We’ve been talking to 16 individuals, throughout this research, in total. They have been telling us about themselves, their choice of clothing and their likes and dislikes. Our idea was to set up an interview with each individual, containing a few simple questions, and relay on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory about judgments of taste in relation to one’s social position.We realized after a while, that as the society was developing, so was the life of an individual, its social status, and even the surrounding of judgments.

We switched course, and decided to relay on the information, gathered from the field, we got from our participating individuals and cooperative observers. In combination to our guiding literature we managed to finally come to a conclusion. We’ve been wrestling with our own minds and thoughts, books and sayings, and we are now able to present some well arguing and yet informative results.

When we took our first step into this research, we were expecting a clear distinction between clothing among various subcultures, genders and environments. Just like any other individual walking around in Malmoe city observing, we had our assumptions but we didn’t have any facts. We never really thought about why people really associate particular accessories or clothes with particular subcultures or environments until we put our research instinct on.

Although we were aware of the fact that it was pretty easy to find a clear distinction in clothing between the genders, back in the days, we didn’t really think about how much that distinction actually was fading. The dress code back in the days, built with rules or signals indicating the message being given by a person’s clothing including gender was changing radically. Suddenly both men and women were walking around in pants, tattoos, Coverse, shirts and suits.

We also came to the conclusion that it nowadays is impossible to identify an individual with a certain group or try to figure him or her out by his or her clothing. Individuals in Malmoe, Sweden are wearing clothes inspired by different subcultures although they maybe don’t relate to them. Fashion, among everything else, is blocking all of the clear distinctions we ones felt were present among individual’s.  Another thing that has changed the distinction between the genders is the strain for equality. Sweden has one of the highest levels of gender equality in the world.

There are no typical Swedish looks, disregarding the dress codes in relation to profession. Although our participants had a variety of combinations based on what they thought could be considered as a typical Swedish look. People feel free to wear whatever they want whenever they want. We learned that all of these assumptions are connected to old references. Tattoos were associated with criminals and bikers. Converses were associated with either basketball or the genre Rock. The society is constantly changing, and so are the subcultures, judgments and stories behind one’s choice of clothing.

We found it very interesting that four (2,6,7,8) of eight participants, were wearing Converse, although none of them were presenting the same type of clothing style. Some of our observers, could not identify the gender of our participants while others were inspired to create general assumptions.

Observers comment(6): “She looks very casual. I would say her favorite store is Carlings or maybe H&M. This person definitely listens to rock, I can tell by the Rock inspired Converse.“

Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
As far as we knew, Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, produced by Converse, had absolutely nothing to do with Rock and was originally an elite basketball shoe. What we didn’t know was that the shoe, throughout the years, made a shift from athletic sportswear to casual footwear. Suddenly Converse got popular among variety of subcultures.

Observers comment (2): “This is a woman who likes to spend most of her time riding her motorcycle and listening to Hard Rock. She’s probably not a very kind person, looks a little bit harsh with all those tattoos.”

Tattoos, the mark of the outcast
We were aware of the fact that tattoos, in the western world, were ones the mark of the outcast and that they often were associated with bikers, criminals, prostitutes or prisoners, that wanted to demonstrate their defiance of traditional authority. Individual’s that wanted to display a stereotyped symbol of physical strength and aggressiveness. But we also knew that tattoos then were, a symbol of working class masculinity, while now being a symbol of middle class. Getting a tattoo today, not only in Malmoe, is just an everyday thing. It’s a way of expressing oneself, a way of communication among individuals and can be considered as an accessory in combination to one’s appearance.

Observers comment (7):“Typical swedish young student wearing Converse and black jeans. He’s probably into Rock n Roll or something, smokes and likes beer”

Gender and equality
Our observer could clearly not identify the gender of our participant describing her as a “he”.The dress code has built in rules or signals indicating the message being given by a person’s clothing and how it is worn. This message may include indications of the person’s gender. The clothing used by men and women, have been unique all through the history and there has been a clear distinction betweeen the genders allwoing the individual to identify the gender. Growing up as kids, we were all used to the fact that trousers were men’s apparel and dresses were women’s. Nowadays, pants are worn by both men and women and the distinciton between the genders is fading.

Observers comment (8): “This is a typical swedish young girl wearing white Converse and a cute little top. She’s probably into RnB and likes to hang out with her friends in the city.”

We noticed that all of our participants and observers were either mentioning or talking about the “typical Swedish look” so we asked them to describe, what in their opinion, could be considered as a typical everyday look in Sweden.

The typical Swedish look for women;

• Coat – dress – heels
• Converse – skinny tights – oversize top – leather jacket
• Sneakers – tights – hoodie – leather jacket
• Chinos – tunic – Converse – jacket
• Oversize cardigan – pumps – tights – coat

The typical Swedish look for men;

• Converse – skinny jeans – shirt – leather jacket – fancy watch
• Sneakers – chinos – t-shirt – hoodie
• Dress- or polo shirt – trousers – bomber jacket
• Low waist jeans – Converse – polo shirt
• Boots – jeans – t-shirt

Observers comment (4): “This woman has a very unusual clothing style. I like it but I’ve personally never seen someone dressed like this in Malmoe. She is either rich or likes to design her own clothes.”

