Kant would approve of the attitude in Camden Market. In Professor Salazar's "Fashion Industry and Sweatshops" presentation, she mentions "Kant valued rationality and freedom. He thought people should conform to a moral law that necessitated respect for all rational beings and ability for each person to make choices for themselves. Every person has value and no one should be lied to, manipulated, used, or dehumanized." This is seen every day in the market, as there are choices for everyone and no one discriminates between fashions. Not only are there diverse selections of stores, there are a diverse set of people and fashions. While walking through the market, you can see punks laughing with hipsters or preppy kids eating with grungy kids. Their actions and colliding fashions show how accepting the people around the market are. Individually, these fashions have reputations of solidarity and intolerance. However, the people around Camden Locks are very tolerant of those not dressed alike. This is an example of Kantianism, whether the people of the markets know they are participating or not.
Kant would not, however, agree with the fashions seen in the markets. When it comes to fashion, he believed that everyone should dress with taste. Kant believed that people could choose what to wear freely, but they could also dress in a tasteless manor. I personally believe that Kant's view of fashion is correct to an extent. While people should be modest and respectful of those around them, they should also be allowed to express themselves. A good example is the punk fashion. They dress extreme as a sign of rebellion, however they can dress respectful to those around them. The punks have a choice if they want to cover their body in piercings or if they want to be able to hide their punk side. These choices allow for self expression. It is also possible to express oneself without looking or acting indecent. The ability to dress professional coincides with Kant's view that people should not dress extravagantly, however I believe that people can still be tasteful while dressing over the top.
In contrast, Marx would not agree with the idea of the market, as he "was the major critic of capitalism in the nineteenth century, and he proposed, in its place, a society organized around need rather than profit" (Leslie). The market had more than what was needed. The food could be needed for nourishment, however the countless accessories are more of an option. For this reason, Marx would not agree with this part of the Camden Locks. According to Marx, anything that is not absolutely needed is not necessary. Marx was also a critic of fashion, as fashion is a result of capitalism. I personally believe, after conducting research, that Marx would have seen anything that did not benefit society as a whole as wrong. The camden markets benefit both the consumer and shopkeeper benefit, however it is not an equal benefit. The shopkeeper benefits more from the profit.
There are many positive and negative associations with fashion that apply to the Camden Locks. A positive association with fashion is the freedom of choice. Camden Market's expanse of shops allow for anyone within the market or shopping in the market to be free to choose any fashion they want to. With all of the punks and hipsters visible in the market, it is a very well-utilized freedom. This freedom of choice is a direct result of the diversity of the market. Oppositely, there is a stigma in the market that resulted from the extreme fashions that the people who go to the market should be dressed extreme. I know that I felt comfortable in the market, as I have always been around friends who dress in the same fashion as most of the market, but Matt felt uncomfortable because he was dressed "too tame." This is a result of the extremes around the market.
All in all, Camden market is flowing with all different kinds of fashion. These extreme fashions allow people of all kinds to integrate and enjoy each other's company. Though some may be uncomfortable when exposed to extreme fashions they have never experienced, most people feel welcome in the market.
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