In the last couple of years, a number of “fashion” companies have sprouted into existence and created a new category of clothing that has attracted celebs and hipsters alike. Let’s call them fashion parodists. Specializing in basic street wear, they turned heads when they came out with funny derivatives and mockeries of iconic logos printed on tees, tanks, jumpers and hoodies.
There is no consensus on the legality and sartorial legitimacy of these companies and the wares they hawk. Some people don’t like the fact that they’re not the real thing, while others argue about the intricacies of intellectual property and fair use. I’m not even going to try and arrive at a conclusion on whether we should wear them or not, Instead, I’ve drawn up a list of pros and cons concerning these ostentatiously faux clothes and you can make your choice.
The good
1. They’re cool. Unless you’re hanging out with Daphne Guinness and Mira Duma, most people are going to say they like what you’re wearing. If they do not, tell them to hang out with the aforementioned heiresses and leave you the frack alone.
2. They’re comfy. Because fashion parodies are printed mostly on basics like tees and hoodies, they’re an easy way to introduce some style credence into your outfit. There are days when you don’t want to dress up or wear so many layers of fabric – the struggle is real. These faux items are a quick fix to overcome those days.
3. It’s like wearing a piece of the parodied brand, except you didn’t have to shell out so much.
The bad
1. They’re all basics. Because the logo is the prominent feature of these clothes, they cannot really look at designs beyond tees and jumpers.
2. If all your friends are fashion purists and brand whores, you’ll have to find a new circle to fit into.
3. Because these companies are generally more oriented towards graphic design than manufacturing, you will face some quality issues. Sometimes the print comes off or the shirt shrinks two sizes down after a few washes. Other times, the quality is apparently low fresh out of the box.
4. The items do not justify the cost. Sixty dollars for a basic tee is a bit of a rip-off, considering they’re all $5 American Apparel blanks with a $10 print job. It’s as if you’re paying for the brand, which totally negates your decision to go with faux in the first place.
The sad
1. In a world where Chanel and Celine exist, why would you opt for something that is like Chanel or Celine?
Wearing: ASOS military jacket, Reason Clothing “No 1 cares” tee, GAP jeans, Tag Heuer watch, ALDO shoes and bracelets
Our weekly installment of Fashion Chameleon, a men’s fashion and lifestyle blog written by Jim Joquico the founder of La Moda Dubai. Read previous posts here .