Dolce and Gabbana

One fashion brand which is well known for its use of religious iconography is Dolce and Gabbana I had a look on their website and came across a current jewellery collection which is based solely upon the Christian cross.

http://www.dolcegabbana.com/jewellery/collections/collection-two/ (Last Accessed:4/8/14)

Highstreet shopping.

I spent a couple of hours online shopping across many well known highstreet stores. Here are some examples of religious iconography I came across...

                                                                        Topshop

 

Urban Outfitters

Useful Links

http://birthdaymagazine.co.uk/2014/01/28/on-appropriation-irksome-or-enlightening/
http://unwrinkling.com/my-cross-to-wear/

Grundy, T. (2013) Archbishop of Canterbury: The cross has become a fashion symbol. Available at: http://www.religionnews.com/2013/12/02/archbishop-canterbury-cross-become-fashion-symbol/ (Accessed: 4/8/14)

“For those early Christians it was a badge of shame,” Welby said. “Today, it is more commonly seen as a symbol of beauty to hang around your neck. As a friend of mine used to say, you might as well hang a tiny golden gallows or an electric chair around your neck.”

This is a quote from the Archbishop of Canterbury is a religious viewpoint on the commercialisation of the christian cross. From a Christians perspective the cross is a sign of Jesus and his sacrificial crucifixion hence the Archbishops comparison to wearing a necklace made of other forms of execution. This comparison also reveals that the Christian cross and maybe even Christianity is becoming increasingly unimportant in modern day society, causing us to be desensitised from the true meaning behind the symbol.

Working Title

To explore how religious symbols have been exploited and commercialised by the world of fashion.