Shaping society: fashion, culture and identity

Together with AMFI students we explore the role of fashion in shaping societal values. Stan Geurts questions how crop tops serve as a tool for gay men to navigate and assert their identities during their coming out process. How does this fashion choice challenge traditional gender norms, and what happens when these symbols are commodified? Milou Lamme tackles the paradox of digital detox in a hyper-connected world, questioning how we can reconcile our desire to disconnect with our reliance on digital technology. What does this trend reveal about the deeper tensions between simplicity and the complexities of modern life? Jordan Ramsay addresses the issue of cultural appropriation through the lens of South African fashion, specifically using shweshwe fabric. In a world where cultural exchange is often misinterpreted or exploited, Jordan’s research poses essential questions: Where do we draw the line between appreciation and appropriation and how can fashion honour cultural heritage while also fostering genuine intercultural dialogue?

About the speakers

Stan Geurts is a fourth-year student at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) with a focus on fashion and identity. Drawing on Dick Hebdige’s theories of subcultural resistance, symbolic meaning, and power negotiation, Geurts’ research examines how the adoption of crop tops challenges traditional gender norms and serves as a form of resistance within both the broader society and the gay community. He explores the commodification of crop tops and its impact on their symbolic significance and internal power dynamics.

Milou Lamme is a fourth-year Fashion and Branding student at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI). Interested in the increasing trend of digital detox, her research sheds light on the complex interplay between the desire for simplicity and the unavoidable entanglement with digital technology. Using Jean Baudrillard’s concept of hyperreality, Milou delves into the paradox of seeking an offline existence in a heavily online world.

Jordan Ramsay is a fourth-year Fashion and Branding student at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI). Ramsay’s research focuses on the complexities of cultural appropriation using shweshwe, a traditional South African fabric known for its vibrant colours and intricate patterns. She explores the delicate balance between cultural appropriation and appreciation, considering the socio-cultural dynamics within South Africa.

Myriam Noriega (moderator) is an aspiring fashion curator and currently in her fourth year studying at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI), majoring in Business and Development with an Honours minor in Fashion Theories. She enjoys making meaningful interventions between fashion, art and theoretical knowledge through research, development of creative strategies and establishing new methodologies to consume fashion in order to engage consumers into learners.