FAST FASHION

Saturday, May 3, 2014



Good Morning My Loves,

I hope you are all having a great start to your weekend. I spent yesterday evening and the greater part of my Saturday morning painting for this post, because it is inspired by a topic that I have been DYING to discuss with you all here on Travel Write Draw!! Fast fashion is a contemporary term that has been tossed around these past few years, to describe the crazy phenomenon of quick runway to retail turnaround of high end designs made accessible to the masses. Usually Zara and H&M are names that follow closely in the same sentence. But Fast Fashion for me is a MUCH more loaded term than one just used to describe the $1,500 sweater on the runway today, made available for $15 tomorrow. 

For one, this past February saw some of the biggest designers turning to the culture of fast food and lowbrow everyday grocery shopping (MOSCHINO and Chanel respectively) for inspiration for their collections. Not to mention that every blogger in attendance was already wearing the now infamous golden arches of MOSCHINO to the show, before it even came down the runway. And another prong of the term concerns the mania of instagram where I get my daily dose of anxiety scrolling through my fellow fashion illustrators posting new works everyday, upwards of 5 times per day. All the while, I'm sitting at my full-time job, 5 days a week, wishing I could just run home to sketch, paint, post, repeat.

For me, fast fashion describes today's zeitgeist, the spirit of the industry right now. Go FAST or go HOME seems to be the sentiment. Maybe I'm just being sensitive and should ignore the noise, but it is almost deafening for me considering I live in New York, work full-time in the industry, and spend every other waking hour talking, thinking, illustrating, and referencing fashion. Even my boyfriend works in fashion. For me fashion is fast and there is no other way about. But it begs the question, is fast all that matters?! Have we all become totally immune to detail and precision in exchange for the one trick pony highs?! Is anyone else out there as bemused as I am over the lack of concern for the craft?!

I am as guilty as anyone for loving some great on trend stuff at Zara. I buy what I can afford, when I can afford it. And of course looking good and feeling confident trumps all in the workplace. But when it concerns my passion for fashion illustration, thats when I get upset. Artists and illustrators used to have years to harness their skills and build a body of work they felt represented their voice. Now, if you don't have one out of the gate, you orbit out of the industry's peripheral until you do. There is less room for exploration in the narrow canon of fashion. But guess what, I want to explore. I want to get better, and grow, and challenge myself. Life is had between the lines, not in an instagram.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Am I being sensitive, or do you feel the whipping wind of fast fashion too?!

Much love,
Meag xx

44 comments:

  1. Omg I totally feel you! You just do you thing dear!!! xoxo

    http://stylesensemoments.blogspot.com/

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    1. @Marija M. awe thanks love, happy to know I'm not alone xx

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  2. You are definitely a talented person. Well Zara is a bit expensive I agree. Btw nice post. ;)

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    1. @Ella thank you so much, so sweet. Yes, funny to think Zara is expensive when it's supposed to be the cheaper alternative xx

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  3. You're so talented!
    Xx,
    Julie | http://www.juliechagas.com/

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  4. I totally feel the wind of fast fashion, now with so many alternative of a eve trample costly designer clothes , it has become so accessible for everybody to enjoy the style working having to shedding off that kind of money
    Happy weekend
    www.beingbeautifulandpretty.com

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    1. @Pooja Mittal yes absolutely and I guess that has it's pros and cons too. Fast fashion has allowed for a lot more stylish dressing from every age around the world xx

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  5. Amazing <3

    The Cutielicious
    http://www.thecutielicious.com
    Federica

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  6. Yeah I totally agree. It's hard to not feel the wind of fast fashion nowadays but I try to have a rational approach to this. I think that if it's our passion, we don't have to be like every single stylish blogger and like all the latest trends. We just need to find our way, take from the fashion world only these things that inspire us and create something unusual.

    ps. LOVE this illustration! xx

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    1. @Natalia Nazimek that is so great, I love your attitude. That can honestly be applied to anything in life. Stick to what feels right to you - you don't have to cover it all, just take what inspires you and make beautiful art xx

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  7. Fantastic!!!
    Such a beautiful
    I`ll be happy if we follow to each other!Just let me know in my blog) Have a nice day!)
    http://www.elationofcreation.com/

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    1. @Alena Vorontsova thank you so much for stopping by, and yes absolutely. Will check out your blog now and follow with GFC xx

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    2. Thank you so much, dear))Followed back!

