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21st Century Fashion Goes Micro

Chanel

Photo Credit: Chanel

For the longest time, fashion was always about the big fashion designers, with world-renowned brands, and the endorsement of the rich and famous. It was about showing that you had the money it too to hang out with jet setters, wear Dolce & Gabbana, and live life as if it were a rap video. To a point, that hasn’t really changed, but as we get further into the 21st century, the fashionistas that we so frequently emulate are beginning a brand new, striking trend that is going to be extremely difficult to replicate unless you know where to go.

The newest trend in fashion is the boom of the microdesigner. Microdesigners, also known as underground or indie fashion houses, are on the rise. Once considered to be the outcasts and unsung heroes of the world of high fashion, microdesigners are now quickly becoming the fashion houses that the rich and famous run towards. Some designers offering this are My Theresa, Ginger & Smart and Designer Forum. Unlike the mainstream brands which always end up  on clearance at Macy’s, the world of microdesigners is one that very rarely involves brand names plastered on gear.

Adding to the appeal is the fact that many of the indie designers that are beginning to get the attention they deserve are often local-focused. In other words, Australian fashion lovers will likely find that the indie brands that are most easily available to them will be from places like Sydney or Melbourne, while American indie fashion wearers will be more likely to opt for New York City-based gear. 

ginger and smart
Photo Credit: Ginger & Smart

The rationale that’s driving this new trend is simple – truly high fashion is never totally mass produced. When everyone can figure out what designer it is, the exclusivity and mysteriousness of the brand tends to drop. Celebrity-level couture is all about making people wonder where they bought it. It’s about exclusivity and being in the know. Lastly, the new vanguard of fashion is also about ensuring that no one is wearing quite the same thing as you.

Considering the highly localized nature of indie fashion brands, it’s safe to say that there’s an unprecedented level of exclusivity to wearing indie labels. Indie fashion is just as much a testament to one’s pride in their city or country as it is a major statement that you don’t necessarily need labels to stay in style. It is provocative. It’s a statement that flaunts being different, and goes against the grain of wearing standard fashion labels.

designer forum
Photo Credit: Designer Forum

To make matters even better, the new wave of indie fashion houses also have a much wider variety than they did before. It’s now not uncommon to see fashion houses that carry everything from urban gear, to high end sneakers, to formal wear, to business wear. In other words, it’s one of the very few fashion trends that manages to stay acceptable regardless of what occasion it is. You don’t need to be a fashion buyer to see that this trend is one that will not be stopping anytime soon. 

Many stores are picking up on the boom, and they are beginning to cater to people who want something exclusive. What’s better is that there are a plethora of different indie designers one can choose from, and that even the most picky fashion lover will find at least one or two labels that she’ll fall in love with. Make no mistake about it, this new line of fashion design is one that allows everyone to be their own person, and will help people drop the concept of labels once and for all. If you ask me, that’s a great thing!

Regina Due

A fashion aficionado, Regina empowers men and women through her fashion tips. If she’s not writing, you can catch her surfing the web for what’s new in fashion. ...(Read More)

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