by Miette Dsouza
Whether it’s bringing fetishism back into fashion or popularising activism through clothing, Jeremy Scott has done it all and solidified himself as fashion’s last enfant terrible. His name is synonymous with Moschino but after nearly 10 years at the helm of this luxury Italian fashion house, the ‘king of kitsch’ is finally signing off as its creative director.
Photo by Theo Wargo/Wirelmage
While no real reason for the retirement was stated, in an Instagram post, Jeremy said that he was proud of the legacy he was leaving behind and grateful for the decade of creativity and celebration of imagination at Moschino.
He has worked closely with a plethora of celebrities and even A-list superstars like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Madonna. More recently however he was given credit for dressing Angela Basset in a stunning royal purple gown for her nomination at the Oscars.
However, one of Jeremy’s greatest achievements to me was trying to make the runway a little less ableist and a little more inclusive and diverse. Under his leadership, Aaron Philip was named the face of Moschino. Never in fashion history had a black, transgender, and disabled model with cerebral palsy signed with a leading agency until 2018. Jeremy helped people that looked like Aaron see that they were beautiful and deserved a place in fashion and on the runway.
Photo by Kevin Tachman/MG19/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Jeremy’s penchant for disrupting the fashion scene will always be something to admire. Whether it’s wearing a “demand gun control now!” t-shirt to raise awareness or creating a collection which calls out immigration laws, Jeremy made Moschino the brand we know and love. This doesn’t mean he didn’t have his own creative flaws as scandals have erupted after Moschino runway shows and photoshoots which is also consistent with other high fashion brands too. However, Jeremey has subsequently shown us that fashion is his métier.
In his Instagram post, he also said that he was “filled with excitement and anticipation” and that he could not wait to share what was in store for his audience.
Photo by Acielle/Styledumonde
While that statement does raise expectations Jeremy certainly did not disappoint as he announced his new partnership with Hyundai. This odd pairing of a fashion mogul and an automotive company has a surprisingly sustainable outcome as Jeremy will be using repurposed car parts and automotive scrap to make gowns and wearable art. This new initiative to promote sustainability in the fashion industry has not gone unnoticed and proves that although he no longer has the backing of the Moschino name he is a force to be reckoned with and way ahead of his time.
Virgil Abloh, Vivienne Westwood, Alessandro Michele and now Jeremy Scott. The fashion industry is undergoing its renaissance, but the work of the people that paved the way has been etched in fashion history already.