When I wear my Frida la Catrina Skirt or the jean jacket I embellished with the same fabrics plus custom free motion stitching and Swarovski Crystals I get one of two reactions.
Gushing love and questions about where I got it or a pursed lipped scorn that makes the “Church Lady” look like a flaming liberal.
And while I love the gushing ( I mean let’s be truthful, it rocks, I love it and love wearing it).
It is those who give me ‘ THE LOOK” that I like talking to about their perception about what skulls mean when seen on clothing and the like, since there is often a knee-jerk connection between skulls and something demonic.
And while I cannot claim to have converted anyone I do think I have given some more food for thought and I am taking this conversation to the big-stage and moving it even further as I talk about the customer who is seeking these amazing fabrics.. since it is not just Harley riders and hard core criminals embracing the skully movement.
Why Skulls?
First off I can only speak for myself, but when I see a skull ( or bones) for the most part I am connected with the most basic part of our humanity. The very base we are built on; strong, functional and most important – Alike.
While of course anthropologists can take small clues from bone structure and tell us much about a person from subtle differences from person to person the fact is that we look pretty much the same when it comes down to our bones. No matter black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor in this state we are all the same and Skully prints celebrate this perfectly.
Who is Wearing Skulls?
modcloth.com
Credit Rockbaby.com
The answer to this question is quite simple – Everyone! From teens and tiny babies to fashionable octogenarians, skulls are on trend in both the fashion and quilting world with a wide variety of customers trying out this look and buying what it takes to make these fashions and projects happen and as far as I know not a single one of them has a demonic world domination agenda in the works. ( But if you do please feel free to leave a comment!)
The BadAss Quilters Society itself just celebrated skulls in a big way with a Black and White Challenge that was amazingly successful and highlighted the art of the skull and the quilter come together.
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Of course skulls are not for everyone and that is ok as well. But perhaps it is time we removed the stigma and pursed lips and as an industry we were a bit more open to differences of all types. Skulls or not.
What about you.. Skulls or No? and why if you don’t mind… please and thank you!
Exactly.
We all have one.
When I had taken Flash Mob into work with me to share, one of the supervisors said to me “were they trying to get rid of that fabric? ” My first thought was. “Some people are all about footprints, and they are nothing but the imprints of bones…and we all have them. ”
I’ve been quilting 40 years now and I’ve always liked the edgy side of quilting, I am not into hearts, pinks & blues, etc. But it’s cool if You do.
Tolerance.
Love what you do.
When my stepson married I suddenly became Grandma to a 17 year old. I made him a graduation quilt using fabric with skulls and roses and black minkey for the back. He loved it and decided I was cool. The best praise ever!
No skulls for me, unless it is Halloween. They just don’t appeal to me. But my best friend has real animal skulls hanging on the walls of her foyer. She was a biology major and can identify them all.
I’ve never been all that enchanted by skulls… and if this had been a challenge from any organization OTHER than BAQS, I probably wouldn’t have done it. BUT… it was fun — and I liked being under a bit of pressure to get it completely finished (which, BTW also gave me incentive to actually put binding on some other quilts!! AND I have a great friend who absolutely LOVES skulls, so this would be a great gift!!
I’ve always loved skulls and Mexican folk art. I adore the bright colors and celebrations of life that the culture embody, especially Dia de los Muetos. My skull love is both from the Mexican cultural celebration of our dead loved ones, and from a love of science. The human body has had me in awe since the fourth grade. The first thing we learned was the names of all the bones in the body. Now I am beginning a new career as a sonographer. It’s so rad, I get to see everyone’s insides!
I feel like skulls, like most trends, are going to have people who don’t like them. Maybe the pursed lips are “ugh more skulls” and not church lady judgement. Sort of like when someone makes a joke and then assumes when I don’t laugh it is because I didn’t understand- no I just didn’t think it was funny…Also, once infants and old people are wearing a trend, I don’t guess it can be considered badass anymore. My husband and I were in a fabric outlet, and they had an entire table full of skully flannel to be had for 50 cents a yard.
Maggie, as much as skulls are quite popular right now and you could make the case that they aren’t badass if “infants and old people” are wearing them, I think that if you’ve always loved skulls and will continue to love them when the trend is gone, then you’re badass in your own right. Anyone can be badass if you passionately own what you love, be it skulls or Laura Ashley florals. We skull loves are just excited to see what we love so easily available these days. The quilting world has come a long way in having a good selection of skull and skeleton fabrics. I used to have to horde them around Halloween time, and even then was stuck with the orange, black and purple themes.
I went to San Miguel Mexico last year for the Day of the Dead celebration, and I liked it so much I’m going again this year! The skeleton with the big hat is Katrina, who embodies the idea that material things are temporal, as a reminder to us to focus on the spiritual. The men dress as Katrine, a male version of the skeleton. On this very religious, family centered holiday, altars are erected in homes and businesses to loved ones who have died. The altars contain pictures, favorite food and drink, and miniature sugar skull representations of animals, hobbies or other passions enjoyed while in this world. The altars and graves are decorated with marigold blossoms and mosaic designs using spices and organic materials. The dead are serenaded by mariachis and with recordings of favorite music. It is a beautiful, religious, family centered event. So any church lady who looks at you Katrina with scorn clearly doesn’t get out much and could learn a thing or two.
I always equated skulls with death, not necessarily anything evil, just death, and not wanting to be reminded of mortality, have rejected skull and skeleton images. However, I can appreciate that the skeleton is our common foundation and maybe come to accept that image. Thanks for explaining!
Hey Joan, I get it that our mortality is such a huge thing looming in the back of all we do that it can feel difficult to “cuddle up to it “. When my son died 15 years ago this month I changed my outlook on death and with that my feeling about skulls.
I agree with what you said. We are all more or less the same when it comes down to bare bones. I’m also a long-time admirer of the Dios de la Muerte (Day of the Dead) traditions, in which ancestors & loved ones who have passed are honored & celebrated. Sugar Skulls are amazing art. I’m a huge fan of forensic science & anything to do with our amazing anatomy, skulls & other bones included. And lastly, pirates, because… Pirates! 🙂
Skulls over Hearts anytime