ARTISTRY
71. Meditation on a Dress
Many spiritual and religious influences in fashion
are rooted in ancient cultures and are often
brought to the mainstream by bold, visionary
trendsetters. For instance, Madonna initiated a
trend for wearing crucifixes and rosary beads in
the 1980s. Jean Paul Gaultier showed a collection
in 1993 that was inspired by the traditional gar
ments worn by Hasidic Jews. Religious iconog
raphy also plays a big part in fashion. Christian
Lacroix ended his 2009 haute couture show
with a heavily embroidered gown that could be
described as a tribute to the Virgin Mary.
Internationally recognized figures such as the
Dalai Lama expose the globe to a way of li fe and
dress that people might not otherwise be aware
of. One example is the saffron robes of Tibetan
Buddhists. Along the same lines, many websites
are devoted to Hijab-friendly fashion for Muslim
women who wish to express their faith without
inhibiting their fashion sense. Exploring religion
through fashion can be seen as a tribute to all the
meaningful traditions, rich history, and beautiful
artwork associated with religion.
148 Fashion Design Essentials
His Holiness the 14th Dalai
Lama in To kyo, 2009
