A rational train of thought in the fashion industry

by Ying Ying

Finally, a rational voice in an industry full of light-headedness and lost souls. Reading this article made me sigh with relief that there’s a sane mind out there who can still see the light clearly and isn’t afraid to voice it out. Read Colin Mcdowell’s thoughts on ‘the sorry state of fashion criticism and why fashion needs its Fourth Estate more than ever’ here.

Indeed, this is one of the key reasons why fashion is not in a good place today. Whereas most art forms are kept on their toes by informed commentary, the fashion world has virtually none. No wonder it is currently so unhealthy that the only news that it can proudly muster concerns store openings, profit reports and the continual musical chairs of designer appointments and departures. Never a word about creativity.

True critics assess literature, theatre, film, music, architecture, painting, sculpture and other creative endeavours that have intellectual content. The rest are more correctly seen as commentators, no matter what grandiose titles they choose for themselves.

In the ongoing battle of words, it is important to ask which, if any, is doing a job of any serious significance for the ultimate standards of fashion, now or in the future. The commentator? The PR? The vindictive designer who has lost his head by believing what his paid minions tell him?

Whilst they are pondering, perhaps they might all remember that a true creator always accepts criticism without rancour and, of course, never replies.

So perfectly summed up. Reading this in the morning brings a kind of reassurance no other fashion article can. Fashion blogs and magazines out there, less light-headedness and more realistic substance please? I believe as years go by the human population gets smarter as the number of earned degrees increases, so naturally the standards of fashion publishing should be relooked, no?