FLUID FUTURE by Shannon Evans

FLUID FUTURE

AUTUMN /

WINTER 20

FLUID FUTURE? FLUID FUTURE?

THE WORLD IS SENSITIVE TOWARDS CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS, INCLUDING GENDER, WHICH IS WHY FLUID F FUTURE IS SO IMPORTANT, THE TREND FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE PORTRAYS A SAFE SPACE FOR THOSE WHO CHALLENGE THE NORMS OF IDENTITY AND ANDROGONY: NO FIXED GENDERS NO FIXED OPINIONS.

VIVID

ESCAPE

Vivid Escape emphasises on the issues raised within the LBGTQ community and brings light to the past and makes way for the future of the LBGTQ community and where gender fluidity fits within the Trend. Historically the portrayal of the LBGTQ community within the LBG media has been mostly negative, and particularly reflects the intolerance for the community to be taken seriously and not considered within cultures or society. The LBGTQ community are extremely proactive and stands proud in defending its own culture, with the goal of achieving visibility and acceptance in society as well as within the media. People for decades have faced violence and inequality because of o the way they identify.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The transsexual character ‘Frank N. Furter’ is seen wearing the symbol. Today, we don’t see this symbol within the LBGTQ as much anymore, yet its meaning is extremely powerful.Frank N. Furter’ is seen wearing the Fu symbol. Today, we don’t see this symbol within the LBGTQ as much anymore, yet its meaning is extremely powerful. Today the rainbow flag is the more obvious representation of the LBGTQ community and its past has paved the way for the LBGT community to express themselves and fight for their rights. The artist Gilbert Baker created the pride flag out of cr rainbow colours, with each

Currently people and companies tend to need to do more than just put up the rainbow flag. For decades, the flag has been used to represent empowerment within the LBGTQ community. In 1988 a court cou case was won over displaying the flag publicly (huffingtonpost.com), it was during this time that the flag started to mean something more than just pride, it meant you were taking a stand for equality and rights for the LBGTQ community. Currently people and companies tend to need to do more than just put up the rainbow flag. In towns and cities where LBGTQ pride isn’t part of the ‘social norm’, or pa

are more excepted when conveying their sexuality, yet there are still those afraid and are judged for being themselves. Fluorescent Adolescent represent a future for the LBGT community and expression of individuality and not being afraid of who you are. The second colour created for the Vivid Escape palette is Rose Tint My World. The colour is a pale bright blush tone and takes it inspiration from the triangle used to discriminate discrimin the LBGT community and instead use it as a stance for equality and a homage to the past brutality that is part of the community. As pink also stood for Passion on the Pride Flag Rose Tint My World portrays the passion for being who you are and making the

FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE Sexual orientation and gender identity shouldn’t lead to discrimination or abuse but it does, and the fight for equality is still ongoing. Acceptance isn’t easy, and as a society who are advanced in knowledge and empathy we can be ignorant in terms of consideration igno as well as acceptance. Within history, a famous symbol of the LBGTQ community is the pink triangle, which was the Nazis way of branding the LBGTQ community. Not exactly the most pleasant representation. Yet, the LBGTQ community have since claimed the pink triangle as a representation of empowerment, and can even be seen within the cult movie

colour representing something different to show the diversity of the LBGTQ community. Pink stood for sexuality, red meant life, orange for healing, yellow representing the sun, green for nature, turquoise stood for art, indigo for harmony and violet stood for spirit (huffingtonpost.com). For decades, the flag has been used to represent empowerment within the LBGTQ community. In 1988 a court case was won over displaying the flag publicly fl (huffingtonpost.com), it was during this time that the flag started to mean something more than just pride, it meant you were taking a stand for equality and rights for the LBGTQ community. communit

where people still need to hide who they are, it is hard for them to fit in within their society which is an issue that is still ongoing today. Vivid Escape creates a space where one can feel excepted within our own community and the fight for equality can be expressed through a colour palette that takes a futuristic take on pride flag and the LBGT community in general. The first colour created for Vivid Escape is Fluorescent Esc Adolescent which is a vivid neon yellow. Yellow originally stand for the sun within the Pride Flag, within Vivid Escape it represents youthful expression. The youth of today

world a place you want to be part of. The last colour created for the Vivid Escape colour palette is Vision in Violet. Violet originally stood for Spirit. Therefore, Vision in Violet will use this element to express individuality and to have the spirit to fight for what you believe in, to express yourself in any way you want to.

