Opposite Upcycle Aesthetic: Workwear vs. Fast Fashion and Haute Couture

My aesthetic for the upcycling project is workwear. The workwear aesthetic is defined by functional, rugged items, both clothing and accessories, that were originally designed for people such as carpenters, fishermen and construction workers. These items are designed to be used every day and to withstand the type of abuse that comes with many of these professions. Workwear often features sturdy fabrics, reinforced seams, and copious amounts of pockets to accommodate tools and accessories. We also see a lot of looser, boxier fits for added comfort and mobility. Workwear also gets better with age, with many people seeking out vintage and thrifted pieces because of the added character and uniqueness added through time and use. While initially designed for practical purposes, certain workwear items have evolved into fashion statements, with brands incorporating elements of utility wear into mainstream styles.

Carhartt is renowned for its functional and durable workwear pieces, especially jackets, like the vintage Carhartt Detroit Jacket shown above.

Two things immediately come to mind when I envision the opposite of this aesthetic. First would be High Fashion, as it is something that is deliberately designed to be neither practical nor attainable. It is something that is worn only a handful of times, and only to be shown off. The other would be fast fashion, as unlike traditional workwear pieces, it is made as cheaply as possible and is not meant to last. fast fashion pieces are usually made with very low quality materials, and wear out quickly and are then disposed of.

High fashion can be crazy and innovative, and push the boundaries of how we think of what clothing is and isn’t. It represents an elite realm of clothing design characterized by exclusivity, luxury materials, and avant-garde aesthetics. It often involves haute couture creations, meticulously crafted by renowned designers and tailored for high-profile clientele. High fashion prioritizes innovation, pushing boundaries of design and challenging conventional norms. In contrast, workwear emphasizes functionality, durability, and practicality, catering to everyday tasks and professional environments. Its aesthetic leans towards simplicity and efficiency, reflecting a utilitarian mindset. While high fashion seeks to evoke emotion and make a statement, workwear focuses on practicality and comfort, catering to the demands of daily life and labor. Below are some crazy high fashion creations, representing the wild ideas often seen in haute couture.

Fast fashion, from retailers like Shein, which has exploded in recent years, promises outfits in the latest styles and trends for extremely low prices. Fast fashion epitomizes rapid production and consumption of inexpensive clothing, mimicking trends from high-end fashion houses at a fraction of the cost. It prioritizes quick turnover, with garments often designed to be worn for a short period before being replaced by the latest styles. Fast fashion emphasizes affordability and accessibility, appealing to a trend driven market. In contrast, workwear maintains a focus on durability and functionality, catering to longevity and timelessness rather than fleeting trends. While fast fashion may prioritize whatever is currently trending on TikTok, workwear prioritizes practicality and suitability for the demands of the everyday life, reflecting a different mindset centered around utility and longevity.

Images:

1. Vintage Carhartt Detroit Jacket. https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/346284658840587661/
2. https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/1200×630/jpg/7ff/ced/4a70d95db998e6a38e5e424afd.jpg
3. https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffremantleshippingnews.com.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F04%2Ffast-fashion-mochni.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=06257661304c100aff20d4f72ab928c6ddc842cc537c3fbd2c084d0bd30b8216&ipo=images

Sources:

1. https://brightside.me/articles/20-crazy-outfits-that-fashion-designers-suggest-we-wear-this-fall-615560/