Futures Past

Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Fergi and I’m a year 3 student from SMU School of Social Sciences.

We love your style! Tell us, what does fashion mean to you?
Fashion is one of the main ways I express myself, and it’s also one of my favourite hobbies. In my free time, I like thinking about what pieces I can wear next—whether that’s going shopping, thrifting, or even just watching media content of people with a great fashion sense. I guess for me, fashion is really a way to express my identity.

What kind of aesthetics are you inspired by?
I’m inspired by the early Japanese 2000s aesthetic because I enjoy watching Japanese movies and anime such as Nana, Paradise Kiss and Kamikaze Girls. I’m also really inspired by 2013 Tumblr or Frutiger Aero, the whole Windows aesthetic and nostalgia that’s been popular on social media recently.

Interesting! Do you think there’s an overlap between social sciences and fashion?
People like to say that the best-dressed people are in social sciences, which I agree (laughs). I guess it’s because I study a lot about people and how they work, and fashion is so deeply intertwined with human behaviour. I also study a lot about art and film, which are both closely connected to fashion as well, so yes, there’s a lot of overlap with the arts. I’d say sociology or social science in general, is probably the most “artsy” major in SMU—that’s actually one of the reasons why I chose it.

Were you always interested in sociology before entering the course?
Not really. At first, I wanted to take psychology. But then we had introductory courses in psychology, political science, and sociology, and it turned out I was most interested in sociology. Also, my favourite film director, Bong Joon Ho, studied sociology in university, so I was like, “Oh my God, I want to be like him—that’s me in the future!”

What other types of media are you currently into?
Music—I love music! Right now, I’m listening to the Cocteau Twins and also an Indonesian band, SORE. I like listening to SORE especially because whenever I listen to music, I don’t really pay attention to the lyrics. So they’re perfect for me because their lyrics are gibberish to me, but their music is instrumental-heavy and they’re lowkey also giving the nostalgic vibes, which is what I like to hear.

Where do you think this yearning for the past is coming from?
I think as the years go by, people have become more minimalistic. But those who really want to express themselves often get bored of that minimalism and turn to maximalism instead. You can really see that shift in past media and even in the variety of music that’s come out. Especially when it comes to fashion, I feel like a lot of people still tend to follow the norm. And when they want to try something different or express themselves through what they wear, they often hesitate because they’re afraid of being judged.

You’re right, fashion should be fun! Do you always dress up for school?
Yes! I read Suma’s Shentonista article, and she was saying that if her fit isn’t fire, she doesn’t feel good—and I was like, same, girl, exactly! If my fit isn’t giving, I just won’t go out. I’ll literally stay home (laughs).

How do you have the energy to dress up every day?
It’s one of the things that motivate me to get up in the morning. I’ll wake up and think, “Oh my God, I have an 8AM class,” but then I remember I get to dress up for it, and that actually makes me excited!