What is going on in the fashion industry right now!?

[TianCouture]

I just went to style.com and was greeted with the following: No Show For Galliano, D&G’s Uncertain Future, Decarnin’s Disappearance, And More…

There is so much turbulence right now, that I thought this could be a safe and nurturing place for all tFS users to come and voice opinions, concerns, and whatever else is on their mind. Hopefully the Mod's won't mind...I dislike Balmain for so many reasons, but yet another designer, Decarnin, is being treated for depression. People, esp. the "fashion people" need to start taking into account the basic humanly needs and emotions of the people we so harshly criticize. And D&G will possibly be merging with Dolce and Gabbana's main line!? What could that mean...possibly financial troubles, which I'm pretty sure they're having And then of course Galliano... So give us your two sense and we will see it we can make sense of it all...

p.s. here is the link to style.com, with more info @ WWD
http://www.style.com/stylefile/2011/03/no-show-for-galliano-dgs-uncertain-future-decarnins-disappearance-and-more/

 

[Modelo]

I know right!! so many things are going on within the industry now it's a little unsettling...I'm still waiting to hear what Ms. Wintour has to say about it all...

 

[Master Wood]

^^ Yes I quite agree, I imagine she is at the eye of the storm. Would give my life savings to know what she is thinking right now.

 

[mikeijames]

well, this is one of those things about fashion and the world at large. even if one resists the changes of the times, change forces itself on the status quo. we're witnessing it in the middle east. we're witnessing it in fashion. we're witnessing it with the american economy. change comes whether one likes it or not. it's better for these houses to embrace change and push forward to something new instead of just resting on their laurels. some other houses need to heed this lesson.

 

[TianCouture]

well, this is one of those things about fashion and the world at large. even if one resists the changes of the times, change forces itself on the status quo. we're witnessing it in the middle east. we're witnessing it in fashion. we're witnessing it with the american economy. change comes whether one likes it or not. it's better for these houses to embrace change and push forward to something new instead of just resting on their laurels. some other houses need to heed this lesson.

I'm all for change, I fully embrace it, actually. But the reason for this post is to discuss the change, foreseen and unforeseen, that seems to be very current (more so now than ever at recent memory) in the fashion industry. However, I'm interested to know what houses you think need to pay more attention to this "lesson" of change...

 

[TianCouture]

p.s. I feel like Anna was the one who called John's statements "poisonous."

 

[MulletProof]

It's funny cause we were talking about this need for change only a few months ago (before the VP thing).. I can only say that I agree with mikeijames, it seems the fashion industry has resisted for so long to adapt itself to this new age and the way things operate that it's suddenly being struck by it [change].. the fact that all the influence still resides in one person, that things like racism and even sexual harassment are open and pretty much accepted by many of the crucial players. I think speculation on who could be next is beside the point, the good thing is that this is an opportunity for the fashion industry to move forward, to catch up with this new decade and hopefully listen to its new observers and participants.. it's no longer the tiny community it was only 20 years ago where things could easily be swept under the carpet.. it's gone global, everyone's participating on it now more than ever, in unexpected ways, and they're going to have to deal with that if they want to survive it. I hope positive changes come out of it anyways, I wouldn't want it to get any duller!

 

[Deleted member 1957]

I believe we in the industry love to be in denial alot of the time, unfortunately it does eventually explode.

 

[agee]

I believe we in the industry love to be in denial alot of the time, unfortunately it does eventually explode.

I agree with this, although I would call it implosive rather than explosive. I see two polar opposite points of views often expressed about the fashion industry. One is the commodity / dehumanizing attitude, namely that the people not in power, usually models, interns, low ranking employees should be grateful for any and all ill-treatment because for every person who snags a top job / internship / booking in the industry, even if they are being treated crappily, there are 1,000 other people who desperately to be where they are, so suck it up. The flip side is the attitude regarding the elite among the editors, designers, photographers, models, et. al., where their unacceptable behavior should be tolerated and understood because they are special snowflakes and normal rules don't apply to them.

 

[Fahmerv]

one of the most important sentence that we should learn is "World has been change" so fashion industry should learn the sentence clearly. Is that the good thing to get the new era in fashion

 

[Fahmerv]

btw I just saw the new from DG in some site. is Dolce and Gabbana will be change?

 

[Squizree]

Change is good. ESPECIALLY for the fashion industry. Fashion IS change.

 

[Salvatore]

I think always with change, there is a little bit that hurts - sometimes it hurts a little and other times it hurts a lot. But there needs to be something that makes people realise a change is needed. There were hints with Isabella Blow, then Alexander McQueen, and now John Galliano and Christophe Decarnin. It's unfortunate that it has been such extreme things to happen to open eyes, but if that what it takes, then that's what needs to happen.

The fashion industry is one of the most tough industries possible because there's not really any kind of checking. There is a since of anarchy in it and like agee said, it's starting to implode the ugly truths are being exposed - not to the outsiders because I am sure they saw it, but to the people in the industry.

There are too many fashion shows, too many collections, too much discriminations, too much egos, too much pressures - it's excessive. Now that the problem has been spotlighted, the industry as a whole needs to make a solution. Will that happen ? Who knows.

But I am excited for this change as I feel it will bring about good - or maybe I am just an optimist.

 

[F0F0]

Hange is always Chappening

The fashion industry is so dynamic and involves so many players around the world that even if we took a photo of it -with those cameras that freeze fired bullets- we will only get blurred objects everywhere.


