Fashion Is Not Original

There's a problem with the conversation around creativity in fashion, most of it centers on the idea of "originality".
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[@aayobruv]

Art mimics life, nothing "original" can be created without the artist interpreting life as we see it. Things that are "original" are usually created as renditions that progressively evolve into different forms. That and in regards to fashion, I feel like we have reached a generation of creativity where we probably have reached the peak for clothing silhouettes, where everything in our history has been considered, it's just about how the next artist twists it.

[@thabonkomo6520]

Challenge accepted

[@Iamchukwunwike]

Thus was a great take. Not sure about the silhouette portion cause I’m still learning fashion. But the first half is well said

[@what7514]

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi says that in order to make a creative contribution, an individual must first master the domain, which is the existing knowledge and system of symbols in their area. Then their contribution must be recognized by the field, who are the experts and gatekeepers. Only then can their contribution be accepted into the dialogue of moving the art/science/whatever forward. I think the relevance and definition of the "field" becomes fuzzy with fashion because even low quality art might have a customer and be commercially successful, but hopefully only the good stuff becomes a lasting part of the culture

[@ishmaelsantos2275]

Great analysis

[@nocureforyou9747]

I know you copy and pasted that name

[@what7514]

Lmao citations are not the time to innovate

[@hakanuriona]

“Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist”

[@davidstraange1157]

yep

[@iwannaseethereceipts]

I think what happens with a lot of folks is that they conflate "original" with not being a 1:1 copy of something trendy they've seen before. While there is a lot of overlap, "copying" and otherwise, I think referencing other works is important in demonstrating context. It's not that totally new things without said context are bad (they're obviously coveted), but building on existing art, culture, clothing etc to create one's own story is as artistic as truly novel creations. One is just trying to evoke different experiences (nostalgia/familiarity vs awe/wonder).

[@erikadelgado8220]

I think there's a lot to say on this topic, but one important thing is realizing that we all learn by copying. When we learned to talk, walk, etc. we did it by copying the people around us, I think that when it comes to art is exactly the same, we will copy other people's work to learn to paint, to make clothes or whatever. Eventually, you will be capable of adding your own ideas to your work, and then is when happens to be something "new", but it is impossible to learn how to do that if you don´t learn it first from others. Naturally, you will take influence from what existed before.

[@christineg3891]

Bliss Foster is the the standard for all fashion related content

[@YUNGMORGPIE2004]

Nah bro, Christian vui got me into fashion tho

[@inesvanelderen1852]

There is this book title that I always loved, called 'Steal like an Artist'. I believe it was about how artists are always inspired by something. Like it was said, art is not in a vacuum!

[@Iamchukwunwike]

Love that book

[@ir0n2541]

I don't work in fashion, i work a desk job. but when i was younger i attended an evening course in pattern cutting and menswear design, the lecturer touched on the subject of originality. he said that no thought is organic, and that every thought you had and will ever have is rooted in another thought and so on. that statement he made completely changed my view on thinking and originality forever.

[@thegrando6905]

New Camera? This Vid looks like a movie, very nice

[@llandriell]

Wonder if we should be using ‘innovation’ instead instead of ‘originality’. I’ve heard some authors and musicians, when asked about people being inspired by their work, they lament about wishing others have their own original ideas, implying that the inspired are lazy. The ‘originality’ complex has crippled my own creativity. An idea will gain traction in my head until I realise it is not original. The emergency brake is pulled. It has been done before, therefore it is not worth pursuing. An issue that seems unfathomable to escape, I have accepted this and instead solely enjoy the creativity and innovation of others. Does it make me sad? Yes, but I try not to dwell on it.

[@daniellerobertson7989]

Still, you have your own take on this so call already done thing, and people may like your version better 😉

[@jcg_001]

"Originality" as a desirable trait, as far as I can tell, seems to be a mainly American concept and to have taken off with the Abstract Expressionists. America while no longer a new country was still young and desperate to appear as a cultural hub. We see this massive push to present these new American Painters as totally original and the truly avant-garde. Franz Kline is probably the best example of this - the Japanese adored his work, and the Bokujinkai (the japanese avant garde caligraphy movement) went so far as to contact him and have his work in their zines, they saw him as a fellow experimental writer. In return they sent Kline books and other resources, which in letters he cites as being influences on his work, however once Kline became famous he began recieving anti-asian criticism towards his work by the nationalistic American art world He quickly began to agressively shun the Japanese to maintain funding and save face as an "original" American artist - for the rest of his career denied any relationship to caligraphy. I think we still see the ramifactions of this in the Western art/fashion world today. Given the postmodernist claim that everything is subjective and the obtuse nature of most comptemporary western art/fashion. I think "originality" has become the easiest way to measure quality - 'I can't tell if it's good but no else has done it' so to speak.

[@hottrot08]

This is SUCH an important topic, thanks for covering it! I feel like a lot of people who demand ivory tower originality don't understand that the best design is one of dialogue. That's why fashion is so universally loved because it is an art form that's grounded in a greater culture and human experience.

[@sarahellis7429]

Probably the biggest thing I've learned from you and your channel is that context is key! I get way more out of looking at fashion after knowing the story/process/influence behind it. There's so much more there than what you can see in a photo of a garment and you pretty much single-handedly opened my eyes to that, thank you internet fashion professor bliss :)

[@biascutfashion]

I thought “Amen Break” touched on this topic brilliantly with the use of the Winstons sample! To me, it poses the challenging question of whether or not originality, specifically in the art world, is based on us pulling from our past and learning to recontextualize it in a way that can relate to us or our current time period, or is the idea solely focused on constructing something unprecedented to the human race. Another beautiful video Bliss ✨

[@theelectricant98]

Any so-called auteur is a product of the society that they exist in, and regardless of how radical or singular their work is, it is influenced by something before it. And also, their art will be perceived and understood by an audience during a particular moment.

[@0608jeffrey]

I think the ‘original’ here is saying ‘not copy directly from your reference’. And I do think there are artists that can create amazing art by locking themselves in a room, this is because they have already soaked up everything they need beforehand. Fashion and art are true that they are a continuous dialog between cultures. But as everyone’s interest are different, this is where the ‘originality’ comes. And I do think in art and fashion, there is no ‘better or worse’ only if it talks to you or not. Great insight anyway! Especially the one with Ralph Laurent!💪🏻

[@alehandralehandra]

i would love to see your take on the fashion of the black panthers movement

[@astrogallus]

This is an excellent video on a worthy topic! You are most correct. Nothing exists in a vacuum. The theme of this video needs to be shouted day and night through megaphones!

[@sarasowins1690]

This is a wonderful topic to discuss! I often think of this topic as a designer, and I consider is that observers might actually find some gratification in recognizing an allusion or a nod to a past reference, like an Easter egg. It’s validating and satisfying to connect with! Thank you for the video 💕

[@iantrowell9123]

Hi Bliss - another great think piece - without sounding like your PhD supervisor, one way of expanding this would be to link it into your previous discussion of the possibility of avant-garde in fashion, where you tentatively delineate form and content. I'd say, particularly with regard to your utilisation of the synchronic and diachronic, that content is always open to originality as context always grows anew or develops new relations over time. So, the form might not appear original or new, but the content is always fresh.

[@DrewJoiner]

Incredibly incredibly articulated -

[@ninariedl174]

Thank you so much for the effort you put into your videos. I love them so much. Please never stop! And I hope you will never get too ''financially driven''

[@CutGEBRINE]

Bliss thank you so much for another incredible discussion. Originality is something I’m constantly thinking about and everything you mentioned is exactly on point. 🙌🏼

[@dubstepandvideogames]

Bliss looks the dude in the 80s that’s in the corner of the club doin bumps 😂 all love bro 🖤

[@unshookclothing]

Love you and your videos bro they always make me feel so great like there’s a purpose and bigger picture to all this fashion stuff. It’s more than just looking cool

[@j.cr.1207]

The content of these videos is always so interesting and well explained! I wish more people that are into fashion knew about your channel because it's recieving information from someone that actually knows about this subject. You know what you are talking about and thanks for taking the time to share with us!

[@kaiyajade]

Been a huge fan for the longest time, your content only gets better. Thank you for all that you do Bliss 💫

[@datingsimulator-tk4xs]

i couldn’t agree more . fashion as an artform is constantly regurgitated and reworked into (hopefully) better pieces and ideas that build upon previously established trends , silhouettes, designs etc. i believe it’s impossible to progress without reference to what came before

[@justusgreen8498]

best and most accurate comment here

[@amanda.strutt]

I. LOOOOOVE this topic of conversation, I'm in art school right now and gonna share this with some of my teachers 🤯🙌🏼. Getting so wrapped up in making it "orignal" sometimes I find we (I) miss the actual coolness of breaking shit down to the barebones and building from there. Loved the Ralph example too. The "fashion is not original" is imprinted in my mind now!! Thank you!

[@f5o488]

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.” ― E.E. Cummings

[@zaidshaikh9419]

Copying is frankenstein-ing art is all we do, the video is mind blowing 🤌🏼

[@daniellerobertson7989]

You are Awesome Bliss 😃 All we have as humans are a unique and original way of putting together the inspiration we have taken in from the life we have lived thus far ! That is pretty awesome if you ask me 😉

[@albertostang]

I love that every one of your videos, comes with a very deep introspection on the philosophy behind the subject, your content transcends the garments. always interesting.

[@davidbethel6945]

Bliss, you really keep coming out with bangers

[@mufasatv2361]

Love the new camera the focus looks really good

[@kainebaleurhd2815]

I would be very interested in seeing a video on your thoughts about instances where copying/heavy referencing has been carried out between already established designers. The difference between a designer who is solely inspired(more commonly copying) other designers clothes (I have worked for a few, the google drives are full of vogue runway, pinterest grabs and instagram screenshots) compared to designers who use other mediums of art to inspire their designs - there is a big conversation to be had about how the difficulty those two types of designers experience when designing (my opinion being it's too easy to be inspired by designers clothes rather than a different medium of art e.g sculpture). Furthermore to the conversation, most likely the reason being so many designers just pull from other designers collections is that fashion is too fast paced, there isn't enough time to come up with tonnes of ideas so they take things from others that they know have been successful in the past. My stream of thought maybe isn't cohesive here lol but there may be more to this topic

[@BlissFoster]

Good thoughts and good question, Kaine. Your cohesion was great, you should give yourself more credit. I’m in a pretty special position in the world of fashion journalism and criticism: since I’m a single person making this constant, it’s impossible for me to cover everything that’s coming out. So I have to choose what I’m covering. As far as I’m concerned, the designers who are outright lifting things from other designers in a way that doesn’t change the meaning or the context of the work… are designers I can simply ignore. Likewise, If a designer is just producing clothes in order to round out a collection and get another paycheck, I think the general public is good at forgetting about them 🤷 The system isn’t perfect, and I certainly am not either. But I think that more often than not, bad art falls away on its own.

[@letmeknow4167]

Watching Bliss Foster is a MUST for ALL fashion students

[@HeySergioMata]

Amazing video, Bliss. "Look at the full history... consider all of those steps that it's taken in it's design development. And then we take the next logical step." That is great advice indeed. The renaissance artists believe in mixing the old with the new.

[@CutGEBRINE]

Bliss thank you so much for another incredible discussion. Originality is something I’m constantly thinking about and everything you mentioned is exactly on point. I watched it twice! “Design and art do not exist in a vacuum. All art is part of a cultural conversation.” So well said. It’s an ecosystem that works. Also noticed the new camera quality - looks so good!

[@vincentminor1638]

I really enjoy your take and thought process on fashion. I learn something every time I watck and listen to you. You are amazing.

[@hakanuriona]

I studied architecture in college and am currently doing photography and starting to dive into sculpture, before going to grad school. One of the things I took away from my architecture education, something that my professors stressed a lot was that nothing we made was original. No matter how big of a breakthrough you think your idea is, someone, somewhere thought of the same thing, made the same thing. I can’t tell you how freeing this mindset is. Instead of worrying about how original an art idea I have is, I can instead just produce, and producing is the only way to get anywhere in the art /design/fashion etc etc world. And I guess that’s what I hate most about art and fashion right now is the concept that good art is totally 100% original, “new”. And the assumption that our favorite groundbreaking designers are all there because their designs are 100% original (surprise, they’re not)! Great video, glad someone touched on this topic

[@Y_ang423]

You’re the best fashion critic on the tube

[@boku6175]

Thank you for your insight. I think I'm learning more about fashion from your channel more than any fashion institute near my vicinity.

[@codebrker24]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

[@rougecardinal]

Hello ! Thanks! Nice! Here in Montréal for my master's thesis in 1992, my subject was clothing inspired by painting! I first did extensive research on the socio-anthropological contribution to the evolution of clothing and the meaning of details and the type of fabric used in clothing. We know that the quality of a garment most often demonstrates a social status. The clothing inspired by painting and sculpture demonstrates (for an informed public) that the person who wears it has a certain culture. I even pushed my study on the printed t-shirt, which often demonstrates your belonging to a specific culture which thereby becomes a public message in the construction of the most famous garment on the planet! Bref! The uniformity of clothing today is truly distressing to anyone interested in this art form! The only "guilty" pleasure is to have clothes made to measure with a good quality of fabric! It simply becomes the appreciation of a beautiful architecture of the garment! Excuse my English but I am French speaking and I translated this text in Google translation!

[@linkoln_sosias]

I didnt know that about the japanese and how they improved on the design. Interesting

[@khulilenkomo8303]

When watching this video I couldn't help think about Virgil Abloh and how people step on his neck for his lack of "originality", and now I'm thinking is the reason Virgil's work makes us so uncomfortable because he references or takes inspiration from designers/work that is very much still part of the zeitgeist rather than doing what most designers do and reference something from the 80s or 17th century.

[@brig708]

please never stop making videos your channel is fantastic

[@zooleykuh]

the camera upgrade!! okay bliss i see you get them coins!! 👀

[@martinrangelnoguez]

Amazing video. I loved the comparison with linguistics since I am a poet myself and very interested in fashion. It is strange how poetry is stuck in the myth of originality. Reading Kenneth Goldsmith’s ESCRITURA NO CREATIVA turned me into sampling, borrowing and even stealing. Now the chances seem infinite, from an (un) creative perspective.

[@theknifefic]

shanspeare just made a wonderful video essay around the same topic of originality and I highly recommend! I think it goes hand and hand with this video and I love the fashion take on this topic.

[@aldogoegan3091]

Such helpful context setting… as per usual 👏👏👏

[@Luke-vg2tg]

Bliss coming in with that Ametora knowledge! ;)

[@BlissFoster]

One of the best fashion books I’ve ever read 💫💫

[@97JG]

There is nothing new under the sun. Many people try to reinvent the wheel… others just innovate and add to it what they think would improve it. Virgil’s 3% rule works great for this reason. His work with Nike or LV: it’s a recognizable sneaker or bag, yet, knowing Virgil’s design aesthetic, his tweaks to The Ten or the LV keepall bags are the proper balance of respect and homage to the past, while tweaking these items just 3%… and clearly they sell

[@thebluedot4728]

i need more about this 'next logical step' buisness

[@pastelpurpledeathbed]

Diet Prada ruined how people see fashion imo.

[@petru5521]

I study architecture, and this question of originality and original ideas/art is, at least for students, central, and sometimes a real source of stress. But we are encouraged to inspire ourselves from the 5000+ years of buildings that were built by humanity and draw from that and push it in a new direction, and i feel like fashion has been doing and should continue to do the same in the future

[@susannagobbo1522]

Shit i loved this, beautifully explained, simple concept but genius if you apply it

[@jankunio3320]

jeeez, i’d love to see Bliss’s Raf Simons SS2078 analysis with my grandchildren.

[@lilithkeogh60]

This was really clarifying and inspiring!

[@donovanstraw]

New Camera?! Love the quality!

[@Bei.Incubi.Omnus.]

Perhaps not, because each person (writer, artist, designer, what have you) may perceive some profound (to them) a thought, a concept, the means or process to communicate that thought or concept believing that the idea was their original idea, unbeknownst that historically, it may be very unoriginal, but in that moment of such discovery, because it’s real to them, that it may have previously existed, so, to that person, it is original. So, if what you mean is that inspiration is drawn from something, if it’s from an emotion - something that cannot be taught, would it be unoriginal? Or a purely regurgitation or reaction? So, I arrive at the conclusion that it is true, and simultaneously it is not. I hope that made sense. I love this conversation. Thank you for pushing me to really think. And for being so welcome further discussion.

[@dellplummer5173]

Brilliant as always.❤️

[@carminakorosy2822]

Margiela explores the concept of Simulacra.

