Recalling forgotten principles: A cultural reading of fashion, death and sacredness

Abstract

This work presents a thesis on how fashion might reorganize and redefine its cultural presence and relevance by shifting its focus from material progress, expansion and profit to a re-emphasis on the more sacred principles that the author believes once defined its purpose. This discussion is particularly pertinent given the youth’s increasing cynicism with fashion as a capitalist concept and their disenchantment with the fashion system for its transparent commercial, superficial and socially irresponsible ethos. This research is in effect, presented as a retrospective and focuses on a particular era which for the author, represents an important, and final cultural moment where arguably fashion was oriented and underpinned by sacred principles. The cultural context to be explored is the 1990s. Within this context, three cultural moments (and intermediaries) are identified, each presented as a short case to illustrate the orienting presence of sacred principles within fashion at this time. It is felt that by reflecting on and analysing these contexts, similar principles can be reworked and reconfigured to address fashion’s current cultural malaise.