Channelling Personal Histories Through Style and Self-Expression: Introduction

By Kaitlyn Commeyne

In an unprecedented time of loneliness and disconnectedness from not only our  community but ourselves, we turn to the resources we have at hand for self-expression in an  attempt to tune in to our inner vibrations and find ourselves by any means possible – fashion  being a profoundly meaningful and intimate outlet. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with  searching online for outfit inspiration, we all do it; however, in an attempt to make a more  conscious decision to deepen my understanding of myself and my personal histories, – the  tapestry of my life experiences that were a part of who I was, who I am, and who I will be – have I realised that engaging on a daily basis in the project of identity making and archiving  in our fashion choices can be an incredibly rewarding past time that brings much more  liveliness and meaningfulness to the way we dress, strengthening our ties with ourselves, our  histories, and even our communities. By contemplating our relationship, our history, and our  active role in the creation of identity through our garments, we bring a necessary intimacy to  our clothing that fast fashion and capitalism seeks to disrupt. 

The specific articles that will follow in the coming weeks will be about: 

(1) the intersection of fashion and personal narratives through examining the ways  designers, artists, etc. use their style as a way of documenting their personal histories (2) the role that heirlooms, tattoos, and wearable art play in helping us embody the past  and the active creation of our identity through archival means 

(3) the role that traditional clothing, cultural textiles, and more, represent collective  histories and how to incorporate that into our own stylistic narratives 

(4) and hopefully some audience feedback and examples of documenting personal  histories through fashion that can be seen on our very own campus.  

This series seeks to highlight the importance of engaging with our personal narratives and  histories through fashion to help us understand the ways we fit into the world and who we  are, as well as how that will change over time, using our style as a way to cement eras and  explore those unspoken parts about ourselves. That is not to say that we must always be on  our A game, but rather that we should consider the relationship we have with the way we  dress. Furthermore, in engaging with our own histories, we become part of the project of  reclaiming what is ours, for what are we if not an amalgamation of the past, present, and  future? In understanding the parts that make up ourselves and are so deeply entrenched in our  everyday habits, we become firmly rooted in our convictions, going out into the world and  echoing not only the people that came before us but also the inner child within us begging for  us to experiment, to play, and most of all to have fun with the way we dress and make it an  Art. 

All that is to say, we must not forget the sacred act of remembrance that we can  channel through the way we show up in the world.