| In this homogenized world that we live in | | | | not been a unique style or fashion for the |
| where the powers that be would have us as | | | | past 10 - 15 years. Many of these problems |
| anything but individuals we are in the very | | | | have been caused by the total blandness of |
| real position of losing our identity. Walk | | | | main stream music over the same period of |
| down any street in any town anywhere in the | | | | time, anyone who grew up during any of the |
| civilized world and you will see people | | | | previously mentioned ages will understand |
| listening to the same music on the same music | | | | what I mean when I say that music certainly |
| players as everyone else, whilst they wear | | | | does not grab the imagination of people as it |
| the same jeans and t-shirts as every other | | | | used to. Rap music has created a sound but |
| person walking on the street. We are all | | | | the fashion that goes with it is nothing more |
| unique individuals but there is nothing | | | | than shopping mall style that is open to all |
| unique about the way we are developing as a | | | | and so diluted that it could never be called |
| breed. | | | | unique. So what is to be done about it? |
| | | | There is always something that we can do but |
| Fashion has always been a true expression of | | | | it means that we have to be part of the |
| a person's character and people have been | | | | solution and not add to the problem? |
| able to make a statement about their lives by | | | | |
| the way that they dress since time began. We | | | | There are so many small independent fashion |
| are in real danger of losing this wonderful | | | | designs in towns all over the country who |
| luxury if we do not break away from buying | | | | sell clothing that would fit perfectly into |
| the same clothes as the mass media lead us to | | | | any ones wardrobe without making you stand |
| purchase. But how can we do this? | | | | out like a sore thumb, these designers are |
| | | | crying out for people to buy their designs |
| Popular fashion has never been such a closed | | | | and wear them in public, a fashion designer |
| shop as it is now. Back in the 1950's when | | | | is nothing if they do not sell what they have |
| rock and roll first hit the world you could | | | | designed and get it seen by the wider world. |
| see a mile off those people who had | | | | It is about time that we grabbed the fashion |
| subscribed to it as a life style, the same | | | | world by the scruff of the shirt and made it |
| goes for the mod's and rocker's scene that | | | | sit up and listen. Many of us who grew up in |
| was very big in Great Britain during the | | | | the age of rock and roll and punk still have |
| 1960's, then followed the glam rock and rock | | | | a slight fire burning deep inside of us to be |
| age of the early to mid 1970's to be followed | | | | different, well now might just be the time to |
| by the industry and culture changing punk age | | | | get that fire burning brightly. Even if you |
| of the mid to late 1970's. All of these | | | | contact a local college and enquire if they |
| fashions were totally and utterly individual | | | | have any fashion students studying there who |
| in the statements that they made about people | | | | may have clothes to sell, you are doing your |
| and the way the same people lived their life. | | | | bit. Something as subtle as a totally unique |
| Arguably the two biggest popular fashions | | | | printed t-shirt is a start. |
| ever to hit the world were rock and roll and | | | | |
| the punk era, both of which not only defined | | | | Fashion and individuality needs to be broken |
| the age that they were formed but subsequent | | | | out of its mould that it has been put inside |
| ages to come were also influenced by them. | | | | by the mass media and if it takes the |
| | | | combined fire of the punk and rock and roll |
| Today we have nothing at all that could be | | | | generations to do it then that is the way it |
| called a popular fashion; and this is not | | | | will have to be. |
| just a recent phenomenon in reality there has | | | | |