President’s Note

Dear Supporters of UCL MODO Fashion Society,

As President, I am delighted and proud to applaud for the myriads of talents we have seen amongst the MODO community in the first term of 2021/2022. Even as COVID continues to creep in our lives, our team and members ceaselessly strive for progress, whether in our publications, photoshoots, marketing, events, you name it… I saw immeasurable creativity, flair, hard work and innovation so I must congratulate every one of you. All the articles for this issue most certainly touched my heart and I’m sure it will do the same for the readers – the authenticity of deep reflections, the fathomless care and love for our environment, the sharp understanding of our fast-changing world, and most importantly, the sheer rawness propelled by your passion for fashion.

Across the writing, there is a subtle critique of the industry, a call for change – from concerns regarding overconsumption and sustainability to the fragility of luxury built upon the void of external validation. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, I could not help but felt a sense of optimism. In your photoshoots and writing, I saw in front of me a group of visionary leaders of our future, determined to contribute to the industry with all your talents and to challenge the world for the better. If I could use one word to sum up the current issue, there would be none but courageous.

During the lead up to publishing, I spent hours after hours unwrapping the concept of luxury, trying to grasp the humanity behind it. Attention to detail, craftsmanship, quality and revolution came to my mind. Of course, it would not be fair to leave out desire, exclusivity, fabrication and validation. All these ideas are age-old to mankind. The sole reason why luxury can stand the test of time is that the ideology behind it is indestructible.

As society advances, we keep coming up with new ways to quench those desires. On the surface, non-fungible tokens (NFT) may seem like a recent invention but digging deeper, you will soon realise that the values and psychology that underpin the success of NFT’s are not so much. If one can comprehend the essence of the luxury sector, then they are sure to understand the point of NFT’s. I would go as far as arguing that NFT’s are the epitome of luxury. Fundamentally, these tokens are meant to be special, as they are one-of-a-kind. What better separates yourself from the rest of the world and satisfies your competitive drive than something that only belongs to you? If exclusivity is central to luxury, then NFT’s undeniably won on that front. If you had concerns over the authenticity of the item you brought home, then look no further! With their unique identifier, NFT’s can reassure you that what you have in hand (or not, ha!) is the real deal. One can easily prove that they have THE original with the creator’s public key. Unlike the abundance of knockoff designer goods in the market, one can never dupe potential buyers of NFTs, as the buyer themselves as well as everyone else can verify that ownership.

We know that a crucial driver of the enormous luxury sector is people’s yearning to show the world who they are. As digitalisation becomes more and more integrated with our lives, we look to present our best selves both in the physical realm and the digital world. This is where possessions like digital art come into play. You can mould your online identity with these items, much like how you would have collectables in the physical world.

Last year, an NFT called Baby Birkin was sold at $23,500. In the form of a transparent Birkin, the animation displays the 40-week process of a foetus growing inside the bag. It is no secret that the Hermès Birkin bag is one of the most iconic and sought-after designer handbags. You might think that the price seems reasonable for a Birkin but what if I told you that the NFT was not authorised by Hermès? Value, in this case, was not derived from the authenticity of the item but backed by the symbols associated with it.

During my recent visit to the Gucci Garden, a museum dedicated to the mega Italian fashion house, I was struck by the ‘Gucci Collectors’ room. Upon entrance, one is immediately surrounded by 1400 butterflies, 420 Gucci Ace sneakers and 182 cuckoo clocks. The exhibition set out to ‘celebrate the passions and obsessions that drive eccentric collectors’. Reading the extracts from the interviews with the collectors, I thought of the naysayers of NFT’s, who insist that there is no point to NFT’s as one can easily download and view the same file for free. I will end this letter with a quote from the Gucci museum: ‘After all, who are we to prescribe limits to another’s passions when it comes to art or beauty?’

Sincerely,

Bernice Ng President, UCL MODO Fashion Society