Traditional Methods in Modern Fashion

So far, I've discussed my interest in the traditional denim and Boro techniques from Japan as well as the rising interest in avant-garde fashion, which is mainly concerned with experimentation. I think one of the most important movements in the fashion industry today is the increased awareness of age-old traditional techniques practiced in a number of different countries. 

Japanese Boro patchwork and Sashiko stitching has experienced a great surge in popularity, with large brands like Nike even incorporating these ideas into their existing silhouettes. African textile patterns from different tribes have also been incorporated into many clothes. 

While these homages are interesting, they stem from a desire to exploit the rising demand for such things. Sashiko stitching has been trending for a few years at this point, gaining popularity due to Japanese designers employing the stitching method as a decorative embellishment instead of its usual purpose, reinforcement. The African pattern designs are usually never seen until Black History Month in America, where almost every large retailer releases collections in collaboration with African artists to ride the increased interest in supporting the movement. 

While I can understand their contribution to raising awareness as well, it really does seem like a consumption-based version of Pride month, when large corporations use a rainbow color scheme on their logo and pretend to ignore their lack of support for the LGBTQ+ movement. 

While companies may exploit such trends, I do appreciate that some large brands, like Hermès have a genuine interest in preserving the craft of the techniques they employ. They've even got a video series on YouTube showing how each of these craftsmen work and how their work is then utilized for the company. I particularly enjoyed their video on silk marbling, so I've put it here as well: