POP ART’S STAMPEDE INTO FASHION DESIGNING

By Omolabake Abudu-Bhadmus

In the world of style, everyone is royalty essentially because every human is an expression formed from the combination of fashion and art. The tiny drops of our individual personalities makes the ocean of trend ideas that flourish in the bigger space of the fashion industry.

The psychology of fashion has revealed that beyond wearing clothes for comfort, covering or to fulfill the requirements of sane human living, clothes are also worn for the representation that they give. This includes the sense of belonging that such clothes bring as well as the statement which they help their wearers make.

Today, it is easy to deduce a people’s personalities and ideologies through their way of dressing. Fashion has made this easier with the various options available for different folks to choose. From the alte crowd, to vintage, artsy, punk, minimalist, pop, retro or any of the varieties of styles out there, the list is endless.

In a way, fashion and art has become a seamless union that cannot be in conflict.  They are like fine born twins that complement one another, case of which brings to the discussion of today’s piece on the now trending pop art designs on fabrics.

Pop art is popularly known to be a style that began in the 1950s and 60s. It is not a new venture but it has crept into time, captured the heart of many generations and not to be psychic but it has only just started as more people are beginning to embrace and rock this style more than before.

The enamoring aspect of this style are the bold designs and colors that scream attitude with a flare of ‘I have swag and I’m not afraid to show it!’. It is definitely an unconventional trend vastly spreading among the youths especially. Pop art is not a medium of expression limited to only street walls or cars, but they can be designs on clothes and other fashion items like shoes and bags.

Speaking of pop art and swag, Balogun Oluwafemi Emmanuel popularly known as BaloArt is an artist, creative designer and founder of BALOARTWORLD, a fashion multi-cultured brand that specializes in hand painted artistic wears and designs.

Although his works are detailed in a splash of vibrant colors, hip styles and youthful vibes, Balo doesn’t negate the need for passion and authenticity in his works. Some of the drawings on his cloth are images of stars, influencers on Instagram or even his clients themselves. There is no mistake in the harmony and consistency in his works as his fashion brand has a specific means of identification that can’t be mistaken for another artist’s work. Let’s call that the special touch  common to every artist by which they infuse a specific part of their individuality into their work.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a lot of hurdles to the creative world, such as the inability to relate freely and the limited movement that made walk-in exhibitions impossible. While some would argue that the period was a time to reflect, reconnect with and groom long lost passions, Balo explained that those were tough times for him and his brand as it took him six months of ‘posting strategically’ to get back into the scene in July 2020.

Although there are always challenges faced in running a business especially anything art related because not everyone is inclined or drawn to the same things. For pop art, some believe it’s too loud and flashy but Balo has managed to bridge that gap by creating his cloth pieces according to the taste of his client. He also addresses the problem of high cost by creating different packages to suit his client’s budget. You don’t have to break the bank to be able to rock a piece from BALOARTWORLD.

In the world of fashion, talent, skill and grit can’t be overemphasized and with pop art different techniques are used to create his masterpiece. With the employment of “fabric acrylics paints” and denim materials, Balo turns people into a canvas where he brings into reality the sense of art walking on the streets from walls where they were previously hanged or displayed in a gallery. This is where art meets fashion in a dance of perfect harmony.

Many have contributed to the pop culture and as there has been an increased consumption of the art. The fashion industry itself is not left out because it has broadened its wings to pick from other elements of the society. Pop Art fans feel more accepted and included thanks to people like Balo who make the art come alive in a very unpredictable and stylized manner. Of course, he is not the first to create pop art pieces and would definitely not be the last, but what makes the work stand out is his passion to make people’s imaginations come alive and to give them a higher sense of expression.

Apart from just running a clothing brand, Balo has a bigger vision which is to launch a project called “PopGame” and “PimpKick service” which is focused on the reduction of sneaker and shoe waste in the country. He believes that his brand will not only be a wealth creator but will also serve as a problem solver. The goal is to export Pop and African art to the world in variety of styles and medium. “I believe this is a way of pushing art to where it needs to be and promoting skills that will ultimately lead to creation of artistic jobs, solve wear problems and create wealth across Africa and globally.”