By Victor Schäfer Fashion trends used to be decided by designers, magazines, and fashion weeks. Today, this has changed. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram allow everyday users to influence what people wear, sometimes more than luxury brands. An algorithm can now decide what becomes popular. A teenager’s outfit video on TikTok can reach millions and…
By Victor Schäfer In the not-so-distant past, LGBTQ+ communities developed subtle fashion signals to communicate identity and desires. These codes arose out of necessity, when living openly was dangerous, clothing and accessories became a secret language. For example, the “hanky code” emerged in mid-20th century gay subculture: men tucked colored handkerchiefs in a back pocket to denote…
By Victor Schäfer We usually think of clothing as a personal choice, an expression of who we are, what we believe, or simply what feels right on a given day. But for millions of women around the world, that choice doesn’t really exist. Reading Amnesty International’s statement to the UN on dress codes makes it…