We all know that Bristol is a bit of a 'hipster' city. Whilst you'd spot people sporting brands such as Whistles and Burberry in the busy streets of London, the only hint of designer clothes you'll catch sight of in Bristol are a pair of vintage Levi's. With thrift stores and charity shops on every corner you turn, it's kind of hard to avoid it.
Whilst being a hippy is seen as a cultural movement or diversion from the norm in most places, in Bristol it's as common as anything to see everyone sporting harem pants and festival wristbands stacked high on their arms.
Don't get me wrong - I love a good charity shop find as much as the next person - but it got me thinking about the 'hippy' trend in Bristol. Is it ironic that someone that is seen as a non-conformist elsewhere is the complete opposite in Bristol? Is hippy fashion in Bristol just another example of people following the masses and following trends?
On one hand, I really admire Bristol's individuality and alternativeness. It is a buzzing, cultural city and really has something for everyone. On the other hand it's a bit annoying to feel like you'll be shamed for even looking in the shop window of a huge corporation like Primark.
For someone who has come from a really small, relatively sheltered town where everyone is encouraged to be a sheep and talk, dress and act like everyone else, it is really refreshing to see how people in Bristol express themselves through their clothing in an unapologetic manner. It's just very interesting how not following the trends can actually turn into following a trend. People aiming to act and dress different now all collectively act and dress the same, which sort of defeats the whole purpose and makes the 'hippy' trend a little hypocritical.
Although I wouldn't totally agree with the criticism of this article, I do find it quite funny:
' Bristol hipsters are a special breed, and, dare I say it, the men in Bristol are miles worse than their female counterpart? While Bristol girl hipsters are of a common breed found in most major cities, the Bristol male hipsters are men who think they were born with the pussy magnet strength 10 (out of 10) simply because they managed to grow a half decent beard, play in a semi-locally-known band and work in media. The sad truth is that beyond the exterior, there seems to be a distinct lack in beliefs and conviction and they therefore have to top it up with as much craft beer and pulled pork they can gather from Grillstock.'
What I agree with is the fact that a lot of people are joining this movement, but purely for the outward aesthetics - retro clothing, quirky wall hangings - you get the gist. A lot of the people adopting this style of dressing are forgetting what it really is to be a hippie. It's not all about letting your hair grow long and not shaving your armpits. It's about love, peace and compassion. It's about kindness to humans and animals alike. It's caring about the planet and actually doing something about it.
In conclusion, I think it's great that Bristolians buy second hand and are doing their part in helping the environment, but I just hope that people don't just start following this as a trend for the sake that it 'looks cool' in contrast to the people who are actually doing it for a good reason.
What's your opinion? Do you think that hippy fashion in Bristol is a positive movement or just another passing phase?
