Bicycles are Fashion Statements!

Bicycles have advanced from transporting troops during the World Wars, to leisure, entertainment, sporting gear, transport necessity and now attention drawing, personality revealing and envy inducing fashion items. Biking is now something to dress up for.

Over the years we have grown to see so many statements peices coming in as trends in fashion, being seasonal or timeless; intricate or simple and, more often than not, there are only a few in circulation. The bicycle however, migrated from a trend an in-the-moment desire, to eternal style where they are being incorporated into modern culture and streets-cape, being produced in all colours, prints and frames. Living in such cosmopolitan environments, Paris and New York’s bike shares and increase in infrastructure must be pushing this trend on an increase. Bicycles that are very chic with emphasises that the design of a bicycle goes beyond function, being produced in multiple speeds, various sizes and an array of eye-catching colours and fashion forward patterns. The interesting part is also the existence of fashion sensible designer bicycle wear, Vega, a clothing brand designed by Canadian Angella Mackey, creates coats that "help you navigate the city." While in New York City at the end of April last year was an exhibit of the industry's most beautiful cycles. Interestingly so, the bicycles on display and on the runway were paired with carefully curated and styled outfits to go with them. This to me is indicative of our culture's emphasis on visual communication, specifically to personal identity and style.

While we love to indulge in the superficial novelties that make the bicycle such a playful and old school commodity, this now fashion statement piece has a key role to 'push play' beyond our own social identity.

images: The satorialist