Creative or rich
The stores in Malmoe, straining to attract youths are pretty similar one to another both by prize and offerings. That is why individual’s often draw hasty conclusions when it comes to either creativity or social finances. Either you spend a lot on your appearance, or you have the creativity to create a unique, personal style. If you can put an outfit together that looks more than it costs, you’ve succeeded to mark yourself out.

Observers comment (5): “He’s a salesperson for sure. I can tell by the way that he dresses, and his shoes. Looks like the type of guy that spends a lot of money on his appearance.”

Salesperson dress-code
As mentioned, meeting a customer or client, for the first time there will automatically appear judgments based on one’s appearance.  That is a reason enough for a salesperson to consider his or her clothing very important. A costumer recognizes one based on his or her style so the main key to this kind of success, is creating a unique style. That’s exactly why our observer assumed this young exchange student was a salesperson. He had a personal, unique style that was rare to be found in Malmoe city.

Observers comment (3): “I don’t know actually. His T-shirt makes it easy for me to guess what kind of clothes he likes to wear. I think that he likes to listen to Hip-hop and Rap.”

Streetwear gets easily confused with Hip-hop fashion although it’s roots are in skateboarding. Oversized t-shirts, sneakers and jeans.

Observers comment (1): “This guy has a very formal clothing style. I bet it’s expensive too.”

Men and women spending the same amount
There’s a reason why men in Sweden generally feel that formal clothing styles are way too expensive. Some of the men we talked to told us that they had like maximum five stores to choose between, while women had endless choices. They also told us that guys had to spend a lot more money on clothes than girls. Men considered them spending the same amount of money on one formal outfit, as women did on three formal outfits. Talking about equality in Sweden, we found this unfair.

We thought that it would be interesting to get a second opinion on these eight participants and their clothing styles so we took our research a step furtherer. We asked eight, randomly picked out individuals, to describe each and every participants clothing style, by only showing them photographs where they were only able to see their clothes.  We got a variety of answers which was exactly what we were looking for.

Our first participant was a young girl, standing outside her favorite store called Shock, and smoking.  She was pretty calm, with an innocent face expression, and casual clothing style. She likes to listen to Rock and is pretty much inspired by her favorite musicians. She also likes to party hard and prefers drinking beer in company. She’s a babysitter during the weekends.

Observers comment: “She looks very casual. I would say her favorite store is Carlings or maybe H&M. This person definitely listens to rock, I can tell by the Rock inspired Converse.”

We got the chance to talk to the store manager of Shock and she was a very kind and generous young woman. She told us her favorite type of music is Hip-hop and RnB from the 80s and 90s. Her taste it music has nothing to do with her clothing. Her clothes are mostly bought in second hand shops, and her style is very personal. She even makes her own clothes. She’s a real movie watcher and she likes to spend most of her time with her daughter at home. She also likes to eat dinner with her friend during the weekends.

Observers comment: “This is a woman who likes to spend most of her time riding her motorcycle and listening to Hard Rock. She’s probably not a very kind person, looks a little bit harsh with all those tattoos.”

We got to talk to a student on her way home from school. She was very shy, we could tell by her body language and insecure answers. Her style was very simple and casual and she told us that she wasn’t the type spending all to much money on clothes. She likes to listen to Pop and sometimes others genres depending on her mood. Her favorite store was Carlings. A store where you can find casual outfits such jeans, shirts, leather jackets and t-shirts.

Observers comment: “Typical swedish young student wearing Converse and black jeans. He’s probably into Rock n Roll or something, smokes and likes beer”

We managed to convince a salesperson to talk to us. She told us most of her favorite outfits were pretty much casual. She was very similar to the girl we had talked to before both by their interests and taste of music. She liked to hang out with her friends, and that she liked both drinks and beer. She likes to party a lot and she is the type that spends a lot of money on clothes. The difference between her and the girl before is the fact that they wear the same type of clothes but don’t spend the same amount of money on them.

Observers comment: “This is a typical swedish young girl wearing white Converse and a cute little top. She’s probably into RnB and likes to hang out with her friends in the city.”

We got the chance to talk to an exchange student from Japan. We met him in a store named SOLO representing clothes a bit more elegant but still casual at the same time. He didn’t understand any Swedish so we had to do our interview in English. He told us he was a dancer and liked to listen to Hip-hop and RnB. His style was pretty personal but he also told us that his big inspiration was Jason Mraz.

Observers comment: “He’s a salesperson for sure. I can tell by the way that he dresses, and his shoes. Looks like the type of guy that spends a lot of money on his appearance.”

We walked into a store representing street wear and got the chance to talk to the store manager. He wasn’t really in the mood for an interview so we asked the store manager for permission to talk to his trainee. A nice young guy surrounded by the clothes he usually like to wear. He told us that he was a trainee and a student who spent most of his time skating with his friends. When we asked him about his clothes in relation to his taste in music he said that it had nothing to do with the music he listened to, only his interests.

