Are you from foreign?
This is a common question you tend to hear in Guyana whenever you decide to step out of the box and dress differently.
It’s strange because no one in Guyana is on the Anna Dello Russo style level or has managed to garner a style that would capture its own space in style history; myself included. I can’t seem to come to terms with the stares and unnecessary whispering amongst individuals when they see a brand new ‘style alien’. Mixing florals and stripes or even attempting to try to wear a cape in Guyana is probably considered haute couture because it’s such a strange thing to see. I personally believe simple trends don’t deserve so much attention especially since most of us are exposed to social media which connects us to fashion: the shows, the trends, the blogs, the websites.
The ‘are you from foreign’ question is actually quite insulting, especially if you are with a group of friends. As much as it can be flattering it implies that you are in an environment where people are not socially fashionable. But every day is not fashion week and there could be several reasons for this, which include the level of one’s disposable income.
What individuals fail to realize, is that this statement actually criticizes and publicly insults everyone. It should not be accepted as a compliment. I believe we all want to be recognised as special, whether it’s through our style, our achievements or our personality. We all want to be remembered, to leave our mark. While such a question can encourage you to be more like you, at the same time it can also belittle the persons around you.
But where did such a question originate? Have you heard it in other countries where you might have been superbly dressed? How did they compliment you? Did they assume you were a ‘fashion alien’ from a different planet? I believe that in part, it has to be attributed to how our local fashion industry has been treated and the examples our local ‘fashion gurus’ have set. Anything that appears to be neatly sewn and constructed gets the glares. The truth is we don’t live in a creative society. The beauty of the clothes we are surrounded by locally has been filtered a million times to look basic.
Our local fashion industry, led by Sonia Noel, Michelle Cole, Deryck Moore et al has not given us much that we can identify with. Well at least not me. We struggle to find creative outlets that would fuel our imagination. The times our designers have “surprised” us with tie-dye and swathes of cloth tossed on bodies are too numerous to mention.
While our local industry might have disappointed us, all is not lost. We live in a digital age where it’s possible to be at home yet sit in the front row of almost any major fashion show and observe the trends for the upcoming season thanks to live streaming.
It’s only when we would have taken advantage of what technology offers that we would be able to allow individuals to be themselves. I know it would be more comforting to have fashion magazines and local creative outlets you can relate to when it comes to fashion but this just isn’t the case. Do not tie yourselves down because of this. Don’t let it tamper with your imagination and don’t let your comments insult others around you.
In conclusion, the local fashion industry has contributed significantly to ‘from foreign’ statement. It has failed to highlight aesthetics that are different and meaningful. It has promoted garments that downplay what it means to be creative and erode the true essence of being a designer. Can you actually imagine what our society would be like if the local fashion industry had a standard?
People would feel more confident to dress the way they want without having to worry about the stares and comments; we would all be less inclined to do that anyway.
Today I was photographed, beautified and dressed by a Guyanese team. Thanks Fidal Bassier, Renee Chester-Thompson and Indra Jaipersaud.
