Dezeen Magazine

Anti_Fashion manifesto by Li Edelkoort

"Fashion is not dead. Mainstream fashion is dead"

Comments update: trend forecaster Li Edelkoort's declaration of the death of fashion led the debate this week.

Speaking to Dezeen ahead of the publication of her Anti_Fashion manifesto, Lidewij Edelkoort said that the fashion industry had become "a ridiculous and pathetic parody" of its former self and would be replaced by a new interest in couture and clothes.

Commenter Eternal Optimist said Edelkoort was "brave enough to say the things that those of us with actual journalistic experience in the industry need to be saying."

But not everyone agreed. "Fashion is not dead. Mainstream fashion is dead. It's dead because 'everything has been done before'," wrote Claire Fourie. "These mainstream brands don't have the initiative to design and create their own identity."

"Somebody should write a book on the history of all the 'end of' predictions. I think it could be quite amusing to see what has been declared dead but is still among us," added Dikkie Smabers. Read the comments on this story »


Ikea wireless charging furniture

Switched on: Ikea revealed images of its first range of products with built-in wireless charging pads for mobile devices on Sunday, after the Swedish furniture giant's head of design Marcus Engman revealed plans to create induction-charging furniture in an exclusive interview with Dezeen.

"I think the designs, especially the integrated pad, need some work," wrote Stephen, one of several readers who wasn't convinced. "The pads feel a little like an afterthought."

"Some of those tolerances are terrible," added adamji.

"Whatever the pros and cons of the design specifics, this is a market-leading move," responded NaomiCC. Read the comments on this story »


google-heatherwick-big-sq

Google HQ: Bjarke Ingels, founder of Danish architecture firm BIG, teamed up with British designer Thomas Heatherwick to unveil designs for Google's new headquarters in Mountain View, California.

The appointment of two relatively young Europeans to such a high-profile US project raised some eyebrows.

"These two are a great choice, if you want someone to think about the future, no doubt," wrote Breathing Fire. "But wouldn't it be nice to have another perspective, a local practice invested in the place?"

The duo's design – which includes movable blocks housed under transparent canopies – also reminded many readers of work by 20th-century designers, including Buckminster Fuller and Cedric Price.

"Still, compared to the other two tech giants building a headquarters, Google's appears the one to focus the most on a better work environment instead of just prestige and aesthetics," offered TMNL. "Compared to Apple's clinical corporate UFO, this shows that bit more idealism and humanism." Read the comments on this story »


Patrik Schumacher portrait

Artistic values: Zaha Hadid Architects director Patrik Schumacher took to Facebook to call for the abolition of state-funded arts schools, describing them "an indefensible anachronism". The story prompted a passionate response, attracting more than 50 comments.

"Without the opportunity of a state-funded art school I wouldn't be at a top-five university studying architecture right now," said Thomas. "I couldn't disagree more with this and the idea of art and design being for the top one per cent, which is quite evidently what Schumacher is trying to get across here."

Many commenters felt that the arts education system needed to change, regardless of where the funding was coming from.

"Effectively, many art schools seem to succeed in convincing talented students who would be talented artists anyway to attend them as a requisite foundation for critical success and artistic credibility," wrote regular Dezeen commenter Colonel PancakeRead the comments on this story »