The reputation things have in society often change on the basis of how we precieve them. In our world, if something is considered of high calibre, It is often considered great and vis-a-versa. So, lets talk about high culture today- what exactly is it? Who all are a part of this culture? Is it better then low culture?, and so on!
High culture encompasses the cultural objects of aesthetic value, which a society collectively esteem as exemplary art, and the intellectual works of philosophy, history, art and literature that a society consider representative of their culture. In easy words, high culture refers to a set of cultural products or activities that are held really high esteem by society.In the past, high culture may have existed for the pleasure of the elite or the aristrocratic. Ususally, they are in form of arts. From classical music to operas, from marble statues to illustrations in chapels, these are all part of high culture because they are associated with intelligence, finery, art.
Belle- A high culture dance form.
High culture is often considered a legacy,the product of past stages of our society. It is considered to be ineradicably assosiated with the ruling or the elite class of our society which is why it is now being replaced by popular culture . As it is being noticed that by the passage of time the difference between high and low culture is becoming somewhat blur. Elite classes are now probably listening to pop music whereas the lower class might be interested in learning belle. Who knows if Prince Harry is already edicted Ke$ha, and what if there’s in boy in some slum area reading Shakespeare’s Hemlet right now?
Examples of low culture
Even I As a kid enjoyed reading Dickens and Jane Austen whereas i even enjoyed reading The Diary of a Wimpy Kid as well as Goosebumps series. So who is to say which culture do i belong to?
Goosebumps (left), Jane Austen (right)
What I’m trying to say here is that high culture is just a little bit more intellectually challenging and fancy-sounding but it doesnot necessarily mean that it can be put on a pedestal above the low culture . So, pick a product and like it, keep it, or change it, just don’t demean a culture just because you are not that into it.
Slow and steady wins the race is a phrase we all have heard and we all still do hear. I totally believe in this, that slow is a necessity, especially in today’s fast and forward moving society.
Now you all must be thinking that why am I talking about this phrase esecially in a fashion blog? so, let me get straight to it.
Many of you already might have heard about fast fashion and slow fashion [more about fast then slow I’m sure.]. Those who haven’t , fast fashion is alot like fast food, one is unhealthy for us, the other unhealthy for our environment, hence, directly harmful for us too. It is actually the inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. It is so fast that where there are 2-4 fashion seasons in a year, H&M [fast fashion brand] practically have 52! But After the release of the documentary ‘The True Cost’ and ‘River Blue’, there was attention drawn to companies that have fast fashion practices. Despite the spread movement, H&M had revenues amount to $25 billion in the fiscal year of 2016. However, as the movement has grown in popularity, H&M’s stock and brand image has taken a hit as consumer awareness has spread of their environmentally unethical practices leading to a drop in sales.
A Women shopping in H&M store
Fashion industry is the 2nd largest polluting industry in the world and the credit totally goes to fast fashion, because nowadays we are disposing off more clothes then we are actually wearing them. So obviously, there’s a tremendous need for us to slow down. We need keep a check on our actions, alot more then we think is necessary!
This is when Slow fashion comes into account. Slow fashion is a concept describing the opposite of fast fashion and part of the slow movement, which adocates for manufacturig in respect to people environment and animals. In the process of manufacturing, slow fashion includes local artisans, eco-friendly material, less to no use of chemicals and also trying in reducing the wastage. It works in a way to satisfy the prducers and consumers with minimum to no effect on our environment. Slow fashion is a way to “identify sustainable fashion solutions, based on the repositioning of strategies of design, production, consumption, use, and reuse, which are emerging alongside the global fashion system, and are posing a potential challenge to it.” In simpler terms Slow fashion is the polar opposite of quick fashion. It refers to a fashion awareness and approach that takes into account the procedures and resources needed to create apparel. It promotes the purchase of higher-quality clothes that will last longer, as well as equitable treatment of people, animals, and the environment.
Alot of fashion brands are slowly moving towards slow fashion, whereas alot more are gradually moving towards fast fashion, leading our envirnment to nothing more then a dumpster.
Some of the fast fashion brands
As consumers and as responisible humans we must demand for mor slow fashion products. this will not only help the local artisans and workers but will also bring a huge cgange in our society.Now the question comes, that how exactly as an individual we can help in this movement?
Well, we can start buying vintage clothes, redesigning old clothes, shopping from smaller producers, making clothes and accessories at home and buying garments that last longer. New ideas and product innovations are constantly redefining slow fashion, so using a static, single definition would ignore the evolving nature of the concept.
Mansi Chauhan, a designer is working with the old t-shirts and making them into these extraordinary dresses and jackets, all hand stitched.
The spread of the movement has resulted in two fast fashion giants, Zara and H&M, switching narratives to become advocates for ethical fashion practices. With collections aimed at sustainable fashions, the two companies have shifted towards more ethical practices.Due to the audience that the movement against unethical fashion practices has accumulated, organizations such as the United States Fashion Industry Association have devoted some of their attention to ‘social compliance and sustainability’.
But What I don’t understand is why this problem is still unknown to so many people?, why is no one actually talking about such a big isssue pevailing in our society?, why are people still unaware about slow fashion?
I guess the answer to all these questions in that people who are already aware of the problem and it’s solutions are not playing their part in spreading the awareness. I did my part , I hope you all will start spreading the message from now on!
Fashion is a vast term to start with in the first place. We really can’t describe it in one phrase or two. If you ask me, then I’d tell you to give my paper and a pen to list all the things that I think are part of fashion.
Fashion is a never ending process and in my opinion we are going back in fashion then we are moving forward, for instance, bell bottom pants are back, crop tops were in trend, and so many other examples. Fashion is something we can actually say is going to stay till infinity, it keeps on changing, but it never ends!
Crop tops and bell bottoms came back in fashion.
And what’s fashion for one, may not be for another. Some may adore a fashion trend others might despise it. It can be fun to play with, it gives your imagination wings to fly wherever and however you want. We can experiment with it as much as we want! Instagramers are surely experimenting by wearing a skirt as a top and shirt as a skirt. So yes! Anything and everything is possible in fashion!
Fashion varies with one’s mood – I’m feeling badass today, so let’s wear black leather jacket; I’m feeling bubbly, let’s wear a floral dress. And fashion also speaks a lot about one’s personality. People usually dress-up according to how they wanna be seen by people – they want to look like a professional or do they want to look like a hipster. We unknowingly also use fashion as a shield, as an armor, and I don’t find anything wrong about it because we live in a society where we are constantly being watched, being judged and if I can get a little protection by wearing something people might like, then I don’t think there’s anything wrong in it. There’s nothing wrong in feeling empowered; in feeling comforted.
A badass girl and a cute bubbly girl
All in all, for us fashion aspirants, fashion is way more then just a word. It’s a feeling, it’s happiness, it’s fun and above all, it’s life!!
A little fashion-vashion 