Fashion….. part – 3 (parameters of fashion designing)

In the Indian fashion scenario, when we recount the glimpses of bygone era of seventh and eight decade of the last century. There everywhere, the presence of “bell bottom” style pants we find. This stylish fashion of “bell bottom” pants didn’t have it’s genesis in the Indian cine industry. As usual, it got introduced from the Hollywood.

Though as it happened, in that period of time cinema played a vital role in spread and propagation of this fashion, as “trending.” The craze of “bell bottom” pants was so massive that it took into its grab one and all. From a child to a senior citizen all adopted it.  It was so popular in both the genders, specifically collage going girls quickly adopted the fashion.

                                                 It’s the mind set

 When we imagine the situation of the present time’s fitting style in the shape of tight and loose trousers. The extra loose trouser, in the name of Plazzo trending among women.  But, if a man is supposed to appear in bell bottom pants ; certainly he is bound to be mocked as outdated. This is despite the fact, when two simultaneous fashion styles i. e. loose and tight trousers both are in trend. An outdated fashion style, sometimes become ridiculous. But it,s not supposed to happen always, as mentioned above of simultaneous trend of tight and loose fittings.

But not long back we witnessed an era, if tight Pantaloon was in trend, then it left no space for loose fitting and vice versa. Now people, if clad in tight jeans (pants), they too opt for loose trousers. The funny side of fashion is, people in “track suits” are travelling the long journey. In this long journey, they are crossing the barriers of different fashion zones.

It purports that long ago, fashion was bound to flourish on a singular parameter. But the same fashion style, has now become the multifaceted. Amazingly, society too has become prone to accept the “personal choice of fashion.” Though some exceptions are there, and exceptions always exist in every field ( appearing at present in bell bottom style pants.)

                                 Basics of costume designing

 On taking a cursory view of fashion styles, in perspective of preparation of costumes. The fact can’t be ignored,  until and unless a cloth is given a shape of some costume, it can not be registered as a fashionable item. So the cutting and stitching are the basics of fashion designing. Since the day of inception of fashion, it has cycled around the three main parameters only.

We may count them as basics of cloths’ fittings – loose fitting, tight fitting and moderate one. In loose fashion, pants were either parallel, bell bottom cut or even baggy one. In tight fashion pantaloons akin to jeans were in vogue. The last moderate one, has ever been insignia of “sobriety and civility.’ This moderate fitting, has ever been the fashion style of Civil servants and military and paramilitary forces.

Likewise, these three basics too apply regarding shirts and tops or blouses. Sometimes, it was loose to baggy one, then skin tight and then moderate one in fittings. The rest of fashion just registered its presence, in shape of designer side pockets, collars, button strips, neck cut etc.  The minor designing in the way, some times these were low cut/high cut added with frills and other decorative minuscules. The accessorial products later on, helped to create a big volume side industry, in the name of fashion.

                                                     Fabric industry

 The quality of fabric, too played the role of added value. Probably, the textile industry, as the original source of materials, is one of the five top industries of the World. The concept of “global village” too has added wings to this industry. That is, in the sense that American jeans is being cut and stitched in the garment houses of China.  This is, owing to low cost labor charges ,whilst the “fabric” for that majorly being supplied by Bangladesh and India.

This all is an another aspect of gradual shifting of Industrial revolution, from one major place to another. In this respect a prediction made by Henry Kissinger, (Once the foreign minister of USA and a great economist) is worth mentioned. He said long back in the last century , ” 21st century is of Asia.” And he was right to the core of his heart, when we look into the participation of Asia in the fashion industry. Penned by – Vinay Pharasi…..