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    3. awesome, can't wait to see more of your beautiful outfit posts xx

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  8. Love this post :) Great to have some discussion instead of looking at pictures only ;)
    I feel what you are saying. Actually I wrote a similar article in february letting my thoughts out about fast fashion. Take a look when you have time.

    You make beautiful drawings by the way!
    x Sandra

    http://www.morestylethanfashion.com/opinion/fashion-craze/624/

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    1. @MoreStyleThanFashion Sandra I'm so happy I'm not alone and that my words resonated with you. I will definitely check out your article. Blogging for me is definitely about generating a discussion and engaging with people who will challenge the way I think. Thank you so much for stopping by. I will follow you xx

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  9. I agree with you. Sometimes, an artist just needs time to breathe and grow. Yet it seems that we are encouraged to go bigger and faster all the time. I question the health of that mindset. I think an artist should take as much time as he or she needs for projects.

    http://lamentinglizzie.blogspot.com

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    1. @Elizabeth Hisle it feels good to read this comment - "an artist just needs time to breathe and grow." Great art doesn't usually come out of stress and anxiety does it lol?! It really isn't healthy to think like this with fashion or anything. As I said, what about quality vs quantity? What has happened to an appreciation for the craft? Thanks so much for visiting and commenting. I will follow you with GFC xx

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  10. woow! so amazing
    perfect <3


    http://takealookatmyclosetbysamantha.blogspot.mx/

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  11. Totally agree with you. I think that every person should have his own style, not just to be one of hundreds people in street. :)
    Fashion Happenss

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    1. @Lia Crystal yes and the same goes for illustrators too. We need to take the time to find our voice and once we do, run with it xx

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  12. Beautiful illustration! Like you, I too can't wait to come home from my job to do the things that I love to do...draw and work on my blog!

    PS. I would love to invite you to my Victoria's Secret GC giveaway!
    House Of Illusions

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    1. @Agnes W yes our passions are what drive us everyday. Thanks for visiting xx

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  13. Nice illustration!! kisses!

    http://miestilobasico.blogspot.com

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    1. @Laura Llacer thanks so much sweets - kisses to you too xx

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  14. OMG! Amazing thing ♥

    Feel free to my blog:
    http://maryannfashionn.blogspot.com/

    Kisses ♥

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  15. OMG I totally love your blog, you are so talented
    Even when I love Zara agree with you.
    xoxo
    http://stunningchic.com/

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    1. @Gemma Donohue awe thank you so much!! I definitely love Zara too :) Will check out your blog now xx

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  16. Cute post! :)

    This GIF is so cool!

    I want to invite you to enter my blog's #HopeForMoms Giveaway (total giveaway valued at $810!) All you have to do is write a #HopeForMoms status which will be shared with mom survivors of human trafficking through International Princess project. :D Check out more details at my blog!

    God bless,
    Christine
    www.beyoutifulhope.blogspot.com

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    1. @Christine Tj thanks so much! Glad you like the GIF. It's something I've been experimenting with. Your blog giveaway sounds amazing and I will definitely check it out xx

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  17. I totally agree with you!! Not many people can afford things right off the runway, even though we all wish! Dying over your painting! Ugh amazing!!

    <3 Shannon
    Upbeatsoles.blogspot.com

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    1. @Shannon Jenkins thanks love - for me it's about whether anyone really appreciates quality anymore or are we constantly just looking to what is next xx

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  18. I can totally understand how you feel: it's hard not to follow the wind of fashion, but if you stop and think about it, you can easily undestand that maybe not every trend is for you...
    So i try to follow just the trends i really like a lot, and leave others apart even if everibody follow them! ;)
    Beautiful illustration!
    xxx
    S
    http://s-fashion-avenue.blogspot.it

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    1. @S that's true definitely, we don't have to love everything. And I think that can be applied to fashion illustration as well - we don't have to draw everything. We can be selective about what inspires us enough to illustrate it xx

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  19. Have a lovely day, my dear.
    Waiting for a new post here :)
    xx,
    Julie | http://www.juliechagas.com/

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    1. @Julie Chagas you bet lovey! New post is coming up tonight - watch this space xx

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  20. I totally agree with you. It is overwhelming at times. I feel like I have to stay off the computer sometimes just to give myself a breather. That's why I enjoy your blog among a select few because you speak your mind. I just want to encourage you to stay true to yourself because it stands out. We as designers and illustrators have to stick with what works for us and what keeps us inspired. With much love.

    God bless,
    Christina

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    1. @Christina Scott you just made my day!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you said. It can be so scary sometimes to speak the truth but people like you give me the courage to stay true to myself. I feel blessed xx

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