Grit and Glamour

From the walls to the runway, fashion has always shared an intimate relationship with street art.

- JISHNU BANDYOPADHYAY

If you found yourself lost in a crowd during the Fashion Week in London, and stumbled upon graffiti that says "fassion is my pashion", you'd have something in common with the person in Mumbai who might have come across a piece of street art in the same signature style, cleverly spelt "fassion weak." The black letters, underlined with the recognisable red squiggly lines, are the work of Navinder Nangla, an Indian UKbased artist and designer who's making waves with his disruptive approach to fashion. Known for his tongue-in cheek art that playfully mocks the industry's self-importance, Nangla's work challenges the established aesthetics and norms. His iconic tags, sprayed across walls worldwide, capture the rebellious spirit of a generation seeking to forge their own identity through clothing. Nangla's creations, including his "Praduh" t-shirt, a playful jab at Prada, embody this punk ethos, rejecting accepted norms and celebrating the chaotic inner experiences of the artist.

Over my conversations with Nangla, and especially when he created a magnificent piece for Bazaar India's Fashion issue, I couldn't help but wonder how his creative pursuit is only a celebration of an age-old collaboration. Street art and graffiti, born from the concrete jungle, have long been a voice for the voiceless, a canvas for rebellion, and an explosion of raw, unfiltered creativity. This vibrant energy has consistently infiltrated the halls of high fashion, transforming garments into wearable expressions of urban grit and artistic defiance.

One cannot discuss the intersection of street art and fashion without revisiting the seismic shock delivered by Alexander McQueen. His Spring/Summer '99 show remains etched in fashion history, not just for its audacity but for its sheer brilliance.