“Fashion is neutral. In fact, fashion has absolutely nothing to do with politics.”
Nazi Chic, a book dedicated to the political and military implications of the fashion industry during the Third Reich, cites this quote to provide the premise of refuting its meaning. The quote is from the Second World War, otherwise known as a ‘total war,’ having an impact on the home front as well as the many fighting in Europe and beyond. The said quote was articulated by the owner of a textile factory in Germany, at a time when the textile manager and his employees were amending Russian uniforms of the Soviet occupiers who had attacked Berlin during April 1945. A Russian occupied factory proposes that the textile owner was partaking in a political and military endeavour; instantly amalgamating the textile industry with current affairs of that time.
Like the German textile owner, Vivienne Westwood represents a blend of fashion, politics, ethics and current affairs. Her symbolic boutique Sex became the only boutique of its kind in Britain, as Westwood consistently flaunted the taboos of that era; she sold anarchy t-shirts adorning the image of Karl Marx during a period of global intensity felt by the Cold War. Westwood’s clothes offer a glimpse into the cultural and political developments of our time and for that reason, one can refute the idea that “fashion is neutral,” it is not, and at times, it has everything to do with politics.
Presently, Vivienne Westwood represents the amalgamation of the textile industry and current affairs. The political discourse in her interviews and statements on her clothing are synonymous with politics. One only needs to reference the collection of her OBE in June 2006 to exemplify her political work and rhetoric: "I'm supposed to be a bit like Che Guevara - an urban guerrilla, with my cap, this kind of jungle net, and a badge for my Active Resistance to Propaganda campaign." Westwood had hoped the honour would boost her campaign for human rights. This was, and still is, an absolute priority for her, and the slogans emblazoned on her clothing always have a clear, political intention.
Westwood is just one modern day example of the many ways fashion penetrates a variety of subjects. Recently, gender has been a topical debate with reference to the falling profitability of Marks & Spencer. At the same time, there has been a media frenzy concerning garment factories in Bangladesh, after the Tazreen Fashions LTD factory fire tragically killed 112 people. This was the country's worst industrial accident, as reported by 'The Wall Street Journal,' and highlights the inextricable link between fashion and ethics.
For many, fashion is a frivolous talking point, occupation or hobby, with little relevance to the ways of the world. However, fashion has long permeated political, economic, social and ethical affairs - it did during the Second World War in Germany, and it still does today.
