2020 has been a bit of a year hasn’t it!! If you take a snap shot of this one single year, it really paints a picture of how we as a global society are currently fairing.
Of course, Coronavirus has very much dominated our lives and the subsequent fall out from this. With the lockdowns and contact restrictions we have faced, and seeing how this has impacted us culturally as a nation, as well as economically with the strain on many industries that were previously thriving. Not to mention the additional pressure on our NHS and care sector and loosing many loved one.
However, with all the sacrifice and pain, there has also come a resurgence of love and respect for our NHS workers and key workers, we have learned how to take a pause from the rat race life, restock and re-clarify what is most important to use as human beings.
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As well as this, other activities are also giving being a litmus test for how things are changing. Prince Harry and Megan Markle officially stepped down from their duties in the Royal Family, choosing a more private and authentic way of life for them and their family.
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The racial tensions over police brutality spilled over into global protests that followed the killing of George Floyd. A 46 year old black man in Minnesota while being arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit bill on 25th May 2020. Society speaking out, taking a stand and demonstrating their anger and upset around how systematic racism is still, after so many years, detrimentally affecting the lives of people of colour today
Out of this coming the Anti-Racism Movement, where acknowledging personal privileges, confronting acts of racial discrimination and working to change personal racial biases has become priority to start to move forward.
Sir David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, was also released this year, which is a film that looks back over the 93 year olds career, and issues a stark climate emergency warning. It outlines the devastation that we as humans have caused over his lifetime and what we can expect to happen to our world if we don’t act now.
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Backing up all that was discussed in the film was the reality check that took place across Australia with their devastating bush fires caused by record temperatures and months of severe drought, that swept through New South Wales and Victoria and other areas, killing 1 billion animals
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?So much has happened in this one year alone, I feel that it is impossible to have not been profoundly affected by these incidents. For many, this year has mustered up a new found energy and passion to make a change for the better today and to create a life where they are living authentically, sustainably and speaking out about inequalities that still exist.
But this isn’t the first time in history a segment of society has felt like this. The term Bohemian, is very much interlinked with being unconventional, making a stand and living an authentic life, and so I very much feel something exciting is happening right now with the creation of The 2020s Bohemian.
A Whistle Stop Tour of Bohemian Culture History
The Origins
‘The Bohemians’ counterculture (a way of life different to the norm) is thought to have originated in France in the 18th Century (1700-1800s) at the end of the French Revolution.
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Creatives and artists were forced into poverty due to social and economic difficulties, of which impacted the clothes they wore and how they were perceived by French society at the time.
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French creatives were compared to nomadic gypsies that frequented France in that era, due to their similar dress attire. The travelling community that they were associated with had their origins in Eastern Europe (The Czech Republic and Slovakia) in a then region called ‘Bohemia’.
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Multicultural Influences & The Intrinsic Link to Nature
This eclectic style of dress and way of life was later adopted and developed by intellectuals from the Romanticism movement in the 19th Century. |
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Romantics created a close connection with nature, as they believed humans were born pure, but society corrupted them. Nature therefore became a symbol of something pure and almost spiritual within their lives.
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Flowing gowns were worn and garments that took inspiration from many cultures from across the world, like headdresses from the Middle East to kimonos from Eastern Asia.
This forward thinking culture becomes known as ‘Bohemian’ as at the time, this approach to life was against the majority. Along with the distinctive style of dress, the term also represented a whole subculture of unconventional artistic types, living their life against the ‘norm’, and being authentic to their ingenuity, spirituality, and creativity.
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The 1960’s Resurgence
The Bohemian Counterculture had a major resurgence in the 1960s and 70s with the hippie movement across the America and the western world. This time the ethos of free thinking and challenging social norms, from rejecting established institutions, to criticising middle class values and championing sexual liberation.
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This was also demonstrated fiercely through anti-war protests about the Vietnam War, where the famous slogan ‘Make Love, Not War’ made its debut. Their approach to life was linked closely to spirituality, and taking things back to nature. From the food they ate, to living together in communes, to natural childbirth approaches and a love for nature and each other as human beings.
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Their impact on society around speaking up for what you feel is right, also brought about the start of the ‘Equal Rights for Women’ Movement throughout the 1960’s. This impacted many things like, enforcement of laws banning discrimination; maternity leave rights, childcare nurseries that could enable mothers to work; tax deductions for childcare expenses; equal and unsegregated education and equal job training opportunities for women from deprived communities. The other elements that stirred massive controversy where greater access to contraception and abortion.
The Bohemian Inspired Wedding
Looking back at the origins of the Bohemian Movement and the positive impact it later had on society by speaking out. It totally makes sense as to why we are now seeing this ethos and distinctive wedding style take centre stage across our wedding industry. It is not only the appeal of the beautiful bohemian style of dress, venue styling, floral design and type of outdoorsy wedding that couples are attracted to. I think it is more than that.
I think my generation are finally waking up to the harm and destruction that is taking place in our world, especially from the point of view of the racial inequalities that are still very much present in 2020. We are waking up to the damage and devastation we have caused and are still causing our environment, of which if we do not act there will be irreparable damage that cannot be undone. We are waking up to the importance of authenticity, and being allowed to live our lives without judgement or prejudice from others, to be able to find true our own happiness and fulfilment.
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The 2020s Bohemian
I think there is a new wave of Bohemian for the 2020s that will be making choices that align with repairing the damage that previous generations have made to our world and society. This reignited Bohemian culture will undoubtedly be reflected in all aspects of their lives, including when they choose to ‘get wed’ to the one they love. |
Their wedding will be conducted in their own unique way and not following convention. They will be guided by what is truly authentic to them, standing up for what they believe in and what they really want. The 2020s Bohemian, will make decisions that does not impact their environment or ecosystem, and they will create a day that aligns with their spirituality as a couple.
This is why I feel the boho inspired wedding are very much here to stay and will only grow and dominate the wedding industry as millennials became of age, and want to get married to the person they love over the next 10 years.
This is why I feel the boho inspired wedding are very much here to stay and will only grow and dominate the wedding industry as millennials became of age, and want to get married to the person they love over the next 10 years.
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it!
