Modernism and handcrafting: an iGent contradiction?

[radicaldog]

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but as I'm furnishing a new flat I've come to ask myself the above question: how come that I like industrial design (i.e. mass-produced objects) for my furniture and artisan methods for my clothing? I'm not saying I always prefer modernist furniture; but there are mass-produced modernist furnishings that, to me, are as aesthetically accomplished as any handcrafted Chippendale or other antiques. I can't really say the same for clothing, and especially clothing with a degree of formality (I love my industrial Barbour jacket, for example; but there are modernist furnishings that are entirely appropriate to the most formal of rooms).

Of course, in reality, my preferences are more complicated than that. But still, I can't quite think of many clothing items that have a successful industrial aesthetic. Is it because RTW clothing tends to try and ape sartorial details? Is it because the great modernist designers didn't think that clothing was worth bothering with, and so we are stuck with a pre-1920ish sartorial aesthetic?

I don't want to bore you any further with this rant -- you get the drift. Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Cheers.

 

[dieworkwear]

Production method and aesthetic are two different things. You can have artisanal, hand crafted "industrial design" and mass-produced, factory -made "Old World" aesthetics. My own apartment has a somewhat old-school, academic kind of sensibility to it, and I think it generally goes along with my taste in music and clothes.

 

[radicaldog]

Yes, but I don't like things that (try to) look what they are not. Industrial-looking things should roll off production lines, artisanal-looking things should be handmade by artisans. I take it that that is a fairly common belief among the iGentry; hence my question.

 

[jrd617]

U been hanging out with Reevolving?

 

[lee_44106]

The people who would call themselves iGents are inherently contradictory in their thoughts/actions, often even hypocritical.

I've observed this in real life.

 

[Parker]

Are you talking about production methods or visual style? either way, there are "hand-made" things that are crap and "mass-made" things that are good. Whether I like something is more dependent on the visual style and a certain quality level.

If you are talking about why you like modern-looking furniture but old-fashioned looking clothes... that's another issue. I have eclectic tastes so mixing stuff is not a problem for me. at least the term "modern" is a 20th century concept, so it's consistent with old world clothing!

 

[radicaldog]

Let me try and put this in a slightly different way. Industrially-made furniture can be beautiful qua industrial design. The same doesn't seem true of (relatively formal) clothes. Where are the beautiful modernist, industrial-looking and industrially-made lounge suits? Perhaps Armani tried it thirty or forty years ago, with mixed results. Other examples?

 

[radicaldog]



The people who would call themselves iGents are inherently contradictory in their thoughts/actions, often even hypocritical.
I've observed this in real life.

That follows from a more general premise. Unless you're saying that iGents are more contradictory and hypocritical than the average person.

 

[The Thin Man]

Personally, I only admire beautiful modern design (whether in architecture or fashion) as art for brief periods. It's generally not something I want to surround myself with.

I generally contrast modern design (in architecture or furniture) with traditional Japanese design, which greatly influenced modernism. Even at its most austere, Japanese design had a handmade, organic quality to it. So while I'm not rigidly opposed to some austerity in my house, I still look for things that have a living, artisanal (for lack of a better word) quality. So I don't share your taste in design and for me, it would feel unresolvably contradictory to appreciate the personal and artisanal in my clothing and the industrial and mechanistic in my house.

To me, something like a Jil Sander suit can look good (on others) in the same way that a Mies, Corbu or Cappellini design can look good (for/in others' houses). In small doses and not in my house.

 

[DocHolliday]

I've often wondered if my fellow iGents' fascination with the artisinal extends beyond clothing. Judging by photo backgrounds, it frequently does not.

I like modern design, but then, I don't pay much mind to the "artisinal" aspects of clothing. My standards are durability and aesthetics. In discussing clothing quality, I want quantifiable metrics, not sentimental stories of the Italian countryside.

 

[Parker]



Where are the beautiful modernist, industrial-looking and industrially-made lounge suits? Perhaps Armani tried it thirty or forty years ago, with mixed results. Other examples?

This might be where there should be a distinction between "designer" suits and "tailor-derived" suits. Most of the suits that SF (MC) appreciates are those that derive from tailors. Even the bigger rtw companies may have started as smaller tailor shops - Brioni, Kiton, Barbera, etc. Armani was probably the first to reimagine the classic suit. Designers ever since have offered their takes on suits -- messing with proportions, silhouette, construction, details all with different visual effects.

As for current "industrial looking" suits, maybe Dries Van Noten, Jil Sander or Raf Simons would be close. Also Zegna stuff is pretty sleek/modernist and does less exaggeration of shape and detail.

 

[The Thin Man]



Armani was probably the first to reimagine the classic suit.

I think Cardin's Cylinder suit is where it starts.

 

[hendrix]

lanvin often has a certain industrial quality to it...

 

[dieworkwear]



This might be where there should be a distinction between "designer" suits and "tailor-derived" suits. Most of the suits that SF (MC) appreciates are those that derive from tailors. Even the bigger rtw companies may have started as smaller tailor shops - Brioni, Kiton, Barbera, etc. Armani was probably the first to reimagine the classic suit. Designers ever since have offered their takes on suits -- messing with proportions, silhouette, construction, details all with different visual effects.
As for current "industrial looking" suits, maybe Dries Van Noten, Jil Sander or Raf Simons would be close. Also Zegna stuff is pretty sleek/modernist and does less exaggeration of shape and detail.

lanvin often has a certain industrial quality to it...

This thread is four, maybe five, posts away from someone making a comment about "style not fashion."

 

[jrd617]



This thread is four, maybe five, posts away from someone making a comment about "style not fashion."

O hai there