Are Religious Symbols The New Vogue?

Religious Symbols have been regularly used within the fashion industry. Whether you’re shopping in your local high-street or scanning through Instragram pictures on your smart phone, religious symbols are increasingly being used as fashion statements. Is this right? As a fashion student, I have developed a keen interest in the usage of religious symbols within fashion and the opinions in which different audiences have on this subject.

The social media play a huge role in the fashion industry assessing fashion inspiration from sites such as Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube as how many teenagers find out what’s on trend by simply looking at an online source. This has kick-started the hype of wearing religious symbols with many teens wearing accessories without acknowledging the original meaning behind them as they are thriving to be hipster and stay in root with fashion.

As a consequence of Celebrities/Hip-Hop artists wearing religious symbols such as Jesus pieces and anti-war scarfs in their music videos, many young people insist on having the same ‘swag’ as their favourite celebs. The Anti-war scarf is worn as a fashion accessory on the street but is originally called a Keffiyeh which an Arabian head dress. This could be seen as a religious symbol as descendants of the Prophet Mohammed wore them. Although they were dark blue as a pose to the checker black-and-white style of the anti-war scarfs which were traditionally worn by inhabitants of the area. I think what causes such grief within the Arabic community is the racism and inequality which comes with using religious symbols in fashion. I found a quote on the thelangarhall.com which explains an Arabic point of view ‘wearing a keffiyeh on the streets of Paris makes you cool, but wearing a hijab will get you arrested.’ Can you see why, inspirational role models within fashion could be pushing a limit when involving religious symbols into their fashion line.

The scarfs were banned from the high street clothing shop ‘Urban Outfitters’ as they were causing grief within the Arabic community. They removed all images of the scarves and the retailer announces: ‘Due to the sensitive nature of this item, we will no longer offer it for sale. We apologize if we offended anyone; this was by no means our intention.’

French Fashion Designer, Jean Paul Gaultier’s current menswear collection has model’s featured wearing turbans. The inspiration behind the collection was his love for India. He wanted to portray an image of a globetrotting fashionable male who has a knowledge and respect for other cultures. Although this collection has kicked off a mixture of opinions within the Sikh community as the model isn’t in fact a Sikh himself.

I decided to find out the opinions which people from different communities and social backgrounds had on the collection to see their different points of view. I firstly interview Chaz Singh who is a practicing Sikh to see his outlook on JGP’s collection. Singh stated ‘Although, It’s really good to see the Turban being highlighted in this way but I think there was a lack of education; using a sacred symbol is fragile ground as you are not always going to please.’ This is same with all fashion garments and trends everyone has their opinion although as a sacred symbol is involved with JGP’s collection. Singh’s statement completely makes sense as there is religion and meaning behind this item of clothing which forms a religious identity? Should this be used willy-nilly by a fashion designer? Surely this is taking away the original meaning on the turban? Singh’s views on the non-Sikh models within the collection is this ‘What would have worked better would have been to actually get Sikh models or Sikhs to model the collection itself.’ This would haven’t cause as much up-raw within the Sikh community also promoting less discrimination within the modelling industry and would create less of a false identity within the promotional side of the collection which would in fact the collection well known from a positive aspect. My point is proven by Singh’s final comment ‘It is a shame that sometimes people will exploit an identity in order to raise their own profile without realising the damage it can cause.’

Another designer who used Turbans within their menswear collection ‘We all walk in different shoes’ Kenneth Cole in 2008 although Cole used Sikh model Mr. Sandeep Singh Caberwal. As Cole used a Sikh model his collection received positive feedback within the Sikh community. The Sikh community linked the collection’s publicity together a gathering in Washington DC which was set in order to eliminate incorrect stereotypes with radial groups such as the Taliban or Al Qaeda. Jean Paul Gaultier should have taken a leaf out Kenneth Cole’s book which would have allowed the Sikh community to back his collection as well as educating the public on the religion to erase and correct any misunderstanding of the religion. Cole’s collection title itself says it all. We are all different and we shouldn’t discriminate against one another. Cole’s inspiration and influences were obviously the differences we all have from one another but also embracing the fact that are all the same - human beings.

 

In conclusion designers for any fashion house whether it is high street or high end, should take into consideration all aspects of using these religious symbols and the effects of using them they will have on other their audiences. They are sacred and are used to display a form of identity so therefore shouldn’t be used by just anyone, the only followers of the specific religion. These relates to all religions. Designers should take more consideration when creating the whole aspect of their garment and the promotional sides of the collection; as this would cause less negativity and more positivity within the community who view the collections. Also consideration of the religion of the models who are displaying the clothing should be taken into place as this would cause less argument.