Where are you Wearing?
We have all heard the question in countless fashion interviews and runways: "What are you wearing?" However, we seldom encounter the even more thought-provoking question: "Where are you wearing?" This question gives ode and praise to the cultures that have inspired one's look because fashion is far more than an individual effort but a collective humanistic one that has taken millennia to garnish. Culture is the epitome of fashion and shows levels of self-expression without having to utter a sound. The expression of humans is anything but individualistic and is rather deeply rooted in the culture witnessed and observed. From the runways in Owerri, Nigeria, to the family gatherings in Athens, Greece, to the 20-something-year-old Puerto Rican college student in Texas, fashion is implemented into high fashion and daily fashion to be shown in widely different everyday aspects.
The mix of different cultures colliding together to make new subcultures can directly affect globalization in the modern world. Daily fashion is a direct result of the influence of culture, which can also blend into other subcultures of fashion to create something groundbreaking. In the ever-evolving fashion world, traditional African hairstyles such as braids and locs have captivated the global stage. From red carpets to social media feeds, celebrities and influencers don these iconic looks with flair. Similarly, the once-culturally rooted accessories of turbans, bindis, and henna tattoos have transcended borders, transforming into a sweeping worldwide fashion movement. The cultural influences once seen in monumental events sprinkle into everyday wear as creative fashion subcultures are added to the mix. Narciso Rodriguez is known as one of the most renowned fashion designers of the 21st century; his artwork, notably represented by his love for female beauty, is also a product of his Cuban heritage, shown by his use of form-fitting dresses and soft color palettes. There are a plethora of designers around the world who take pride in the cultures they come from and use their heritage to make clothing for the masses.
Couture's appeal is found and kept in the countries that created the styles and is represented in all everyday wear. Two Texas A&M students were interviewed to discuss their love for their cultures and how it impacts how they style themselves. Both students were part of the making of this article and had deep admiration for the place they came from, which made them the perfect representation of Vibrant Culture.
The following are the answers from the Nigerian-American student Abdullah
Where are you from?
“I’m from Nigeria. My dad is from Oga state, Nigeria. I was born in America, but I consider myself Nigerian”
How long have you lived in your home country?
“I was born here (US), but I lived there for two years in high school, and then I visited for a couple of months when I was younger and when I was older.”
How has your culture affected how you dress?
“I don’t typically wear traditional Nigerian wear every day, but I do wear to weddings and parties that come every couple of months. How it affects my daily wear: I wear a lot of soccer stuff\ and maybe religious clothes. For example, jalabiya: a long dress with sandals. Or soccer jerseys and that is heavily influenced by my culture where I’m from. I wear Nigerian jerseys because we have the best jerseys in the world.”
Do you believe it is important to see fashion from different places, and how so?
“Definitely, I definitely think it is important to see fashion from different places. Especially in university, because you get to see people’s origins and you get to connect with people on different things and different wave lengths. You get to learn more about people and experience different cultures, especially in America where it is a melting pot; it is very good to know about peoples’ backgrounds so you can know how to respect them and how to make them feel valued and make everyone feel welcomed in your life.”
What designers do you want to shout out from your home country?
“I will shout out my mom for always getting me right with the party fits. I do have a tailor to shout out; my uncle in Nigeria. He will get you right, Uncle Daiyo. He always gets me right with the cultural fits, and he sews them for me!”
The following are the answers from the Filipino-American student Catie Samsun
Where are you from?
“I’m from the Philippines. I was born in Milana, which is the capital, and I stayed there for a hot minute, and then I moved to America.”
How long did you live in the Philippines?
“I moved when I was five months, and I went back to the Philippines another five months.”
How do you integrate your culture into your daily wear?
“Today I am wearing specifically the jewelry is from the Philippines. This necklace is a gift from my parents from the Philippines and these earrings are also made in the Philippines. The top that I’m wearing is inspired by traditional men’s wear which is called a barong, but I just really like the vibe. I saw this while thirfting, and I was like, ‘man that looks like a barong, I kind of want to wear it.’ So I wear this all the time and I like layering it with other things because layering is the key to fashion. I think button ups are just universal as well. Barongs don’t usually button up all the way down, but this gives me more versatile because it’s more modern. The outfit overall is inspired by traditional Filipina women. It is called the Baro't saya, which literally translates to a blouse and skirt. - Back during colonization, we wore headbands all the time, so paying homage to that in general, I know that there is a lot of embarrassment about being Filipino sometimes, especially while being in the Philippines, but a lot of immigrants who live here are really proud. So I want to be one of those people because I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t love it, because I love the philippine and the culture.”
Do you believe it is important to see fashion from different places, and how so?
“I think that if you’re stuck to just one culture especially, you might not see different avenues of ways you can use different pieces. Or the significance of different elements of fashion. So I think that there’s a lot of importance in one specific type of like clothing or jewelry that may be different in different cultures. I think there’s no harm in broadening your scope in anything, but I think in fashion in particular, especially because it’s such a creative field; why would you not want to broaden your horizons and expand your idea on what an outfit or what a piece of any clothing or jewelry can mean to someone.”
What designers do you want to shout out from your home country?
“I love Rosenthal Tee. She is a filipino designer, she’s awesome. I really love Bretman Rock he’s an icon forever.”
These two students are perfect examples of how their individual cultures make for their unique fashion sense that transcends generations. Culture is more than the statues in one’s home country and the afternoon meals a person’s grandmother makes on sunny days; it is the clothes on our backs that the children of tomorrow will use to express their wildest personalities while never forgetting where they came from.
Written by Olive Okoro, Photography: Cody Hamilton, Social Media: Camila Ponce, Styling: Chloé Golden