Faith and Fashion: students discuss trends
The Point Weekly
Published: February 4, 2013
The iconic cross is now a popular fashion trend and is
displayed on everything from clothing, to jewelry, to studded phone cases. The
blinged-out cross isn’t a totally new idea though; Madonna, anyone? But, do the
consumers believe that there is a separation of church and style?
Department stores like Forever 21 have the trend all throughout
their stores. F21’s founders of the affordable fashion-forward store, the Chong
family, are devoted Christians according to Business Weekly. Yet, they have
been criticized in the media for “Christian Propaganda” and sometimes forcing
the issue with their “Jesus Loves Me” shirts and accessories.
Even on the bottom of Forever 21’s signature yellow bags, it
states “John 3:16” referring to the famous Bible verse.
Rachel Kane, from the website WTForever21.com, states that
Forever 21 is selling its religion. Amongst
the flashy crosses and Jesus praise throughout the store, she describes her experience
as “Welcome to the Sunday morning service you did not sign-up for.”
According to a sales manager at Fashion Valley Mall’s
Forever 21, I’m reading too much into this. She says that consumers can
separate a fashion cross and a religion one easily. She thinks buyers are going
for more of the grunge slash punk-rock look.
The cross medallion, lace, and heavy black eyeliner look has
become trendy since the Versace Fall/ Winter show in 2012. Forever 21’s designs
are inspired from runway shows as stated in their blog.
The manager, who wanted to remain anonymous, stated that the
cross trend in their store has no direct correlation between the founders being
devoted Christians, “It’s just the trends’ new frontier. I don’t see people
buying it as a religion statement.”
As for students here at PLNU, the cross trend is a mixture
of both their fashion taste and freely expressing their faith.
Student Avalon Pellegrini, a self-proclaimed jewelry lover, says
that when people look down at the jewelry she’s wearing, she wants them to see
that she knows Jesus.
Pellegrini bought her favorite cross ring five years ago,
before the trend became popular. It is now her purity ring. She also has two
cross necklaces that she owns; she says she wears them to show her faith but
also to show her fashion sense.
Pellegrini admitted that she felt bothered that the cross
design is being compared to other trendy patterns such as stripes or floral
print, “I don’t want the cross to be seen as a fabric; it’s so much more than
that…I want it to actually mean something to people instead of just being on a
rack.”
Sophomore Riley Fields was first against the cross fad, but
ended-up finding it cute. “I know the story behind the cross, so if ever
confronted I would know what to say…As Christians, if we are so strong in our
faith, we shouldn’t be disturbed by what other people are wearing.”
Fields adds that she doesn’t see herself wearing the cross
as trendy or religious; she feels that she is merely expressing herself and it
coincidentally is in style right now. As fashion goes, she says, the fad will
pass.
Student Chelsie Oren accessorizes her outfit with a black
and white cross-pattern scarf. “I like that I can support my faith outwardly in
my clothes,” Oren said. She continues to say that if she wanted to buy a scarf,
and it just so happen to have crosses on it, it would be an added bonus.
When asked about Forever 21’s alleged “Christian
Propaganda”, Oren said, “I don’t think it’s good to commercialize Christianity
just to sell clothes—or to sell anything.” She went on to say that merely
getting the word of God and the symbol of the cross in people’s heart somehow
is a great thing within itself.