[@marrthehero]

Idk if this is a new camera but ya skin is glowing bro

[@hft4704]

New camera? You look very cinematic. ✨

[@sarahdozza3035]

Best 10 minutes of the week. Thanks.

[@BlissFoster]

I appreciate you, Sarah 💫💫

[@2nuts4cars]

Well put, Bliss...

[@shubhangirastogi5934]

Everything new we create, already exits.

[@hishamziard8473]

Facts. Funny enough there’s a label called The Plagiarist that’s based of the whole originality discussion.

[@ethanwells1295]

love you bliss!

[@reoxia]

your videos are thought provoking pieces of art. +1 appreciative subscriber

[@user-kj8qz6uu5q]

great video man, love your place too , the colors match so well

[@BlissFoster]

Thanks! It’s my parents’ place, but I’ll pass the compliment along 💫💫

[@SmellTheRainb0w]

Ahhh I love your pants 😍 the color is fab w/ the shirt you are wearing

[@ganesago]

Fashion is not original? There's an excellent youtube channel by Amanda Halley called the Ultimate Fashion History. Amanda says that fashion is not an island, it's a response. In that sense, the creator should be someone sensible enough to be able to capture what the society is living and transform it into a piece that represents the moment and time. The creator will be exposed to different influences but will and should be able to transform and unify the stimuli into his/her version of the work of art. Fashion may not be original, but the creative force behind it should be able to put enough of his/her input into the work, so that his/her signature speaks about the moment, the time, the influences AND his/her personal touch. That's why an artist is an artist. If the person is just repeating what was there before and has no personal input...that's just cheating.

[@donovanh9342]

Well done. As always.

[@kultw1837]

Amazing video as always! waiting for you to hit the 1mil mark…

[@giancassa9340]

I agree, all of us inspire ourselves from someone and that someone inspired himself/herself by another person. So yeah I think that we copy and try to improve it on the way that we like too you try to modify it in your point of view.

[@PeliPelaaja]

Very true. You don't invent the piece again, you improve with what you see is the next logical step.

[@apollo____808]

We need a collab between Bliss Foster and Threaducation!

[@kavontataylor]

Sampling isn’t originally but What Kanye does with old songs is amazing! And that’s original

[@viniciusvallesalves3029]

Wow that helpped me a lot

[@Truth.Keeper]

Wow. I totally get it now.

[@ravenr876]

I would love to design clothes

[@marrthehero]

Bliss you look great bro

[@friendlyforest2747]

the new camera 👁👁👁👁👁💖

[@thomasfogarty2320]

Before I watch this vid I must say Bliss your hair is amazing

[@esti_1gc]

great content as always

[@gregoryallenn_]

Your videos are amazing ❤️

[@ghostagee5232]

Judy Garland's Get happy vs MJ's 1995 Vmas

[@scoobertodoobert7063]

Very dope I will save

[@peithomercury1983]

"There is nothing new under the sun."

[@ishmaelsantos2275]

you’re amazing man!

[@theolake4538]

very good video essay my friend

[@ruhaaneehiran9344]

ONE OF YOUR BEST VIDEOS

[@ambergris5705]

I think this is a difficult conendrum. We are standing on the shoulders of giants, and it feels like that means that we should go higher than them. The existence of the context, the simple fact that we take inspiration from those who came before us means that we will compare ourselves with the references. Can we do better than our heroes? Big question, but if we can't, it feels like it's not worth it to bother. Can we design a better army jacket than all of them that came before? Probably not, it's probably going to be a watered down copy. And yet, we still need to create, we need to aim higher, or somewhere else. If you can't beat heroes at their own game, invent yours, create a new standard. That's why we have to search for innovation, a new original, because it gives meaning to our outlet, our creation. I'll stop here, much more could be said.

[@zae_2hot]

And your right, nothings ever truly new in the world, everything’s just a copy of the other but with a little make up on it😭original is more like inspirational

[@cocainaforall4636]

You are a genius, and god damn your channel blew up!

[@kingoogie23rd16]

What are some good Japanese brands to buy for the ivy look?

[@Kiro6666]

This is very true everything is very old but in a new era everything was done years ago that’s right designer’s do it every spring summer fall winter collections how do they do it every time by going back in the archives that’s right

[@Adrienfine]

No Literally it’s always something old with modern touch but nothing invented I dress with a Modern touch too but then again I don’t creat my own cloths