Far Futures:- Microtrends

A recent exhibition that launched by A.Human in SoHo during New York Fashion Week introduced a concept where fashion will soon be determined by body modifications rather than the current norm of clothing.

The display presented an array of various body modifications, ranging from ‘biological high heels’ to ‘bespoke hearts’. Along with the collection, paired the use of ‘jaw-dropping sights, sounds and visuals’,  amongst what was described to be a ‘subversive playground’. 

The purpose of this exhibition was to allow the movement of transhumanism to become more widespread and conventional. Transhumanism, according to the English Oxford Living Dictionaries, is defined as “The belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations, especially by means of science and technology“. In this case, transhumanism means utilising surgical procedures to enhance and make further adjustments to the biological human body, as an artistic statement and a form of self-expression in the far future.

Severe body modifications in our current society are still perceived as a type of social stigma. To a certain extent, our reality is saturated with celebrities and social media influencers who have altered their bodies with cosmetic and surgical procedures- such as breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, buttock augmentation etc. Due to the fact that these procedures are so common amongst our generation, it is viewed as less of a taboo and more as a ‘fashionable’ choice. Hence, I strongly believe that social norms are steadily progressing into the stage where extreme body modifications will become a trend in the far future for fashion.

References:

1. Houghton, L. (2018). NEED TO KNOW. [online] LSN Global. Available at: https://www.lsnglobal.com/Identity/article/22849/a-human-is-a-fashion-brand-for-body-modifications [Accessed 11 Oct. 2018].
2. Trainham, E. (2018). Kylie Jenner Channels Barbie in RACY New Photo Shoot!. [online] The Hollywood Gossip. Available at: https://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/slideshows/kylie-jenner-channels-barbie-in-racy-new-photo-shoot/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2018].