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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 11, No. 2
Publication Date: February 25, 2024
DOI:10.14738/assrj.112.16491.
Sabagh, W. (2024). Characteristics of Postmodernism Reflected on Designs of ready-to-wear Children's Clothing Using their Artistic
Drawings. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(2). 124-150.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Characteristics of Postmodernism Reflected on Designs of ready- to-wear Children's Clothing Using their Artistic Drawings
Wesam Sabagh
Umm Al-Qura University
ABSTRACT
This study aims to simplify the postmodernism's characteristics to create
innovative fashion designs for children's ready-to-wear clothing. By incorporating
children's artistic drawings, the study seeks to achieve the designs' functional,
aesthetic, and productive aspects. The significance of this research lies in enriching
the practices of the ready-to-wear children's clothing industry through the
utilization of postmodernism characteristics. A descriptive analytical approach was
employed to identify the relevant characteristics of the postmodernism and adapt
them to the design process for children's clothing. Eight designs were created and
evaluated by specialists using a study tool. The results revealed statistically
significant differences in the evaluations of the designs across various aspects. The
aesthetic aspect received the highest evaluation, followed by the production and,
finally, the functional aspects. The study concluded that the design incorporating
the attribute of ambiguity was the most highly rated among the designs, considering
all aspects. Based on these findings, the study recommends further exploration of
the postmodernism in fashion design and an in-depth study of international arts to
foster creativity and diversity in children's clothing design.
Keywords: Postmodernism, Ready-to-wear, Children's clothing, Fashion design, Artistic
drawings
INTRODUCTION
In the twentieth century, significant advancements occurred in various technical, scientific, and
intellectual fields, greatly impacting art, prevailing artistic trends, and the appreciation of
aesthetic values in artistic works. These changes resulted from evolving circumstances
surrounding humanity, leading to the emergence of new movements that offered fresh
perspectives on both individuals and the world they inhabit (Arak, 2018).
Among these movements, Modernism emerged as a rejection of prevailing norms and customs,
deviating from established conventions without seeking harmony with subsequent styles
(Mahdi & Wadi, 2018). On the other hand, postmodern movements were characterized by
deconstruction, nihilism, meaninglessness, and disorder, as they deliberately broke away from
recognized traditions and centralized constraints (Darwish, 2019).
Postmodern design and art movements challenged the dominant artistic movements of the
Modernism era that prevailed in Europe during the latter half of the twentieth century. These
movements criticized the principles of Modernism and rejected its assumptions (Obied, 2016).
Postmodern arts evolved into a form of dialogue between art and society, embracing open
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Sabagh, W. (2024). Characteristics of Postmodernism Reflected on Designs of ready-to-wear Children's Clothing Using their Artistic Drawings.
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(2). 124-150.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.112.16491
forms and discarding traditional conceptions of artworks and display methods to engage a
broad segment of society (Qutayeh et al., 2010).
What sets postmodern arts apart is their utilization of diverse and innovative plastic methods
and means. They incorporate artistic forms, symbols, and compositions that reflect postmodern
ideas, aiming to create artworks that surpass traditions and transcend the "barriers between
the arts, and between art andeverything else" (Al-Kholy et al., 2015). These artworks are the
products of an artist's response to ongoing debates and creative trends that they embrace (Al- Ajaji & Al-Sharif, 2020). They comprise reorganized and reformulated materials, representing
important and influential elements in human life and society (Rashid, 2017).
Limited prior research exists on utilizing children's drawings as a source for creating clothing
within the context of the postmodernism. However, there are relevant studies that partially
relate to this research area. For instance, Al-Ajaji and Al-Sharif (2020) conducted a study
focusing on employing Cubist art in designing traditional and inspired fashion, incorporating
decorations and drawings by the Cubist artist, Pablo Picasso. They affirmed that fashion design
has become an applied artistic activity that represents different historical artistic traits and
styles, offering a vast realm for contemporary creativity and innovation. Elezaby et al. (2020)
aimed to define the aesthetic and plastic value of Egyptian artists and utilize their lines and
colors. Notably, they discovered new design formulas for printing women's apparel inspired by
the works of plastic artist Omar Al-Najdi.
