LETTER from the EDITOR

As varied and distinctive as their opinions may be, I believe anyone who has a true appreciation for style can agree that clothing is a veritable artform. The principle concept that this issue, themed “Wearable Art,” explores is the relationship between fashion and visual artwork. Artists have captured humanity in brushstrokes and pigment throughout history, but is that any different than designers with needles and thread? The pace and sheer volume of the contemporary fashion industry offers only a miniscule glimpse into the process of transforming raw materials into the clothing we purchase. Is the element of craftsmanship in apparel simply a relic of a bygone era, apart from the lofty ideals of couture? The ambition for this issue, my last, is that the reader will be inspired to answer that question firmly in the negative. The featured visual concepts stretch across four broader modern art movements, from the airy individualism of the Impressionists to the fiery vibrance of les Fauves, the ornate decoration of Art Nouveau to the nonsensical expressiveness of Abstraction. The boundary between clothing and visual art is endlessly ebbing and flowing: one plays the muse for the other, then the roles abruptly reverse. Written pieces in the pages to follow provide discourse not limited to textiles, but also considering elements of performance, architecture, technology and more. I’m overjoyed that my third and final issue as editor revolves around a topic so dear to my heart, and my hope is that you feel creatively emboldened to incorporate a sense of artistry into your wardrobe.

Devotedly,

Cece Grosz