“Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it”, according to Edmund Burke. And those who know history, according to me, know what to repeat and what to avoid repeating. And can even figure out what was not tried in the past that might work in the present. But in a society only concerned about the latest this and the latest that, how relevant is it to know about our past?
Very relevant, I would say. And more than necessary, mandatory. One of the first pieces of advice that I received when I started shooting fashion was “Study the classics”. And some might argue that knowing the life of Elizabeth Arden won’t make you a better makeup artist, the same way that knowing who Stieglitz was won’t make you a better photographer. But the truth is that knowing where your craft comes from, how it all started and why it is the way it is nowadays will definitely give you a deeper understanding of your industry. And hopefully help you make better business decisions.
Here are a few resources from where to take a little peek into the past of our industry:
- Fashion: http://www.businessoffashion.com/education/courses/fashion-history
- Photography: http://photohistory.jeffcurto.com/about
- Makeup Artistry: http://www.historyofcosmetics.net
- Hair Styling: http://www.ukhairdressers.com/history%20of%20hair.asp
Do you like what you just read? Subscribe to the weekly blog posts here!