Art of Expressing Yourself

Whilst living in a place where putting on certain types of attire that don’t give off any sense of personality is encouraged, I have come to the notion that the truest joy of fashion lies in the ability to express your ideas and beliefs by externalising your ethos. If you are, for instance, a working professional, there is a certain dress code you are expected to follow. Of course, this doesn’t apply to everyone, and I admire those who are nonchalant about the noise from outside.

Sometimes, this expression is unintentional, like a sign of wealth when wearing so-called quiet luxury clothing, or it may be intentional, as when wearing well-known brands to express a sense of belonging to a particular archetype. For instance, when I was an employee at a bank, I forced myself to comply with an unwritten professional dress code just so that I could be seen as equal. Ultimately, fashion is rooted in expression and the societal classification that follows.

I am aware that not everyone thinks consciously about what kind of trousers to put on each morning, but for some of us, it’s a way to feel more confident and playful.

As an aspiring designer, I often ask myself: Do we need yet another pair of trousers or a jacket in the world? Ecologically speaking, no. But if it weren’t for a little extra in our lives, what would we be living for? Do we need Miles Davis to survive famine or bonfires? No. Do we need Tadao Ando’s brutalist concrete architecture to live as efficiently as possible? Probably not. The purpose of life, at least for some of us, is to admire and appreciate art, whether it’s a painting, a piece of music, or a favourite old tee.