Current exhibit at 23BLVD.
Rave & Repeat
The 2000s club kid
For Spring 2015 NYFW, it was prevalent that the rave culture infiltrated the runways. Instances when “the streets” trickle up to be portrayed in the high fashion world can be rare. But the influence of designers and Fashion Week spreads like wildfire for mass production to recreate this “look” and style — a stimulant for the already growing EDM culture. The sampling of its production affects responses of those already part of the culture. Will it be embraced? Will it be shunned? When something becomes too mainstream, especially when deeply rooted in the underground, it eventually becomes out of fashion.
However, the rave culture is the most unique when it comes to catalyzing fashion. Unlike other musical-influenced subcultures that go hand-in-hand with people’s style, rave is a culture that has an indefinable identity. It is about sensory experiences, and the culture is reflective of this — fashion/style, parties, music, drugs, etc. It is also interesting to note the difference in experiences according to decades when it comes to raves. The difference or emphasis between a rave in the 90s, versus early 2000s, versus today. How has fashion changed? How has internet influenced rave? How has fast fashion and mass production influenced the culture? And how does identity tie in?
