a more fashion-forward and unconventional pair of Docs, yet still flying the flag for the brand that's known for longevity, comfort (eventually) and timeless style.

The outfit pictured above is the sort I feel most comfortable in - a slight play on the classics in the way that the shoes and the graphic tee have a bit more to them compared to your average pieces, and they boast more of a boyish and relaxed fit which is something I like to channel a lot of the time. 

It's pieces like these that I tend to find get the most wear and with a global discussion about the environment and how we as humans are having an impact, this is an important thing to consider when making a purchase, specifically in terms of the ability to mix and match items to create different looks, or whether something will stand the test of time in terms of style and quality. 

Dr. Martens went from initially being a functional work boot, to a shoe brand that symbolises nonconformist attitude, self-expression and alternative style. As a brand they've seen societal and cultural shifts which they have worked through and become a part of, such as the explosion of British youth culture in the 1960s and 70s as well as ever-changing music scenes. Throughout all of this they've been able to maintain the high levels of quality that the Griggs family first championed back in 1901.

Mais

FASHION CAN'T EXIST ON ITS OWN.

Fashion can't exist on its own. Fashion isn't a single subject, but a combination of almost every subject. Take maths for example - involved in the creation of every piece of clothing on the planet. And then there's english - relied on for the marketing and communication of fashion. Geography too - heavily linked to the distribution methods and consumption patterns within fashion. There are more obvious examples, namely art, textiles, economics and business, but these subjects carry no more importance than the likes of maths and geography in regards to the fashion industry. Every subject plays an integral part to how the industry is run, and without their contribution to fashion, it simply wouldn't function as all the varying aspects work together to create what we know to be fashion.

Politics and fashion arguably have a less obvious link in comparison to the examples mentioned above, but when they do collide the force of fashion is evident, as demonstrated in the case of fashion designer Katharine Hamnett, who still to this day combines these two fields to project powerful messages across the world.

Undoubtably, her most famous example of this aligns with the most iconic moment in her career and involves former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and a T-shirt that reads '58% Don't Want Pershing'. It all started in 1983 when the British government decided to install U.S. nuclear warheads on British soil. This was a result of the Cold War where the clash of communist and capitalist ideologies resulted in conflict. As an allied country to the U.S., Britain deployed nuclear weapons on behalf of America.

This was deemed to be a controversial move as it was a decision that neglected the opinions of the electorate so Hamnett, along with many others, rightfully deemed it to be undemocratic. This resulted in Hamnett using her career as a fashion designer, as well as a timely invitation to number 10 Downing Street, to communicate her opinion on the issue. Little did Hamnett know that her brave stunt, where she removed her coat just before greeting Thatcher, would be seen across the world, even before social media was rife, truly demonstrating the potential power of fashion. The T-shirt gave Hamnett power where she otherwise wouldn't have had it - it acted as a political protest which, in this case, was far superior than spoken words.

As previously mentioned, thirty-five years on and Hamnett's work is still in full force with her latest topic of discussion being Brexit where she continues to showcase her left-wing views through slogans such as 'Second Referendum Now'. By combining fashion with politics Hamnett is allowing for important conversations to be had where they may not have regularly taken place. Often times artists and designers have a much greater influence than traditional outlets such as the government and pressure groups because of the way their messages are communicated. Particularly in today's climate it seems that capturing the attention of the majority, particularly in relation to subjects like politics, more specifically Brexit and climate change, is essential in order for change to take place.

The broad spectrum of fashion is fascinating. Fashion doesn't and can't exist without contextual influences and varying subject matter and the complexity of the industry seems to be something that goes amiss in general conversation.

Mais xx