CULTURE
Let's Talk About Spain
By: Lianna Gourmos Edited By: Eleanor Unsworth
Ibiza, Spain: its reputation for having one of the most electrifying nightlife cultures in the world makes this city seem like a land of fantasy. How can such a place exist? With the resurgence of the nostalgic club scene of the 1980s and 90s, Ibiza’s mysticism has grown amongst younger crowds who dream of experiencing the city’s nightlife firsthand. The itch to dance all night long goes deeper than just a plane ticket, however. It also has significantly affected the fast fashion market, with companies cranking out club-chic clothes that people aren’t afraid to trash during crazy nights out.
When the name Ibiza is mentioned, the word “party” typically comes to mind immediately. Part of the Balearic Islands of Spain, Ibiza is off the coast of Valencia and south of Palma and Menorca. Ibiza’s party culture dates back to hippies, creatives and artists fleeing conformity in the 60s and 70s. People wanted a laid-back lifestyle where they could let their hair down and dance—and Ibiza became that very place to embrace that. Ibiza’s oldest nightclubs, Pacha and Amnesia, laid the foundation for other clubs on the island. Over time, as these clubs welcomed house anthems and guest DJs like David Guetta, Ibiza’s reputation as the party capital of the world grew.
Ibiza’s intense nightlife is not for the faint of heart, yet its fantastic reputation draws in plenty of people from younger generations, especially college students who spend their weekends partying on campus (and probably wishing they were dancing on some island rather than in the middle of nowhere.) Especially with the resurgence of house music and EDM, college students suddenly dream of pursuing side hustles as DJs and attending raves in sunglasses and headscarves. Although most of these young people have never even been to Ibiza, the idea of the environment feeds their craving to go out clubbing. When Ibiza was still on its path toward becoming a party capital, the energy was raw and authentic. Older generations were the first to experience this, and now, their children want to get a taste, too. While many aspects of going out culture have changed over the years, one thing has remained relatively consistent: the fashion.
The hot trends for “going out clothes” ebb and flow with passing fads, but recently, all the hype has remained around the sequins, beadery, and maximalist jewelry of the Ibiza aesthetic. This niche trending style may have emerged from social media’s fascination with Annie’s Ibiza, a boutique frequented by celebrities like Kate Moss, Paris Hilton and Peggy Gou. The boutique’s pieces are personally selected by its namesake founder and owner, Annie Doble, and each article of clothing is clearly crafted with love and care. Annie’s features pieces that ensure its wearers stand out in the crowd, as they sport vibrant colors, daring designs, and tons of embroidery like gems and feathers. The boutique’s popularity in the media has likely contributed to how clubbing attire in Ibiza is perceived by the rest of the world, resulting in fashion companies producing lines inspired by Annie’s. For example, Annie’s Gates of Paradise top, made of golden metal discs, seems to have made this disc material a popular trend in going out clothing. Peppermayo’s Movie Star mini skirt has a similar design, as do many other retail fashion brands that are hoping to give their customers their desired “Ibiza summer” for a cheaper price. Consumers want trendy clothes for their “Ibiza summer,” yet when achieving this specific aesthetic means spending thousands of dollars on clothing (that will most likely be ruined by a spilled drink), the purchases suddenly don't seem worth it. This is why the Ibiza aesthetic has gained so much popularity; fast fashion companies and online stores have somewhat matched the colorful, shimmery pieces that earned Annie’s Ibiza so much praise. Still, with access to stunning clubbing attire for less, the dilemma of uniqueness is evident — everyone is wearing the same exact thing.
Fast fashion markets contribute greatly to younger generations’ obsession with Ibiza. Companies observe what college students are wearing to party and then pump out those products at a low price. This enables consumers to achieve the Ibiza aesthetic wherever, whenever, and without risk of ruining their nice clothing. It is undoubtedly difficult to avoid fast fashion as a college student when it’s so accessible and practical for party attire. However, part of Ibiza’s actual fashion culture attributes to its authenticity and lived-in nature, as seen in Annie’s Ibiza’s careful attention to detail when selecting pieces to sell.
When browsing on fast fashion websites to find clothing that fits a certain aesthetic, the pieces all tend to be very similar or even identical across sites. This results in a lack of outfit originality in the college going out scene specifically. In an article for student newspaper The Daily Orange, staff writer Sophie Cohen says that students at Syracuse University feel constant pressure to wear a different “going out top” every time they attend a party. According to Cohen, Shein, a popular fast fashion site, is valued at $100 billion, and updates their website each day with an average of 6,000 new styles. Instead of purchasing copy-and-paste pieces that are of terrible quality, many lovers of the Ibiza aesthetic have turned to second-hand sellers through platforms such as Poshmark, which allows users to resell their clothing at an affordable price. Shopping second-hand is an amazing way to find going out pieces that no one else will have, and corresponds to the Ibiza aesthetic’s authenticity and individual flair.
Ibiza’s legendary status continues to evolve as younger generations embrace the nostalgia of 80s and 90s clubbing scenes. The bold styles inspired by Annie’s Ibiza and the island’s artistic individuality affects college party culture and fast fashion trends all over the world. Second-hand clothing sales, however, could help further enhance the Ibiza aesthetic, as people would be wearing unique pieces that make them stand out from the crowd.