As the modern fashion industry has evolved, so have conversations about how to best preserve traditional cultural heritages. While some may associate fashion with trends and innovation, there has been a growing effort to promote cultural heritage preservation and advocate for the traditional. By nurturing a strong connection to the past, fashion can help remind us of our roots and the customs that have been passed down to us.
1. Crafting a Fashion of Cultural Identity
Culture can be seen in every aspect of our lives, from the language we use, to the art we produce, to the fashion we choose. is a way for us to demonstrate our personal identity, and even our connection to the culture, heritage, and history of our people.
- Clothing: Clothing is one of the most expressive ways of participating in our cultural identity. We can find the traditional garb for our culture, and even modern iterations of these traditional garments. This allows us to express ourselves even if our culture has changed and evolved.
- Hairstyles and Jewelry: Hair is an incredibly powerful medium through which we can express ourselves. We can wear our hair in the traditional way of our culture, or we can choose to style our hair in a modern way. Similarly, jewelry can be used to express our cultural identity, and this can range from traditional jewelry designs to something more contemporary.
- Makeup: Makeup is also an expression of our cultural identity. We can choose to wear traditional makeup, such as traditional tattooing, painting, and other traditional makeup designs, or we can find modern interpretations of these traditional looks. Makeup is an incredibly powerful way to express ourselves.
By , we can express how we feel about our culture, our heritage, and our history. We can express our individual identity through clothing, hairstyles, jewelry, and makeup. We can also display our connection to the culture of our people through the clothes we wear, the hairstyles we choose, and the jewelry we select.
This expression of cultural identity is an empowering way to demonstrate who we are and where we come from. We can also use this fashion identity to bridge the gap between our culture and the world around us. No matter how our culture have changed or evolved, we can use our fashion to show our connection with our people.
2. Reviving Traditional Craftsmanship
As the saying goes – old is gold. Traditional craftsmanship techniques have been practiced for centuries, as part of different cultural and religious heritages. Today, however these traditions have come under threat due to the advancement of modern technologies.
Continuous Practice – Keeping a tradition alive requires constant practice. Fortunately, several organizations and universities are bringing traditional craft techniques back to life through support to education and training. These workshops help aspiring artist to understand the historical and traditional context of a craftmanship.
- Liaising with native communities
- Focusing on Eco-friendly materials
- Involvement of young apprentices
Such sustainability initiatives ensure that these ancient traditions continue to be practiced from generation to generation. The results of continuous practice are seen in the works of master craftspeople who pay homage to their ancestors in form of their creativity.
Reinventing for Today – Traditional craftsmanship can also be reinvented for modern day use. By incorporating modern materials and technologies, some craftspeople have been successful in remaking an ancient craft and giving it new life. This is done not only for the purpose aesthetics, but also to increase the practicality of the craft in modern day scenarios.
At the end of the day, we must remember that each craftsmanship technique is the result of generations of experience collected over several centuries. The collective memory and knowledge of people is imprinted in each craft. Reviving these traditions helps not only bring more life to our surroundings, but also respects the ancestors who passed on their skills.
3. An Advocacy for Heritage Preservation
Heritage preservation is an often overlooked facet of human decency and integrity. In a world that puts great emphasis on progress, modernity, and temporary solutions, it is easy to overlook the importance of preserving our shared cultural and historical legacies for the enjoyment of future generations.
Preserving heritage requires a concerted effort, since simply leaving our ancient ruins and artifacts unchanged is often not enough. Their state of preservation is also an essential concern. This is where advocacy for heritage preservation comes in.
Looking at the big picture, advocacy for heritage preservation takes many forms. On the local level, communities can enact laws and regulations to protect monuments, artifacts, and customs from modern transformations. On a global level, international conversations and agreements can come into play to establish a shared value for preserving heritage in time.
Additionally, our education systems should encourage the teaching of world history and literature, passing down our greatest cultural achievements to the next generation. From the meaning behind ancient artwork to the detail of ancient regional costumes, equipping children with an understanding of global culture is a pivotal step to a more unified world.
Furthermore, activists and advocacy organizations ought to be encouraged to fight against sections of industry that seek to erase memories and symbols deemed too old-fashioned. Preserving the stories of our past requires not only a vocal support, but also direct policy-making, and a deep understanding for the implications of these choices in the long-term.
4. Keeping Cultural Traditions Alive
Preserving cultural traditions and customs provide a sense of identity and belonging for individuals, families, and communities. From one generation to the next, cultural traditions pass on values, lifestyles, and beliefs. Let’s explore some of the ways we can keep traditional culture alive for generations to come.
Listen & Learn:
One of the best ways to learn and to keep a culture alive is to listen to others and absorb the knowledge they have. To get more insight into family and cultural customs, asking elders is essential. Listening to their stories will open up different perspectives and lessons in life. Apart from elders, talking to other relatives and friends of different cultural backgrounds can expand the knowledge and understanding of many cultural celebrations and customs.
Share:
The more people with similar cultural backgrounds are aware of the traditions, the more likely these traditions are to be kept alive. It’s essential to talk about experiences with family and friends to spread enthusiasm and open conversations about the culture. Start by sharing about any festivities or special holidays, exchange traditional recipes, or show off cultural attires.
Celebrate:
Celebrating traditional holidays and festivities is essential for passing the culture on from one generation to the next. It’s one of the most rewarding and memorable activities. Get the youths, the elders, and everyone in-between involved in cultural activities such as singing, dancing, attending spiritual activities, or simply becoming thoroughly involved in the preparations for the upcoming festivities.
Teach:
Teaching is a fundamental step to maintain cultural traditions. Passing down crucial knowledge about holidays, customs, and values will help others understand the importance of each. Through teaching, it’s possible to strengthen the bonds in the cultural generations.
- Take time to have conversations about cultural observations.
- Share stories of our traditions and customs.
- Host a cultural event to celebrate with everyone.
- Find a mentor to help teach customs and traditions.
requires effort, dedication, and enthusiasm. Spend time not only observing but participating in cultural activities. By talking, learning, sharing, and most of all teaching, we can keep traditions alive!
From its powerful influence in sharing cultural heritage, to widening the acceptance of diversity in fashion, tradition is an ever-growing and ever-evolving force that has a positive impact on our lives. While fashion and tradition may not always be easy to reconcile, together, we can honor the stories of the past while looking into the possibilities that the future holds.
