What do you think of political messages in designer clothing?

It's very annoying, but that doesn't mean I won't look the other way if it's subtle enough.

Originally Posted by andyliu52

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i only buy made in <first world country> because i hate sweatshops. any designer who makes clothes in third world countries is implicitly supporting death and destruction imo
Do you really think that first-world countries don't have sweatshops? The write-up I did on Apolis for the SF newsletter covers this topic quite a bit. I won't go too much into detail so that you'll have something left to read but in Apolis' case they are pretty clear that their clothes come before getting people to support the causes. The difference between them and something like (Red), for example, is that they're not looking for a piece or two to set aside for a "political message" collection, rather, their entire line is woven into and around various causes. Where Gap wants you to buy (red) because the shirt will donate money to the cause, Apolis wants you to buy the shirt because it's something you'd already wear with or without the charity insentive.

^ Has anyone told them that the little red cross sewn into clothing and accessories has been a trademark of Maurizio Amadei for sometime?

Originally Posted by Mazda

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To be fair, I AM swayed by activist messages in fashion.

For instance, I'll never buy product(red) stuff because I LOVE AIDS in Africa. I love AIDS period.

It's a good weight-loss solution.

Originally Posted by Magician

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^ Has anyone told them that the little red cross sewn into clothing and accessories has been a trademark of Maurizio Amadei for sometime?

I can't believe that it is a legal trademark. It seems too ubiquitous not to be considered trademarketable (sp ?)

^ I'm sure you're right in the legal sense, and obviously they cater to very different markets but it's still pretty damn close.

I feel like I've seen that red cross before, though. But where...?

Originally Posted by LA Guy

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I was wondering how you guys feel about this. I was reading through Taschen's ID "X number of our favorite designers", and that is one of the questions that is asked of practically every designer. I've always been ambivalent about artists as social commentators - their strength lies in their creative abilities, not in their firm grasp of social, political, and sometimes even scientific issues. Yet, the concept has a firm historical footing. It does lead to some absurd situations. For example, the California Istitute of Technology commissioned a sculpture. It was eventually scrapped for other reasons, but the artist's published statement on the meaning of the work showed a lack of even a rudimentary understanding of science. I would not think myself equipped to comment on art, and yet a large number of artists somehow feel themselves equipped or even obliged to comment on any number of issues outside of their field, and, in my mind, often come out looking stupid or at very best, childish.

When fashion designers do it, I often cringe even more. For example, Raf Simons has put out many "political" collections. In the late 90's and early 00's, it seemed to me just a little silly and naive. But now, when he is at the helm of two sucessful labels, is doing collaborations with Eastpak, etc... and putting out $200 towels with lyrics from Leonard Cohen's "Democracy" printed on them... I dunno...

Anyway, what do you all think?

Absolutely everyone makes comments on art. You are very likely more qualified then most of the people who do so. The same is true with politics. Everybody has an opinion.

Like politics in music, not a favorite.
I don't get it when a political statement is the first impression people want to give.
Also, it devaluates real opinion.

Originally Posted by Deluks917

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Absolutely everyone makes comments on art. You are very likely more qualified then most of the people who do so.
Thanks for the vote of confidence Nonetheless, I don't feel that my opinion on art would or should carry any weight.

The same is true with politics. Everybody has an opinion.

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Sure, but again, I would feel like a fraud sounding off on all but a few topics. For example, I am really not well equipped to opine on the overall merits and faults of the stimulus package, but I could give a reasonable opinion on the impact of the stimulus package on funding for earth science research. I guess that I am a technocrat at heart.

I dress to create an unbiased tabula rasa first impression with anyone I meet. I feel that mixing clothing and political, social, cultural or economical messages puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to impressing or influencing others.

Originally Posted by KenN

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I dress to create an unbiased tabula rasa first impression with anyone I meet. I feel that mixing clothing and political, social, cultural or economical messages puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to impressing or influencing others.

All clothing carries those messages via connotation anyway, especially to an educated observer.

But you mean a clear cut message spelled out and that's very true.

Hitlery Klinton tried to slap me and call me a pervert
I pulled her **** out and fed her sherbert

I take it you mean outright messages of political activism rather than subtle cues and connotations, because those are in everything we wear and status is in many ways derivative of this. Though the line is pretty grey, considering many runway shows can be read as insinuating a political message, like paul smith's spring 2009 collection of drugged up homeless looking people from way back when. Ann Demeulemeester advocated dadaism in her mens spring 2008 collection and this is a good example of the fine line between politics and art/fashion, dadaism was/is very much an integral part art/fashion and politics. I agree that if designers take things too far politically they can appear ignorant to the well informed on certain topics, but considering how relevant society and their opinions are to politics, it is good for designers to be able to convey a strong message based on what the people know, even if just to show how things are perceived from the people's perspective, after all, their opinion wouldn't be more ignorant than most people's.