As I walked around the Food & Fashion exhibit at FIT, the pieces of clothing that stood out to me were the chocolate dress, the ramen printed pajamas, the Campbell’s Soup dress, the tomato dress, and the corn dress. A common theme that I see among these pieces of clothing is that they highlight a particularly common food you can find lying around in any household. Perhaps the designers chose these specific food items because they knew a majority of people can recognize it and grow fond sentiment over the fact that it is a food they have had numerous times. For me, if I had seen a dress that was inspired by caviar, though I would recognize what the food was, I don’t believe I would be as attached to it as I would the corn dress because I don’t have much experience or memories eating caviar.
With that being said, I believe the use of common goods over luxurious goods is significant because it highlights prominent political issues in America. One political issue highlighted by the exhibit is America’s growing wealth gap. Due to the growing wealth gap in society, people don’t have access to luxurious foods such as caviar or high quality meat. People often have to resort to the cheapest options because, though the quality is compromised, they can buy the foods in high quantities to feed a whole family. For instance, I took interest in the ramen printed outfit because I realized the author intentionally designed a pajama set to signify how ramen is a go-to late night snack. Although the packet of ramen does not have much nutrition to it, most people eat it because it’s affordable and it feeds the stomach. With the giant wealth gap in society, the majority of people are on the lower income side of the spectrum and the exhibit highlights more common goods than luxurious goods to subconsciously highlight how most people can only afford common goods. The outfits designed with these common goods are very extravagant and luxurious themselves. This can emphasize how most families who are put at a disadvantage by the wealth gap often make the most of what they’ve got. It is crucial that we try to mend this wealth gap as soon and effectively as possible, but it is comforting to know many have not let this financial disadvantage put them down.
While walking through the museum, these interpretations hadn’t even crossed my mind, so it’s really interesting to see how you break down the meaning of cheap, affordable foods that often aren’t nutritional being on clothing and even the specific types of clothing it may be one. The example that stuck out to me was the ramen noodle pajamas, since the connection between it being a late-night snack and pajamas makes so much sense, it makes me wonder how I didn’t realize that upon seeing it. Overall, I loved this analysis!
It is interesting how you mentioned the wealth gap when referencing clothes inspired by ramen. It is thought-provoking to consider how low-income families depend on these affordable food items for survival while the rich choose to wear these designer items inspired by fast food and ramen as a fashion statement.
I enjoyed this fresh take on the food and fashion exhibit. Seemingly focused on luxury goods, you noticed the common everyday items and further expanded on the issue of the wealth gap in america. Furthermore, I loved your optimistic take on how families make the most of what they have despite any disadvantages they might face.