S O U N D . I T . I S Research Document

from Skov et. al that this closed community controls its internal overall behavior, it can be assumed that this community is also responsible for fading out the narrative of fashion culture in the fashion shows. Similar to Skov et al., Moeran and Pedersen also acknowledge that fashion shows “bring together a large and diverse number of participants who are closely involved in the production and distribution of the products and services being exhibited – industry manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers” (2009). Thus the fashion community is captured in a broader context. In fact they state: “end-users tend to be marginal” (Moeran and Pedersen, 2009: p. 3). Therefore the end user, the customer, doesn’t have much of an impact in the fashion industry. Thus, it might be that this closed community is responsible for the absence of the narrative of fashion industry, or either way that this community maintains the absence of a narrative.

Not only are the fashion shows closed from the outside world because of the selectively chosen audience, but also because the fashion shows are literally closed from the outside world (Skov et al., 2009). The shows are often held at special venues that make the festivities inaccessible for outsiders, like the shows held in genteel musea or palaces. Shows in more neutral venues, like warehouses or factories, then again can be hard to reach within on a more practical level, as in terms of transport. These spatial boundaries stress the exclusive happenings that they shelter: “Such settings are often set apart from their surroundings, thereby reflecting the liminal nature of the events that they house” (Moeran and Pedersen, 2009: p. 3). This spatial boundary is also emphasized by Skov et al.: “In this respect, the location has a supporting function enhancing the concept of the show” (2009: p. 7). These locations are chosen to enrich the atmosphere of the show itself, maintaining the spectacle that has been built around the fashion show and therefore keep it intimidating for the public audience. / 31