Faith and Fashion pt. 3

The pictures are placed quite odd here for a reason...

I felt it was necessary to write another Faith and Fashion post because I have been put in a unique place experiencing modern culture in conversation and dialogue with much of those who shape it as well as with the church who seems to be so very distant from it.

In my experience when I speak with church people about trends, and that which is affecting the minds and hearts of the people we lead and guide I find either they don't know about it, or have a very one-sided opinion without looking at it from every angle.

Fashion is much more than what is "expensive" and it is very much more than one particular brand.  This is very much because the times we live in are updating rapidly.  Thoughts, and opinions are exchanged from one place of the world to another at a much more alarmingly rapid rate, and so styles traditional to one people, region, culture, or class are no longer see under those boundary lines.  High End fashion and streetwear have dialogued so much, it is harder each and every day to tell the difference.  Symbols and emblems once representative of one thing or another have been used by major companies and have taken on new meaning. The rich are spending less on money, and the poor are spending more when it comes to clothing.

I live in New York City... A place where people are quicker to judge based upon what your footwear is, rather than upon your religious affiliation.

I recently was blessed to attend one of the biggest fashion events for textiles in the world here in New York due to Exodus Forty sharing a space with Manufacture NY. I watched and studied as designers, brands, and suppliers from across the globe met and convened, exchanging goods, ideas, and contacts to develop  a next generation of fashion.  I also watched a presentation on wearable technology which would blow your minds if you didn't know about it already.(The problem is... this is exactly the case with many in the church)

If we ever are to effectively reach, and minister to people we have to speak the language of the times... Understand what colors mean what, and define our own "style" which is creatively unique yet universal just as the church is.... Modern fashion actually is helping with this if we understand it. We simply need to know where we are and who we are with.

Soon I will start to break down exact fashion trends... But this part three concludes I will leave it with simply this one quote from scripture to reflect upon.

"Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win over those under the law. To those outside the law I became like one outside the law—though I am not outside God’s law but within the law of Christ—to win over those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it." - 1 Cor. 9:19-23

- The Symbol
- All is Love

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