For art's sake

From chairs at Loewe to giant metal globules at Louis Vuitton, offbeat oddities have once again become the fanciful dreams of design houses. With this artier pursuit, wonders SHRIYA ZAMINDAR, has fashion finally rediscovered its escapist beginnings?

- SHRIYA ZAMINDAR

ART AND FASHION have a long-standing friendship. Two entities on similar journeys, often meeting at a crossroads, they maintain an arm's length but join forces when they do cross paths. Today, fashion's biggest value comes from its commercial appeal that comes prettily packaged in easily digestible ideas-a bubble where artistic ideals are considered a silent partner. Of course, it can be argued. that collections without commercial viability rarely float the boat financially for fledgeling designers wading into a heavily populated pool. Ideas like quiet luxury, sweatpants, jerseys and Crocs on the runway, which are essentially hot-sellers, have been dominating the fashion seasons. But fashion used to be escapist too. It was a space that allowed room for the ridiculous to exist, and so, we find ourselves asking whether amidst commercial success, does fashion still carry the element of art?