The DOING FASHION PAPER, the annual publication of the Institute of Fashion Design, wants to inspire, not to sell products. It is necessary to change the way of looking at things - by showing alternative body images, unfinished and unpolished drafts, experimental methods of designing and creative freedom.
In this sense, the new, sixth issue named LOOK THERAPY- AN ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT CATALOGUE depicts products, which do not have to fulfil an obvious functionality. They intend to initiate insistently the discussion about products that are as inventive as possible and about the process of their creation. The focus is on emotional, social as well as aesthetic potentials. Utopian products—things that cannot be realized yet, that are not needed yet or things, which solely act as a comment on commercial fashion products—are to be supported just as much as the examination of what product offers a designer considers as necessary and wants to produce in the future.
The studies at the Institute of Fashion Design do not in the first place intend to empower the students to fabricate trousers, blouses and garments, but to develop an individual attitude within the system of fashion, which manifests itself holistically in the action and ist imparting. An example of a valuable by- (or still main?) product is the Living Archive, containing full workbooks with completed and uncompleted ideas—an invaluable store of creativity and experiences or also the network of fellow students, lecturers, guest lecturers, providers, producers and other collaborators.
The title LOOK THERAPY plays with the double meaning of the word look: on one hand, the look as a movement of the eyes: objects, incidents, atmospheres, that are capable of changing the view on something, of provoking a second glance or tempting to pause and take a closer look. On the other hand, the look as a holistic appearance, which becomes the playground for identity and identification through the conscious or unconscious choice and combination of clothing, accessories, styling and make-up.
With this in mind, the displayed products act at the same time as an invitation to decelerate and understand and as (real and fictitious) suggestions for a passionate approach to shaping the outward appearance.