VISION IN VIOLET FLOURECETN ADOLECENT ROSE TINT MY WORLD

NEW AGE

CLUB KID

New Age Club Kid is primarily influenced by the Club Kid Scene of the 1980s and 90’s as well as drag culture. We can’t deny the influence sub-cultures have on fashion. Connections made by ideas, lifestyles and communities. Today, the significant impact of on the way people dress is influenced by the LBGTQ community, which could be interpreted to come from inte drag culture. Today, a drag queen is not just a man in women’s clothes, but their own separate entity. Drag performers have described

back-alley bars identified primarily as The Club Kids. The Club Kids scene were identified by their outrageous looks, antics and striking fear into those who did not accept them within society. The Club Kids scene colonised the night life, filling cities with a like-minded group of people and making something that was exclusively their own. They ruled the night life and stood for individuality and self-expression no matter selfwhat people thought of them. The Limelight, was the Homebase for the Club Kids, though not exclusively gay, the club scene that started in

FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE their personas as though they were another person while in drag. Being able to delve into one’s own psyche and pull out the weirdest, fiercest and most theatrical part of themselves and form a new themsel creative version of themselves. Today, drag culture is more popular than ever with platforms like ‘Rupauls Drag Race’ drag queens have found a place within society to express themselves. Drag culture hasn’t always been excepted within society and was submerged into

New York was hugely popular and lead by gay, drag queens and transgendered individuals. Though, many just see the club scene as a “party” rather than a movement or stance. It was so much mu more than just a ‘party’ the cub kid’s scene was a blinding flash of the future, a presentiment of everything from MTV, designer inspiration, gay liberation, celebrity culture and rave culture. Drag was a powerful cultu movement during the late 1980’s and 1990’s with its explosive experimental scene. One could consider the club

kids and drag queens as the original ‘influencers’, they swayed drag culture as we know it today. Adorning the clubs and streets in creative looks, standing out in society as the weirdos and outcasts embracing their love for art and performance together. With influences, such as Leigh Bowery, James St. James and Amanda Lapore. They ruled the night life and stood for individuality and self-expression no matter what people thought of them. The cult documentary ‘Paris is Burning’ embodies the

figures who discuss the issues within race and racism, wealth, gender orientation and beauty standards. Drag culture today, is celebrated through TV shows such as ‘Rupauls Drag Race’, media ‘R such as Instagram and even on catwalks. Today, people praise the amount of broad drag styles, aesthetics and characters. While mainstream drag will continue to present p itself in a more traditional sense there are ever-expanding styles of drag allowing for all new kinds of queens to form and experiment. The

bay. Fluid Future will reinvent the image of the club kids, and bring light to their culture to be more prevalent to today. Eliminating all the negativity that follows with scandals concerning conce narcotics and violence, instead we embrace a psychedelic scene where one can experiment with fashion, makeup and colour to reinvent themselves in any which way they want. The colour palette that will reflect the new age club kids will include a bright green tone; Limelight, to honour the Club Kids of the

The third and final colour to be included within the New Age Club Kid micro trend will be a black called Nightlife. Most drag acts and club kids perform/express themselves during the themsel night. They dominate the night life and become a whole different entity with it and therefore is an important factor to the drag culture and those who express themselves through vivid arts/attire.

FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE vibrant subcultures of New York in the 80’s. Few documentaries have been able to spark as much controversy as ‘Paris is Burning’. The documentary captures the ballroom subculture where African American, Hispanic gay men, drag queens and transgender women competing in simultaneously fierce and fun competitions involving i fashion runways and vogue dance battles. The film alternates between colourful ballroom scene sequences and candid key

Fluid Future trend aims to encourage the development of one’s own creativity and in the sense of drag, to get weirder, more expansive and more prevalent. Nightlife and the club scene in general gene should always be a safe space for people to express themselves, they are not places where violence is encouraged or romanticised. Fluid Future celebrates life and cel individuality; safe places must be maintained and any challenge to positivity and safety must be kept at

past and the influence they have brought to the New Age Club Kid. The second tone for the palette will be a pale blue called effervescent. Blue has always been considered a masculine colour or reflects a sombre mood, New Age Club Kids aims to contradict colour stereotypes and reinvent the psychedelic typecast that comes with the late 80’s and early 90’s club kid, 80 making it our own.

