Fashionistas trend in Kuwait
SOCIAL MEDIA HAS TURNED POSTS ON THE LATEST CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES INTO A MILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESS AND NEW WAY OF LIFE
hen people hear the expression ‘the latest fashion’, their thoughts unconsciously move to Paris, New York and Milan.
Not among the young men and women of Kuwait today.
When they hear the expression, they do not think of the cities considered as the fashion capitals of the world. Instead, they think of the accounts of their favourite fashionistas on Instagram and Snapchat.
In the realm of high fashion and the latest trends, a new world has opened up for fashion houses, the young attractive people known as fashionistas and their millions of followers and fans.
What started off as a simple display of clothes and accessories on social media among friends has now turned into a million-dollar business and a new way of life for tens of fashionistas and millions of followers.
Huge following
When Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Gulf University for Science & Technology (GUST) Dr Israa Omran heard from one of her students that she was contemplating dropping out of the university to become a fashionista, she realised how deep an influence the new phenomenon was.
She was the second student to opt out of the university to take up modelling on social networks.
“It is a world that has become highly attractive for university women, especially that it does not require capital,” Israa said.
“In fact, she will make a lot of money. It will be much faster and easier than working hard at the university in order to graduate and look for a job that might not match her university aptitudes,” Israa told Kuwaiti daily Al Rai.
“I do not really blame the students for wanting to drop out of college. I blame society and people who are inflating the numbers of followers on the fashionistas’ accounts because the high figures attracted high fashion companies.
“The solution to this growing phenomenon is to ensure people do not take what is being written and posted on social media lightly.”
However, Israa said that the fashionista phenomenon is not sustainable.
“Their world is getting saturated because there are far too many fashionistas in it. People will get used to the phenomenon and there will be fewer opportunities from high fashion companies. Those who want to join must understand it is only temporary, and not a lifetime career.”
Right choice
Dana, a university student and a model, said that she was confident she made the right choice by staying at college.
“To me, education is an obligation while modelling is an option,” she said. “I do admit that working in the fashion sector does take up a lot of time from our studies, but it is also a good opportunity to make money. In all cases, my top priority remains a degree from my university.”
However, Dalal Al Shammari, another student, said it was normal for a young woman to drop out of college in order to devote herself to her commitment as a fashionista.
“There is no harm in as long as the issue is within the confines of the public taste, customs and traditions of Kuwait,” she said.
For Sara, another student, the easy money could not replace the importance of a university degree. “Being a fashionista is ultimately a phenomenon, and as such it will not last and therefore it cannot be reliable,” she said. “No matter how attractive it is, it cannot replace a higher education degree.”
However, she admitted that some fashionistas enjoyed the star status.
“They are not just people displaying clothes and accessories and focusing on the latest trends. They command a lot of influence.”
However, their influence is not always welcome, as one blogger posted.
CrazyinKuwait, a blogger who describes herself as a “California girl sharing everyday experiences in Kuwait”, wrote how some fashionistas were “fake” and how she resented their negative attitudes.
“All I see is a campaign telling the youth that being natural is not acceptable and you should run after plastic surgery to make yourself feel better,” she posted.
“Nose too big? Not acceptable, you must have plastic surgery! Brown Eyes? Not acceptable, you must get contacts! Overweight? Not acceptable, you must have surgery! Natural eyebrows? Not acceptable, must be plucked, primed and coloured! No Cartier bracelets? Not acceptable, go take a loan and buy some! No Porsche? Not acceptable, you must take out another loan to get one! I miss the days before technology!!!”