When I think of fashion I don’t primarily think of runways, collections, seasonal pieces, or haute couture. I believe the very genesis of fashion lies in its rurality, cultural identity, and its expressions of a person. It's less of trends and more of the historical weight it carries, the whispering tales of artisans long before us. This extension of storytelling in the form of wearable art is what drives this narrative of fashion. 

The Definition

Clothes define a person. They’re the pieces of garments that cover our “true” selves and paint a picture for the world to see. A person might say, “This is who I am”, while clothes would say “This is who I want you to see.” Think of art and fashion pioneer Nike Davis-Okundaye – who needs to know what she’s like on the inside when her flamboyant gele’s, voluminous agbada, and regal Adire’s tell us all there is to know about her? Fashion doesn’t just describe personalities; it reflects other socio-cultural aspects of a person. For instance, you can discern someone’s wealth based on the bag they carry: is it full-grain leather or faux leather? Does it have loose threads or precise stitching? Are its clasp polished gold or rusty brass? You might even know one’s beliefs by the length of their skirt or gauge their level of creativity based on how their pieces are layered. Do they prioritise style over comfort? Would they wear winter boots in the scorching sun because it completes the outfit? Clothes won’t tell me everything there is to know about a person, but they do tell me who you want to be. 

The Story

Fashion tells a story. It gives a glimpse into different moments of everyday life. Whether it’s the rebellious and non-conformist style of Fela Kuti, whose aesthetic stood as a stark obverse to the lifeless military rule he constantly condemned – an untamed anarchistic, you could say – or dramatic moments like Princess Diana’s iconic “Revenge” dress, with sleek, black, off-the-shoulder defiance stitched into every seam. These are moments where clothes become armour, where words fall short and fashion does the talking. Even beyond the grandeur, the over-worn sneakers hint at a person of adventure, while socks and Crocs worn at a big event tell me you like to take things easy– no big fuss. But the story is never the same; it’s ever-changing. One day you might stack a 10-piece beaded bracelet with dangling charms and marbled stones, and the next, prefer to wear a statement gold necklace with a single pearl and one ring. Fashion, at its core, is storytelling in motion, that non-sequential narrative of life that ever so reflects itself in what we wear. 

The Art

Many distinguish art and fashion as separate entities. Fashion is a creation of the intellect– isn’t art the same? There’s now a subsection of fashion titled “Artistic Fashion,” featuring bold, grand, non-conventional pieces like an Iris van Herpen sculpture in a dress, or a Veekee James acrylic-painted gown. If it’s not avant-garde and seemingly unwearable then it’s just “regular” fashion. But I believe art and fashion should not be separated, as at the very core of all the textiles, bodices, and silhouettes is creativity at its finest. To assign artistry to the human body is nothing short of astounding. 

So what exactly is the addendum? What should fashion be? We’ve seen that fashion is both an art and a story, as well as a definition of the person. Therefore, fashion is fluid– its meaning, purpose, and relevance is ever-changing, as it ties its silk straps and mirrors its movements alongside the one who adorns it.