EFFERVECENT LIMELIGHT NIGHTLIFE

ESOT

ERIC

Esoteric means to be very unusual and understood or only known by a small number of people, (only known to those with special knowledge). The luxury market sector is extremely esoteric, and fits well with the norms and values of Fluid Future. Gender customs have already begun to fall within the luxury fashion sector. The Spring/Summer 2018 menswear showcased some men prime examples of the industry shifting towards a gender-fluid environment. Thom Browne sent a multitude of models down

market sector is Art School London. Art School is a celebration of the non-binary body; they believe in representing one’s self in any which way you want, which is why they find it important impo to inform people on this issues within gender boundaries. “We’re trying to say, ‘Live your fantasy.’ Everyone has something in their mind that is carrying them through the mundane reality of life, because it’s a fucking shithole at the moment and we just need

FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE the runway in grey pleated skirts. Other examples include Charles Jeffrey, illustrator and self-proclaimed “club kid”. Who has pioneered his brand ‘Loverboy’ on the creative, queer club scene. cr His transcendent innovative style of work connects to the creatives and astonishes the more closed minded society. His theatrical interpretations on o LBGTQ the themes of entwine expressions of pain and wild escapism. Another example of gender fluidity within the high Luxury

to celebrate what is good, what is art, what is fun.” Tom Barratt, Art School London Therefore, gender fluidity is not new within the luxury market sector, major fashion houses have been blurring gender boundaries for a while. Anti-fashion movements have concentrated on the idea of concent being able to express oneself within the fashion establishment, going against the norms of conventional fashion, breaking boundaries and

expression of art and individuality. Anti-fashion allows individuals to question what does clothing say about us, introducing fashion as more than an aesthetic value and leaves le an individual to question clothing as a way of communication, challenging class, gender, sexual and social identities. For Esoteric, the ideals and concepts of visionaries can be distilled down to the luxury market sector. The luxury market has started to delve into creativity with

experiences such as touch points, consumers gain brand loyalty and identify the brand with themselves and personal values. There’s no right or wrong way for Fluid Future’s consumer to look/identify, look/identif they express their vibrant individuality. As an older generation can connect with the historical aspects of Fluid Future, it is important that the intended age range for the trend reflects this. Therefore, the age ranges from 17 to 65. It was the baby boomers’ generation that started genderless movements and

simply ‘his’ and ‘hers’ to a more genderless experience by not segregating genders within fashion, accessories or beauty. There is a high level of pain inflicted to us as a society for not fitting into what is typically deemed ‘male’ or ‘female’, Esoteric removes the pressures to conform and head towards a more gender fluid future.

representing the new digital age within the luxury sector and those who identify within the norms of genderless. The last colour is a classic blue called unorthodox, as the genderless nor go against gende what is excepted within society and contradicts the exclusiveness of luxury.

The colour palette to reflect Esoteric includes primary colours. As luxury brands tend to range in vibrancy but still with a

todays gen z are more technologically equipped and culturally aware regarding gender fluidity. Thus, the market for Fluid Future is wide regarding age range and culturally aware. aw

Customer service and experience is at the heart of a luxury brand and a customer’s experience with the brand. When a customer visits or purchases from a luxury brand it is important for the br consumer to identify with the brand and through

Esoteric aims to encourage brands to be exclusive to the luxury market, yet broad concerning gender and cultural aspects. Using unique genderless shopping experiences, Esoteric elaborates el on moving the shopping experience away from

simplistic edge, Primary Prima colours are a good example of keeping things luxury and expressive at the same time. Within primary colours there is red, red has always been a popular colour regarding luxury and is especially used regarding visionaries and therefore will be in the palette as Revelation. As gender neutrality is becoming more prominent within society, societ revelation stands for this shift and represents it within Esoteric. The second colour is Cyber,

