Trends are transmitted in this way: pop culture in the streets of Europe and America is gradually transmitted to Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. But what elements of culture help in spreading it? 《G! VOICE》 finds out!
Trend is the pop culture from the bottom up
First, please look at the figure below. Fashion or high fashion is transmitted from top to bottom, but street fashion goes from bottom to top.
Trend is transmitted mutually between tribes. Each tribe has its own inner circle, which interacts with each other. Trend enthusiasts generally have multiple tribe identities.
Trend is the street culture of the youth.
These tribes and cultural elements can be divided into types below:
1. Skateboard
In the overseas trend development history, the skateboard is almost the source of all street cultures, because it became a trendsetter since it was first developed. Skateboarding lays emphasis on using the simplest tool (a board with four wheels; is there anything simpler than that?) to challenge risky difficult movements. Therefore, rebellion, resistance, hardline, vigor and even foolhardiness are the characteristics and attitude behind skateboarding.
▲Image source: olivier.thereaux.net
2. Bicycles
BMX and Fixed-gear are the two biggest tribes of bicyclers at present. They always interact with each other, and their common characteristic is that they can make dangerous but superb movements. The bicycle culture has gradually become a part of life in Taiwan and bicycles have become a means of transportation in daily life. The tribes are very active.
▲ Image source: www.glogster.co
3. Graffito
Graffito is a form of artistic expression born in the streets: forcing appreciation, expressing opinions and ideas, or simply an act of flaunting. Anyhow, all the famous graffiti artists now have experienced street time and some are invited to create graffiti or set up their own brands. LV Graffiti Speedy Bag is produced in honor of Stephen Sprouse, the graffiti art master. KAWS, which became famous because of XX (design vocabulary), had been engaged in graffiti from the very beginning. Other celebrities are Bansky, Futura 2000, Keith Haring, etc.
▲ Image source: vostokzapad.files.wordpress.com
4. Hip Hop
In fact, the hip hop culture we know contains 4 elements, i.e. DJ, rap, street dancing and graffiti. Aside from the skateboard, rock and surfing are also two of the things that interest the white people, while the street culture of the black is hip hop, which represents the stereotyped image of the lower class.
▲ Image source: funkingup.files.wordpress.co
5. Tattoo
Tattoo is favored by various tribes, such as rockers, hip hoppers, skateboarders, etc. It has gradually evolved into a body art from the symbol of the sinister gang. The diverse and representative patterns of tattoo are even made ready and easy to use for printing on T-shirts and commodities.
▲ Image source: 1.bp.blogspot.com
6. Heavy Motorcycle
The heavy motorcycle is also a link in the culture of trend. The only reason is that it makes men look cool and it is something you want to buy once you can afford it. Chopper culture has been in fashion for a long time. The American Chopper broadcasted by TLC is this kind.
▲ Image source: tv.popcrunch.com
On the whole, rock, punk, electronic music and even pop music, literary youth in vintage clothing, street snapshots and outdoor style all create trends, because “trend” originally stems from the street culture of the youth.