What makes art, art has always been a complicated matter. Some people say everything is art and some only think of art as paintings and drawings. What we can confirm is that art is subjective, and it is up to the viewer how it is perceived. Fashion is considered an art by a lot of people because it uses creativity, skill, imagination and can be used as self-expression. In today’s blog you will read all about why (vintage) designer bags are more often seen as art.
Vintage is not the same as old
A frequently made mistake is that vintage bags are just old bags. It is very normal to think this but it does vintage bags a great disservice. A reason why vintage bags are seen as art is because of the high quality craftsmanship and materials. They stand out against today’s fast fashion market. A vintage bag is also a time capsule, living through many different times and eras. They have set the tone for every single bag seen and made today. This means they have a great historical significance which is a known feature of art.
Photo: Vogue Italia 1992
Designer bags and photography
A very widely considered art form is photography. This is even more considered an art than fashion. A photograph or photoshoot is often displayed in an art show or art display and photographers are often called artists. When you look at different photoshoots, either today's day and age or an older shoot, you will see a lot of bags featured. A beautiful Louis Vuitton or Chanel bag will elevate a photoshoot. As seen on the photos below, the bags are a huge part of the photo and are elevating the art of it.
Photo: vogue.com
Lady Dior #9 project
A good and very literal example of how vintage designer bags are seen as art, is the Lady Dior #9 project. This is the ninth iteration of the brand's art project. Eleven artists participated in this project, making the iconic Lady Dior bag their canvas. The Lady Dior bag came out in 1995, this makes the bag vintage. The artists could do whatever they wanted and give the bag their own personal touch. For example, Anna Weyant takes inspiration from her painting practice. She often questions femininity and gender roles. In her own way, she translated this onto the bag. Just to put the artists and their beautiful work in a spotlight, here are the other ten creatives: Faith Ringgold, Duy Anh Nhan Duc, Danielle Mckinney, Huang Yuxing, Jeffrey Gibson, Liang Yuanwei, Sara Flores, Vaugh Spann, Woo Kukwon and Hayal Pozanti.
Photo: elle.com
Parting words
To end this blog, we can all agree that what is and what isn't art will always be a discussion. However, you can’t deny the beauty in the world of vintage designer bags and the craftsmanship put into it.
Lots of love,
Leah
Sources:
Theguardian.com
Wickerdarling.com
Elle.com
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