REVELATION CYBER UNORTHODOX

ENDLESS

EXPRESSION

Within art, colour is an important factor, colour symbolism creates the mood of a piece and gives the consumers an insight to life of the artist themselves. Endless Expression concentrates Exp on the influence of colour symbolism and artistry that hold a great impact within society. Art has always had a great influence within society, and impact in expressing emotion from individual conflicts to social stances and actions. To elaborate on this, the likes of Andy Warhol was studied. Andy Warhol was

Andy Warhol blurred the lines between romantic and professional relationships, and it can be depicted through his works. In the 80’s Warhol created hand paintings that corresponded with the co early HIV health crisis, which devastated New York’s art scenes and gay community. During his prime, he took on fashion designers, movie stars, models and artists a as his artistic muses. Warhol was driven by a fixation on identity, role-playing and ploy. As late as 1967 drag queens still weren’t

FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE the most successful and highly paid commercial illustrator in New York during the early 60’s. Though Warhol is mainly known for his Pop Art, he also expressed himself through depictions of the th male form, studies of feet, torso and genitalia in a series of drawings titled ‘Boy Portraits’. Warhol did not shy away from sexuality, the films he created included scenes of sexual escapades. T

accepted in the mainstream, staying on the fringes, yet Warhol found a muse within the drag and the trans community of the era and created a polaroid series depicting these individuals. capturing c the likes of Candy Darling, Jackie Curtis, Marsha P. Johnson and Wilhelmina Ross. Warhol himself, delved into drag culture taking a self-portrait in drag. A more current influence within Genderless and influential art is American photographer Parker Day.

Her combination of bright colours, unconventional props and provocative poses provide a visual loudness. Through makeup and costume Day can create characters that reflect a sense of o identity that pushes cultural architypes. Creating a sense of reality through fantasy add interesting elements to her work, and is frightening for its truthfulness. Kelsey and Remy Bennett are also visionary artists of today. They believe themselves as artists that imagine a future or alternate reality

a drag queen who has created her brand on being able to create beautiful looks and infamous ‘fame face’. Another is Kim Chi, being able to create more elaborate, creative looks, transforming oneself into tr whomever they desire to be. Using art and symbolism to portray a feeling or statement in this instance – genderless.

the form of art. The final tone of the Endless Expression Campbell, as a tribute to Andy Warhol in the form of one of his most infamous works. Everyone has the right to express who thy want to be and outdated norms of society should not confine the genderless.

Endless Expression aims to elevate self-confidence and artistic ability. Art correlates with gender and our emtions as we use art, photography and colour to

FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE that is not dictated by conformity or society. Their creations include drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures that mix symbols and style types that blur gender creating weird and wonderful wei artistic creations. Other influences found within art are drag queens themselves. The way they elaborately dress and paint their faces in an art form being able to transform into the person you want to be. Mentionable examples include Miss Fame, a drag

create symbolism and influence. Today art can be subdued to being not that important, yet it is extremely important and influential to ourselves and society and never stop creating. The colour palette to reflect Endless Expression will be Magenta, a bright, lively Pink. Pink tones tend to attract attention which is what we want our influences to do, create to be bold. The second colour chosen for the Endless Expression is a green tone, named Panic, as pop artists used frank words to describe or illustrate their work, this is a little nod to

CAMPBELL PANIC MAGENTA

THE FUTURE FUTURE THE

To conclude, the concept of gender has brought attention to the issue that people are not and should not be afraid to show their vulnerability through creativity, and express who they truly are. Genderless is celebrated cel by todays forward thinking cultures, and as a community those who feel lost can feel included and comfortable in their own skin. Fluid Future expresses these values and captures what it is that makes people so th passionate about the cause. To be the person that you fantasize to be and to make that a reality takes courage.

FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE FLUID // FUTURE Fluid Futures identity exists within colour, fashion, beauty, art and life as a whole, not in any one language of gender or appearance. Everyone has the right to express who thy want to be and outdated norms of society should not confine the genderless. Fluid Future promotes a hope to see more avenues for representation within the LBGTQ community. Conservatism is all about labels and presentation, Fluid Future says no to this, we Futu refuse to follow these rules especially in a world where we are faced with violence, segregation and humiliation.

SHANNON EVANS