Culture in Fashion

On the West Coast, fashion is not just shaped by one culture and heritage.  The beauty of California fashion lies within the multiple lived experiences of people from many different backgrounds.

Designers often integrate their personal experiences into their designs.  Specifically in California, this is shown through the Latinx culture of bold colors, unique textiles from indigenous people, or athletic wear that honors a dance or sport they once partook in.

With so many different people living in California, there are a plethora of ways culture shows up in designs.

As mentioned, from Mexican or Latinx heritage, vibrant colors with oversized silhouettes are incorporated into daily fashion.  

Indigenous people are celebrated through the use of intricate weaving techniques and sustainable materials.  

Black culture is often represented in California through the performing arts scene, with hip hop influencing people on and off stage.  

Asian culture appears in multiple forms, with people taking traditional Asian clothing and styling it to break the social norms of not wearing their cultural clothing outside of their homeland.

Culture in fashion can empower and highlight the many different people who call California home.  It is a way of expression and sharing a piece of your own to others.

No matter your lived experience, each person has a right to feel empowered by their clothing. 

Every ethnicity should have access to fashion, regardless of class or wealth and to see their culture on the runway.

At California Fashion Week, we are seeking designers who create with intention.  Whether just starting out or seasoned in the industry, we want to see your lived experiences on the runway.

Be sure to follow @californiafashionweek on Instagram, and check out our website https://www.thecaliforniafashionweek.com/  for more updates on our events and leadership, as well as getting involved in our work as a designer, model, or other fashion icon.

Written By Aurora-Marie Muñoz