genderless fashion; Challenge or opportunity for the fashion industry?!

Fashion has always been a tool for making statements and breaking limits and boundaries. From Marie Antoinette's subversive dress that sparked a public outcry to the miniskirt that became a symbol of women's freedom, the fashion industry has the ability to have a profound impact on society.

One of the new trends that has significantly affected social norms today is genderless fashion. In recent years, Generation Z has had significant changes and tendencies to challenge male and female gender roles and have used them as tools to express genderless fashion in the global community. In fact, almost half of the population of Generation Z considers the approach and segregation of gender to be outdated, and this view has also changed the fashion industry.

With the end of the Milan and Paris men's fashion weeks for the fall and winter season of 2024 and the re-emergence of the genderless fashion approach in a new way, the focus on guipure and silk fabrics and the use of collar flowers as breast flowers have become very trendy for men. As a result of these events, Sarak's closet team decided to present an article about men's collar flower, and in this regard, talked with Mr. Arvin Kazemini, a stylist and fashion designer, and asked his opinion about this approach and trend as an Iranian man and active in the field of We asked for fashion.

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Freedom from gender restrictions in fashion

As mentioned, in the world of fashion, boundaries are constantly shifting and traditional gender stereotypes are constantly being challenged. Genderless fashion has become very popular in recent years, blurring the lines between men's and women's styles.

In the last few years, we have witnessed disruptive collections and a new definition of masculinity from fashion houses and limitless choices from celebrities to participate in red carpets; Such as the images of Harry Styles with a lace dress shirt on the cover of Vogue magazine, Timothee Chalamet's appearance in a cherry dress with an open back at the Venice Film Festival, Saint Laurent's spring and summer 2024 men's collection, or the American singer Bad Bunny's open back dress at the Met Gala by Jacquemus. These were the most memorable moments of the ceremony.

In the topic of limitless choices with Saint Laurent's 2024 spring and summer men's collection in Sark's closet, we have provided you with an analysis of this attractive collection.

In the world of fashion, there are looks and moments that indicate that men's fashion is entering a new stage and moving away from its previous silhouettes and stereotypes; But the process of deconstruction in men's fashion has entered a newer phase; It means using accessories that may have been reserved for women before.

Men's collar flower, a modern tool in genderless fashion

Recently, we have seen one of the attractive tools to express genderless fashion; Use accessories! Accessories have the power to transform any outfit; Influence the person's personality and style and be considered a personal signature in style. One of these accessories is men's collar flower.

Recently, in the red carpet events and men's fashion weeks in Milan and Paris, large flowers were used a lot in different parts of men's styles; On the collar of the coat, around the neck as a choker or as a bodice on the dress.

The remarkable thing about the collar flower is that, despite the elegant and feminine appearance of the flowers, throughout history, men have used the collar flower in unique ways.
In the civil wars of England, due to the similarity of people on both sides of the war, the use of collar flowers was used as a way to identify people and their comrades on the battlefield. In addition, in the early 19th century, with the introduction of coats with lapel collars, the use of collar flowers on men's collars became more common.

It is interesting to know that collard flowers were once used to ward off calamities and to believe in good luck, as well as to ward off bad smells.

what was said; A look at the men's fashion weeks of Milan and Paris for spring and summer, autumn and winter 2024 and the collections presented by the most famous fashion houses in the world, all say that trends no longer belong to one gender.

Iranian men look at fashion without gender

Over the past few years, genderless fashion has started with the use of fabrics (use of silk and silk fabrics), colors and silhouettes, and has continued today with flowers on the collar and even the use of pantyhose.

Here's the main question: To what extent can these trends and approaches spread in countries like our country with traditional thinking that still defines and frames masculinity?

Will this type of look be favored?

“In the past few years, many Iranian brands have gone towards designing and producing unisex items in their collections. In a country like ours with traditional culture and thoughts, if the use of these clothes and accessories are not attributed to gender tendencies and minorities, they will be more believable for people and people will take less front. As a result, creating culture and informing people through networks, magazines and different media can play a very important role.”

These comments were the words of Mr. Arvin Kazeminia, who we had a conversation with about genderless fashion and its acceptability among the Iranian people in Sarak Closet magazine.

He continued:

“For example, if we see a man with a boat neck even in one of the streets of Balashahr in Tehran, no matter how much we have a modern and intellectual view, our attention will definitely be drawn, which is very natural; Because we suffer from ignorance about many approaches including genderless fashion. If people are given accurate information, not only will they not oppose it, but this approach will also be welcomed, because there is already a platform for accepting these issues in Iran. But a very important point to pay attention to is to know that genderless fashion does not mean using women's clothes for men; Rather, it means using elements that were previously attributed to women in the world of fashion and people's minds, and from now on, it is supposed to be presented with a male form and silhouette. In order to achieve this goal, we must first correct people's ideas and thoughts about the elements that are wrongly or perhaps by habit imagined to be feminine; The concept of flowers, silk and silk fabric, and even high-heeled shoes are beyond feminine items and elements.

The future of genderless fashion in Iran

Dos and don'ts, strict rules, restrictions on choices, etc. are all things that have no place in today's modern world and many people are not willing to accept them. The world of fashion is no exception to this rule and has always sought to break norms and destroy borders.

In the continuation of the conversation with Mr. Kazminia, we talked about the strategies that can be used to make the genderless fashion approach more believable:

My first suggestion is to talk about clothes and genderless fashion in a clear and direct way. It helps a lot to continue referencing what has happened throughout history, including brands like Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, etc., who have seriously approached genderless fashion in their collections. Also, the introduction of available reliable sources will make people aware so that we don't go to the cultural, traditional and family mindsets that generally consider the use of some clothes and items for men as taboo.

Encouraging Iranian designers and brands to design items without gender and close to foreign examples and display them in the form of Iranized models and designs is one of the other solutions that I can suggest; For example, traditional Iranian motifs have been seen mostly in women's clothes and its use in men's clothes can be very effective. When we get people's eyes used to seeing new and modern images but in the form of Iranian culture and history, we have achieved a great success. “

In the end, they saw a very bright future for the genderless fashion approach in Iran, and they saw its success in the hands of Iranian designers, media and magazines like Sarak Wardrobe, which are pioneers in presenting world news.

what is your opinion?

In your opinion, how compatible are these approaches with the culture of our society?

To what extent can we make this approach acceptable to the people of Iran?