Many people tend to think that quotes from celebrities or proverbs have only one meaning, but if you approach them with a critical perspective, you can uncover the contradictions behind these phrases. When it comes to the concept of "error," we've been raised to avoid making mistakes, yet the legendary fashion designer Alexander McQueen once said: As humans, we are bound to make mistakes; it's only through our errors that we can progress..
In the world of fashion and trends, Error is often viewed as a daunting source of dread. For instance, printing errors can render a large batch of products unsellable, while political missteps may spark a brand's PR crisis. Some decisions might even jeopardize the entire company. However, for many highly creative designers, Error is not a barrier to be avoided; rather, it is an inevitable challenge in the pursuit of innovation, and these Error often become crucial sources of inspiration for their creative endeavors.
Numerous studies and case analyses have explored how Error ignites creativity and drives innovation across various disciplines, yet discussions on this concept's application within the fashion industry are surprisingly rare. This article delves into how to transform Error in design into a resource for creativity. Embracing Error doesn't merely mean accepting flaws; it's about turning the accidents during production, cultural misunderstandings, and technical shortcomings into compelling narratives for creation.
A recent example features renowned brand UNDERCOVER, where designer Jun Takahashi collaborates with Olu Odukoya, founder of London Modern Matter magazine, to explore printing errors found in the magazine's archives over the past decade (2010-2020). This partnership has resulted in an artistic collage that blurs the lines of conventional design. Alongside a T-shirt, they have also launched a special magazine titled Modern Matter Q&A Chronicles that dives into the stories and creative processes behind this project. What was once seen as flaws are now expertly reimagined by Takahashi, presenting a fresh collection that embraces the unexpected as an opportunity.
In the Fall/Winter 2025 collection, designer Andrea Adamo of ANDREĀDAMO innovatively incorporates Error into the designs, showcasing a celebration of imperfection and a redefinition of creativity. For instance, a serendipitous blend of two yarns creates a unique texture that merges Bouclé with English ribbed wool; meanwhile, a sample piece with overly long sleeves is carelessly held together with safety pins, leading to the distinctive radial pleating design that defines the collection. In an interview, Andrea Adamo noted: Many of my mistakes ultimately became my strengths..
This concept of viewing the production process of Error as an extension of design inspiration is exemplified by the iconic designer Rei Kawakubo, whose creations often focus on imperfection, asymmetry, and deconstructed shapes. Looking back, the 1998 British Channel 4 program Undressed: Fashion in the Twentieth Century, which tracked the daily life of the Comme des Garçons team at their studio in Japan, also identified errors in the technical process that led to innovative clothing cutting methods. Kim Jones mentioned in a conversation with Jony Ive that the errors that frequently occur during the design process can sometimes possess a beauty that surpasses the intended outcomes; although such instances are rare, they are incredibly exciting.
If Error is no longer a symbol of negativity, then why not actively seek out Error and see what unexpected surprises it can bring? Nabil Nayal, a finalist in the 2017 LVMH Prize, explored how to create Error in his designs by photographing historical garments from archives and disrupting the images through collage, shaping the concept of Disorder and viewing dissonance as the foundation of fashion creativity. Another designer, Julian Roberts, invented Subtracting styles, an experimental cut-out construction technique that has been shared for free online since 2001. In his work Free Cutting, he mentions: This isn't a step-by-step guide; I want you to try, to make mistakes..
The concept of Error transcends the design phase, as we frequently encounter posts and articles online criticizing Error’s fashion choices. Deliberately creating Error or breaking traditional dressing norms is quite common in the fashion world, often bringing fresh perspectives and stunning aesthetics. In the Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2025 show, the brand once again challenged conventions with looks that featured lingerie as outerwear, sweaters transformed into tops, unexpected pairings, and layering, all embodying a sense of liberating and rebellious femininity.
Nobody's perfect, and even machines can make mistakes. The Glitch style, showcasing digital or analog errors, has become a tangible representation of the so-called Aesthetic of Error in our digital age, sparking deeper discussions in the fashion world. This is not just a concept; it's gradually infiltrating the materials, textures, and visual presentations of clothing, even impacting the cuts, structures, and ways of wearing garments. Designers like LOEWE have introduced intentionally blurred, chaotic-color, and seemingly malfunctioning T-shirts and dresses in their 2023 Spring/Summer Pixel capsule collection, creating an unstable feeling that transports you to a digital realm.
Artist Phillip Stearns launched the GlitchTextiles project in 2012, aiming to transform the digital realm into a tangible reality. One of the standout collections is the DCP series, which reimagines images captured by modified and damaged cameras into blankets, scarves, and pillows. In the realm of footwear, sports brands like Nike and adidas have also released shoes featuring glitch-inspired colorways. This embrace of machine error aesthetic explores the relationship between fashion and technology, as well as people and the digital world, encouraging individuals to accept imperfections and turn them into personalized fashion statements.
Viewing Error as a value rather than a flaw marks a significant shift in today’s fashion landscape. In an industrial environment that champions precision and efficiency, this renewed understanding of imperfection is especially valuable. It transcends mere visual or formal choices and embodies a creative attitude—embracing a rejection of the relentless quest for perfection in favor of focusing on the process, serendipity, and the dynamic relationship between people and materials. In this context, Error transforms from a defect needing correction into a potential innovation cue, exploring opportunities to reconstruct order from chaos.
When brands, designers, and even consumers begin to recognize the narrative tension and experimental spirit inherent in these Error, we might understand why today's fashion industry has shifted away from merely pursuing standardized, rational, and replicable beauty. Instead, it seeks to explore expressions that truly belong to our era amidst chaos, fragmentation, and imbalance. The aesthetics of imperfection are not a rebellion against perfection but a profound reflection on the standards of beauty. In this contemporary context, fashion conveys not just superficial Correct, but a courageous embrace of the uncertainties of innovation and the possibilities of failure.
