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Fashion is something you attach to yourself, put on, and through that interaction the meaning of it is born. Without the wearing of it, it has no meaning, unlike a piece of art. It is fashion because people want to buy it now, because they want to wear it now, today. Fashion is only the right now.
Rei Kawakubo
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Fashion takes on meaning through personal expression and immediate context, unlike static art.

Rei Kawakubo's quote emphasizes the transient nature of fashion, highlighting how its meaning is created through personal interaction and contemporary relevance. Unlike traditional art, which retains its significance over time and exists independently of the viewer, fashion requires active participation in the present moment, reflecting the desires and identity of individuals in a continuously evolving landscape.

Themes

FashionMeaningExpressionArtTransience

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a fashion lecture to discuss the subjective nature of style.

More from Rei Kawakubo

My design process never starts or finishes. I am always hoping to find something through the mere act of living my daily life. I do not work from a desk and do not have an exact starting point for any collection.
Rei KawakuboRead
Clothes are only completed when somebody actually wears them. If they were art, they could be more abstract. As long as something is new and has never been seen before, I don't mind if people call it art. Wear them if you dare.
Rei KawakuboRead

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