Observers comment: “I don’t know actually. His T-shirt makes it easy for me to guess what kind of clothes he likes to wear. I think that he likes to listen to Hip-hop and Rap.” 

We passed by a little store in the corner of the street. A woman was standing outside photographing the display window. She was dressed in a long elegant coat and was wearing heels. She was very nice and she asked us if it would be okay if we went inside and did the interview. She is an entrepreneur. Her style is very personal and she likes being a designer, making her own clothes. She also likes to listen to Jazz and Rock n Roll. In her spare time she goes out with her friends, in both restaurants and cafés. This type of clothing is very unusual among youths in Malmoe.

Observers comment: “This woman has a very unusual clothing style. I like it but I’ve personally never seen someone dressed like this in Malmoe. She is either rich or likes to design her own clothes.” 

We got to interview another store manager representing a store with expensive, but very popular labels. He told us that not many students can afford to shop in a store like this one. His clothing style is very formal, just like the type of clothes his store is representing. He’s not wearing clothes from his own store though.  His favorite musician is Frank Sinatra.

Observers comment: “This guy has a very formal clothing style. I bet it’s expensive too.” 

Hi everybody!

Here is my finished work, an analytic photo-essay about myself, and the different layers of transitional identities in urban space:

photoessay

And if the pdf is not working then here is a blog where you can click the pictures to enlarge them:
http://youthintransition2012.tumblr.com/

The questions we asked them were;

• What do you do for living?
• What kind of music do you listen to?
• Do you dress by your taste in music or by your interests?
• What do you like to wear during the weekdays?
• Do you consider yourself having a personal style or do you like to go with the flow?
• Where do you buy your clothes?
• What is the name of your favorite store?
• What do you in your spare time?
• What do you prefer to drink in company?
• Do you have the same type of clothing style as your friends?
• Are there any similarities/odds between your clothing and the opposite gender?
• Is it possible for a man to wear what you are wearing today?
  Why/Why not?                    
• What kind of clothes did you wear when you were younger?
• Have you changed your clothing style since then? How come?

Hey everybody!
Here is our finished work, the analysis of our logs:
analysislog-max
analysislog-lisa

And here are the logs again:
log_maxroslund
log_lisalindblad

/Lisa and Max
Group 2 – Tales of My Roots and Routes

 

Hej and Hujambo everybody!

Here comes our brochure which is the final result of our long research of what’s making Malmö attractive to youngsters.
We hope that the link below works properly and that you’ll enjoy the reading!

Best regards,
Anja, Felicia, Marina, Kajsa, Carolin and Simon

Click here to read the brochure.

Dajana Demirovic and Amajla Omeragic

We are two students, members of group two, going through a research and writing about factors that impact on an individual’s choice of clothing. By asking eight individual’s about their clothing styles through shortly brief interviews, in the center of Malmoe city, Sweden, we hope to be able to present some interesting and informative results but also some well arguing conclusions.

Our extended blog is no longer available due to complications. All material will be transferred to this common blog. We had to eliminate two of the previous participants and replace them with new ones so all participants have given us their approval to publish their pictures on this open blog.

Our main question throughout this research:
How does popular culture influence an individual’s clothing in Malmoe, Sweden?

Meeting someone the first time, you automatically try to identify this person with a certain group. You also quickly try to get an idea of what kind of individual this man or woman really is. When grouping people by class, profession or subculture, it is through the way they dress in which you identify them with a certain group. Clothing gives us observers a hint of identity and inspires us create assumptions.

Through ones clothing, we may tell a lot of things such as how this individual is feeling, group affiliation, profession, personal finances, etc. Even the choice of color has a big influence on the signals send to one another. Our point is that it’s very easy to put a label on people when drawing double-quick conclusions by first impressions, but knowing why, is a lot harder. That’s why we want to talk to different people, representing different clothing styles, making their voices heard and telling us the real story behind their choices of clothing.

Graffiti&StreetArt – Photobook

Hey! We in group 1, researching graffiti and street art in Malmö, are finally redy to publish our material! Here it is!

Video: Here you see how swedish street art may look in Malmö, everything from small scribbeling, big paintings, posters, stickers and so on. The music are meant to give you a feeling about how the writers/artists feel about themselves.

Photobook: Here you see pictures of both the legal and illegal walls for graffitiwriting, stickers and posters placed all over town, both political ones and creative ones. You will also find our analysis of the subculture, a brief presentation of graffiti and street art in a historical point of view and our interpretation of the art work, quotes from writers/artists  and so on.

We hope you find it interresting!

Group 1

Hey everybody! Soon our video and photobook will be published for you all to see! In the photobook we will use a couple of words and terms that you might not understand if you’re not too familier with graffiti and street art, and therefor we want to make it clear befor we even publish the material! So here is a short explenation of the words and terms we will be using;

Tag – This can mean two things, 1) an artist name 2) a smaller painting of the artist name

Throw-up - This is a bigger painting of ones tag

Piece – A even bigger painting, not allways with ones tag but usualy the tag is somewhere in the painting

Writer – This is the graffitipainter/artist

Crew – A group of greaffitiwriters

I hope this eliminates missunderstandings when we publish the material!