The second part of our generic fashion project considers one of the huge contributing factors to modern day fashion; Sub Cultures. After thoroughly researching a variety of subculture, old and new, we narrowed down our favourite/most interesting subcultures to decide which to work further on.
Harajuku Kids_ Common name for the area around Harajuku Station in Japan. On a sunday, various groups of subcultures meet and socialize, many of the youths not conforming to one particular style. Harajuku has played a large part in many designers work for its influential fashion. The Harajuku Girl look could be described as a neon-cyber-goth, mixing bright colours with metallic shades. A group within this subculture are the cosplays, who dress up to imitate anime or other film characters.Fashion_ fairytale, childlike, animated, cartoon -like, bright, eccentric, eclectic.
Music_ I feel that Harajuku fashion has been brought more into light with the 2005 release of Gwen Stefanis album. Her dancers were known as the Harajuki girls which resulted "Harajuku Lovers" clothing and perfume under this idea.
Grunge_ This subculture emerged in the early 90's with the rise in popularity of Seattle Sound.
This subculture based themselves on an anti-fashion trend, layering up and not caring about ripped or tarnished clothing. It was not only popular in Seattle but also in the UK. Photographer Corrine Day was said to have promoted the "Heroin Chic" look when photographing a young disheveled Kate Moss. This trend has seen a recent revival in terms of its fashion aspect with fashion designers such as rag & bone and philip lim embracing a new grunge style.Music_ Nirvana, Hole, The Smashing Pumpkins
Fashion_ Plaid, denim, hoodys, "kinderwhores", floral.
New Wave_ A backlash against the Punk movement in the 70's, New Wave music was a lot more electronic and synthesized. The music was less about attitudes and making a point, more about the technological sounds. Very similar bands to that that influenced New Romanticism.Fashion_ Over the top, bright, eccentric
No Wave_ A short lived subculture influenced by underground performance art, music and film. The scene rejected the commercialized New Wave.
Music_ 8-eyed spy, the lounge lizzards, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks.
Country and Western_ Country music began in the early 1920s when folk music was taken one step further. Those who claimed fame, for having introduced folk music to the nation were now in the first quarter of the twentieth century introducing a slightly more sophisticated styling of the ‘hillbilly’ sound already made popular. While honky-tonks were filled with its fans, theatres were filled with fans of the cowboy songs made popular, again, in Texas and Oklahoma. The lyrics to the western sound centered directly on the pains and sorrows of life on the western frontier.Music_ Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Jerry Red, Jimmy Dean.
Fashion_ Checkered shirts, cowboy boots, denim shorts, tassels.
Rockabilly_ Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early 50’s. The term ‘rockabilly’ is a portmanteau of rock (from rock&roll) and hillbilly, later a reference to the country music. Other important influences on rockabilly include western swing, boogie woogie and rhythm and blues. The influence and popularity of the style waned in the 60’s but during the late 70’s and early 80’s, rockabilly enjoyed a major revival of popularity that has endured to the present, often within a rockabilly subculture.Music_ Billy Flagg.
Fashion_ Quiffs, fitted dresses, full skirts.