Skłodowska
From Louis Vuitton Men’s collection by Virgil Abloh Fall-Winter 2021 show notes, pp.23:
In a society where the domain of knowledge is rapidly democratised by the internet, our inherent approach to the constructs of art evolve: What is art, who makes it, where does it hang, and who gets to look at it? If a person is systemically made to believe that what they’re making or watching is not art, they will inevitably assume they’re not participating in the sphere of art.
The other day, while reading Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Vol. 1: Dawn by Yoshiki Tanaka, I became curious about fashion shows inspired by chemistry.
So, I decided to run a search on Google. Most of the results were just T-shirts with the periodic table on them, which I didn’t find that interesting.
Until, I came across the work of the Polish design duo behind the fashion label RAD DUET.
The duo named their brand in honour of the Nobel laureate chemist Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie and even based an entire collection on her, which I found really fascinating.
Fashion design is a form of communication, or storytelling if you like, and luckily for us, some designers share the inspiration for their collections in their show notes.
They often draw from nature, arts, historical periods, cinema, literature and even fashion itself, rather than from chemistry.
Although atoms are the fundamental building blocks of matter and make up everything on Earth, it’s rare to see chemistry used as a source of inspiration in fashion.
I suppose I haven’t searched long enough, but I’ll keep looking.
One reason for the lack of chemistry-inspired fashion might be that STEM fields aren’t usually seen as sexy or appealing. Additionally, it’s tough to explain scientific subjects to a non-technical audience.
Imagine going to a fashion show and seeing chemical symbols, ideas or jargon—it could be a turn-off, reminding people of school and their dislike for subjects like mathematics and science.
However, some scientists, like Primo Levi and Neil deGrasse Tyson, do a great job of making science accessible for a broader audience.
Even with that, communication is a two-way street—the storyteller and the audience. If the communication borders on the esoteric, you’ll end up alienating the very people you're trying to reach.
Based on the article I read, I think the RAD DUET founders did a great job highlighting the context of their collection.
Look at me being a context evangelist.
It’s amusing that for a long time, I looked down on marketing and her siblings. Now, I realize just how indispensable they are in a creator’s toolbox.
In any field—whether design, technology, or art—a creator’s job is to communicate effectively using the best channels available. If you create a great product but can’t convey its value to the public, don’t be surprised if a lesser product with excellent storytelling gets all the attention and success.
Speaking of context, if RAD DUET’s collection were stripped of its back story, you would evaluate it differently. This is often the case when viewing images of collections online; you might be tempted to reflexively decide whether you like or dislike them.
Context, however, slows you down and encourages a more reflective approach.
Deciding without context has its merits because you’re not influenced by a backstory. Your reaction is driven purely by instincts—immediate and unbiased.
Context can bias you positively or negatively towards something or someone.
The backstory of an object can significantly enhance its value and meaning, and the same applies to people.
A ring on its own is just a ring, but knowing it's from Tiffany’s or was worn by Nelson Mandela adds significant context, making it much more special and valuable.
Without a backstory or context, you may be perceived in ways you might not expect or appreciate.
Just as viewers often see only the final fashion collection on the runway without knowing the context or backstory behind it, the people you encounter in your life, including loved ones, might not know your full context—your fears, hopes, and dreams.
Despite this, we sometimes expect them to understand and appreciate us fully.
To be fair, you’re the only person who truly knows the intricacies of your own backstory. People will judge you based on appearances alone, and that’s okay.
You can choose to communicate your values and what you stand for not just through words, but also through actions.
After all, actions are a powerful means of communication.
Thanks for reading. If there's anything you'd like to chat about, or if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you. :) 🍿