As part of their radical anti-capitalist lifestyle in the 1960s, the Diggers of San Francisco fashioned created stunning ensembles out of abandoned and donated items. Then, in London, punks went even further, blending clothing from all ages into a new aesthetic aimed to make a person look as if they had just returned from a trip to hell and back. The new aesthetic permeated popular culture via television and film. Following that, goth and grunge took over.
In 1993, we saw Kurt Cobain sing live on television in a torn green sweater, and my life was permanently transformed. Cobain embodied anti-conformity, power in genuine vulnerability, and beauty that could be damaged by its own wrath and passion yet remaining beautiful. Grunge reached out to the pessimistic artist.