Al-Hasani and Al-Delfi (2014) asserted that the postmodernism emerged as a response to the
shift away from Modernism's ideas of "individualism, nihilism, and rationalism," adapting to
the ongoing changes of the modern era, driven by technological advancements. Furthermore,
Abdo and Al-Qadi (2021) suggested that postmodern architectural trends serve as a fruitful
source for modern design. When working with traditional media, artists need to explore new
materials that possess inherent values to generate fresh aesthetic concepts.
While there is a dearth of studies specifically focusing on the field of designing ready-to-wear
children's fashion, some research exists on designing children's fashion in general. Ahmed and
Al-Sayed (2019) conducted a study that aimed to utilize fabric as an unconventional source of
inspiration for creating new clothes. Their findings revealed that manipulating fabric facilitated
the design process and aided in the creation of innovative children's clothing. Jawhar and
Elmaghraby (2017) explored the use of leftover fabrics to embellish children's outfits for
educational purposes, promoting recycling.
According to Amer et al. (2015), psychologists agree that artistic motives in children during
middle childhood, typically aged 6-9 years, deviate from known visual reality. They exhibit
formal distortions and conceptualize inconceivable ideas, mixing dreams with reality. Children
at this stage disregard literal translation of reality, perceiving inanimate objects as animate and
often attributing human characteristics to them. Understanding this symbolic stage of
children's development is crucial when studying the production of a ready-to-wear clothing
line. Various traits have been identified in children's drawings and expressions, such as
simplicity, distortion, deletion, exaggeration, enlargement, lengthening, flattening, and more.
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 11, Issue 2, February-2024
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
The importance of designing children's clothing in shaping children's behavior and orientations
was also emphasized by Rizk & Abdo (2018). Understanding the influential connection between
children and artistic trends is crucial, particularly during childhood, which is recognized as one
of the most significant stages in a person's life. This period serves as the foundation for the
development of psychological and social values and ideas that can positively or negatively
impact their personalities. Designers of children's clothing must therefore prioritize design, as
it is a key factor influencing functional quality, usability, and external appearance. Design is
perceived by customers as an expressive value rather than mere aesthetics, especially within
the fashion industry, where consumer culture and lifestyle intersect. As a result, the evolving
consumer culture has influenced production systems and increased the symbolic value of
products beyond their price and functionality (Al-Jarbou, 2017).
Children are the future and responsible individuals of tomorrow, making them the center of
attention and study. Clothing holds significant importance in their lives, as it influences their
attitudes, behavior, and imagination development. Therefore, careful consideration of design
details is essential. The middle childhood phase, typically spanning from 6 to 9 years, is a crucial
period in a child's life. During this time, children are active, curious, and engaged with their
surroundings, allowing them to acquire various skills. When designing costumes for children in
this age group, fashion designers need to ensure their creations are imaginative and
incorporate diverse elements, resulting in artistic and innovative apparel that positively
impacts children. Design serves as the foundation of industries and creativity, and generating
original ideas is a key driver of manufacturing and production quality. Therefore, exploring new
and creative connections between design elements and the distinctive characteristics of the
postmodernism can leverage the artistic and aesthetic value of children's drawings to create
unique children's clothing.
Based on this context, the researcher conducted this study to explore how the concept,
characteristics, and philosophy of the postmodernism can be represented in the design of
ready-to-wear children's clothing using children's artistic drawings.
It is expected that this paper would increase the depth of artistic trends and reflect them on the
design of children’s clothing to give an aesthetic dimension. It would also spread artistic
awareness based on artistic trends and coming up with modern and distinctive clothing designs
for children
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Postmodernism
Postmodernism encompasses various meanings and interpretations and finds its application in
multiple fields, including literature, poetry, philosophy, art, architectural design, and fashion
design (Hokkanen, 2014). The fundamental concept of postmodernism revolves around
surpassing and breaking boundaries, particularly those that separate art from everyday
activities such as marketing, commercial advertising, industrial technology, and design (Rashid,
2017).
According to Obaid (2016), the postmodernism emerged as an intellectual, cultural, and artistic
movement in response to the perceived shortcomings of Modernism in meeting the evolving
standards of the post-1960s era. This movement was characterized by detachment, skepticism,