LONDON, United Kingdom — Despite all the activity at the men's shows in London and Florence, this week in fashion undoubtedly belonged to David Bowie, that cultural totem who has influenced generations of musicians, artists, fashion designers and ordinary people to express themselves and stretch their creativity.

One of the best tributes of the week came from our very own Tim Blanks, who wrote: "I can scarcely put into words the impact Bowie had on me over the past near-five decades. He once described himself as a 'medium,' a bridge between his audience and the arcana that absorbed him. I dutifully read, watched and listened to everyone and everything he endorsed, and, in the process, discovered writers, musicians and artists I might otherwise never have known about. Bowie had that effect on more people than you can ever imagine, which means that his influence is ultimately incalculable, although if you look at the effect he had on fashion designers, for instance, you can hazard a guess at its extent. As an artist whose currency was constant, convincing change, he couldn't fail to inspire others to take creative risks."

My favourite discovery in the David Bowie reflections this week came from this video interview with the BBC's Jeremy Paxman from 1999, in which Bowie incredibly — and accurately — predicts the impact of the Internet before most people were even imagining it as something that would transform the world we live in.

"I wanted to be a musician because it seemed rebellious, it seemed subversive, one could effect change to a form," Bowie said. "Now it's a career opportunity. The Internet now carries the flag of being subversive and possibly rebellious. Forget about the Microsoft element. The monopolies do not have a monopoly."

"By virtue of the fact that I am a pop singer and writer, I embrace the idea that there is a new demystification process between the artist and the audience. If you look at this last decade, there hasn't really been one single entity, artist or group that have personified or became the brand name for the ‘90s. Now it's sub-groups and genres — it's hip-hop; it’s girl power; it’s a communal kind of thing. It's about the community. It’s becoming more and more about the audience."

Later, he says, "I don't think we've even seen the tip of the iceberg. I think the potential of what the Internet is going to do to society — both good and bad — is unimaginable. I think we're actually on the cusp of something exhilarating and terrifying," He continues: "The actual context and the state of content is going to be so different to anything we can really envisage at the moment, where the interplay between the user and the provider will be so in sympatico, it’s going to crash our ideas about what mediums are all about."

Not only was David Bowie a creative genius, he was a technology visionary.

Imran Amed, Founder and Editor-in-Chief

Enjoy our top stories for the week gone by:

Worshipping at the Church of LC:M
The precision and outré strands that dominate London's fashion story were on display at Day One of LC:M — including a standout collection from Grace Wales Bonner.

Tim Blanks Remembers David Bowie
David Bowie died peacefully on Monday after an 18 month battle with cancer. Tim Blanks looks back on Bowie's life and the indelible mark this true artist of the unexpected made on both the writer and fashion.

Op-Ed | How Retailers Squeeze Young Designers
By demanding unfavourable "payment terms" from fashion labels, retailers push risk further down the supply chain, with serious implications for the health of emerging fashion brands.

Trey Laird, Master of the American Brand
The creative director and founder of Laird + Partners talks to BoF about crafting brand communications for a slew of major fashion clients, from Tom Ford to Gap.

London's Westminster University to Launch 2-Year Menswear MA
In September, London's Westminster University will launch a two-year menswear MA, the only one of its kind in the world, led by tutor Ike Rust.

New Nail Services Offer Polish Without the Price
In an industry once ruled by polar opposites — the cheap and the extravagant — a growing number of entrepreneurs are making upscale manicures more accessible.

Is the Global Cosmetics Market Moving Towards a Cruelty-Free Future?
As animal testing becomes a wider consumer concern and more governments implement bans, cosmetics companies are adapting.