Fashion as Art: When the Line is Drawn.

On the account of all designers that work endlessly and tirelessly creating collections two times a year at fashion week, I'm curious what number of these designers who focus art as the common theme in fashion. I'm even intrigued myself at this.

In recent years, I've seen many designers pull the plug on artistic creativity in lieu of the slumping economy. Many of my admired designers cooled on the heels of creativity. Everything seem to have fallen into the'safe and recession friendly' categories, even those that dared to push the envelope. This is when the line becomes drawn at commercial and artistic.

There are remaining number of the hard-driven, independent artists that still continue to produce fashion as performance art, but in declining numbers. Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo(most admired) are some of the artists that continue to survive off their avant-garde driven collections. Black, white, and grey are some of the topical color scheme that is seen every season. They show no sign of letting up, even as the economy continues to dwindle. Even the once reclusive Maison Martin Margiela who shyed away from commercialism, is feeling the pinch. The past couple seasons, the clothes have a commercial vibe; I assume this is a good thing to jump up the sales. However, there is still an artistic trait among the collection.

I'm waiting for these artists to come through and offend us. Maybe I can finally own that blond wig coat from Margiela's Spring/Summer '09 collection. I shouldn't hold my breath.