The Online @dition: dragon fashion

a dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that features in the myths of many cultures. there are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the european dragon, derived from european folk traditions and ultimately related to greek and middle eastern mythologies and the chinese dragon, with counterparts in japan, korea and other east asian countries.

Fantasy dragon from fanpop

although dragons occur in many legends around the world, different cultures have varying stories about monsters that have been grouped together under the dragon label. Some dragons are said to breathe fire or to be poisonous. they are commonly portrayed as serpentine or reptilian, hatching from eggs and possessing typically scaly or feathered bodies. they are sometimes portrayed as hoarding treasure. european dragons are more often winged, while chinese dragons resemble large snakes. dragons can have a variable number of legs: none, two, four, or more when it comes to early european literature.

dragons are often held to have major spiritual significance in various religions and cultures around the world. in many asian cultures dragons were, and in some cultures still are, revered as representative of the primal forces of nature, religion and the universe. they are associated with wisdom - often said to be wiser than human - and longevity. they are commonly said to possess some form of magic or other supernatural power, and are often associated with wells, rain, and rivers. in some cultures, they are also said to be capable of human speech. in some traditions dragons are said to have taught humans to talk.

the biggest question is: why a sudden departure from the animal talk to a mythical creature? i guess the answer is in the dichotomy of the dragon. in one culture, it is respected whilst in another, it is feared. this is probably a parallel of my take of the usage of animals in fashion. i am in-between. would i like to pick a side? i do but each time i choose a side, i think of the valid arguments of the other side so i guess i have to stay put in the middle for a little longer.

since it's going to be a while before i finally decide, here's how the dragon has been infused into the fashion world.