Perhaps if we compare the NOW and THEN (2 decades ago?) we can get a better understanding on what's going on or learn what's is going.


I know there are some major trends shaping the industry nowadays like:

- Globalization (kids wearing the same clothes almost anywhere in the world)
- Ethical and green fashion (from hemp ponchos to Slow Fashion movements to DIY)
- Growing competition... (both local and global)
- ...and it's secondary effects: conglomerates, M&As, death of independent retailers
- Technological advances in telecommunication, mobile and internet (everything from virtual fitting rooms to Augmented Reality apps to multichannel retail)
- Social mobility... (emerging middle class in emerging markets, growing numbers of ABC1s)
- ...and unrest (Not only factory workers at Bangladesh are going berzerk, but you also have fashion-political movements (i.e. the NGO Labour Behind the Label)
- Value retailers (cheap, fast fashion)
- Informality looks (people mixing and layering different clothes)
- Selfishness individuals
- etc.


But how was the fashion industry like 10, 20 years ago?

 

[iluvjeisa]

It's funny cause we were talking about this need for change only a few months ago (before the VP thing).. I can only say that I agree with mikeijames, it seems the fashion industry has resisted for so long to adapt itself to this new age and the way things operate that it's suddenly being struck by it [change].. the fact that all the influence still resides in one person, that things like racism and even sexual harassment are open and pretty much accepted by many of the crucial players. I think speculation on who could be next is beside the point, the good thing is that this is an opportunity for the fashion industry to move forward, to catch up with this new decade and hopefully listen to its new observers and participants.. it's no longer the tiny community it was only 20 years ago where things could easily be swept under the carpet.. it's gone global, everyone's participating on it now more than ever, in unexpected ways, and they're going to have to deal with that if they want to survive it. I hope positive changes come out of it anyways, I wouldn't want it to get any duller!

It will almost certainly get duller....it's well known that creativity and instability go hand in hand....obviously if you apply the condition that the designer/photographer/whathaveyou must not offend and always be perfect for public appearances - well, then you have to either have them locked up and surrounded by 10 security guards or you can't have a creative genius in your employ.

So, pretty much, less fun creativity, more painfully boring people who never offend, never inspire....

 

[MulletProof]

But fashion seems to have gotten so excessive and vain over the last 10 years, many of those who had something truly meaningful or provoking to say were the first ones to feel the guillotine.. and they definitely didn't go out the way Galliano just did, they exited the same way they entered (I'm talking about the likes of Miguel Adrover, Jurgi.. magazines like Dutch), quietly and without much press.. or at least that's how I remember it. I think I'm hopeful for the fact that these talents also tend to emerge during difficult times, not just during economical crisis (like Ann Demeulemeester at the time she set up her label) but also when everyone's swinging on a very materialistic and uninspiring direction, which is what we've been seeing for the last years.. I know time can't be repeated and things have gotten harder for more independent talents but I'm hoping this disappointment in the 'big stars' of the industry means more room or attention to those that got pushed away by the strangling economy and gigantic egos. I don't know. As much as I HATE media and youtube-culture torching, I do think Galliano's departure is somehow a breath of fresh air and marks a new beginning, he represented old times, he didn't even know how to handle modern himself (and he had REALLY been trying since 2005, when he tried to ditch all the gimmicks).

 

[m.j.]

since the question is about fashion i will mention few things that bother me and i hope mods will realize that my post shouldn't be deleted...again....

1. models
there are just too many models, too many topmodels and too many models who are famous for scandals or love lives or whatever.... but then you look at young hollywood and you have millions celebs that you have no idea why are they even in hollywood.... so its not about fashion, its about the whole entertainment industry. its got too crowded

2. designers and fashion houses and brands.....and advertising
i mentioned certain hollywood young star wearing givenchy... it was not about trashing her, it was about who should wear what. certain houses are iconic but their exclusivity is not what it used to be since anyone can not just afford them but actually advertise them. as much as i like some of these girls or boys, they don't have reputation in their professions therefore they make these iconic fashion houses or brands look less.
also, back to the models.... watching fashion shows can be painful since there are many many girls who look dead, or cannot walk like a model should or simply make clothes look less.

3. money and art
yup its all about the money, but if there are no designs what would they sell? so while making profit is a goal there should be artistic freedom and more respect for people who are making what the people are buying.

4. 2012
the scary thing is that i read few posts in the thread regarding year 2012 and most of tfs members were pretty much saying that something should happen since the world is out of control.... fashion world is more powerful than ever in history but things never made less sense. everyone's famous, everyone's a star, everyone's young and everyone's vip. girls in their 20s are called style icons (look at mischa barton. where is she now?), people who affect on trends making are just recycling through last season and the one before that, everything is just plain instant. who actually knew about IM or balmain until few yrs ago? to think it all started with instant coffee.

5. i have no idea what is going on with fashion world. i don't know what is up with the whole world. i am pretty sure that i could write about the things that are wrong for hours, maybe days, but the point stays the same. we are on the road to nowhere and we need to make a turn as soon as possible. i am for change. i am for being more harsh and strict. i want to see supermodels, high fashion that i can't wear but i can admire to it, i want glamour and i want streetstyle to stay on the streets. pret-a-porte movie was made about 15yrs ago, and it makes sense now. anyone who likes fashion should watch it like once per week. as a reminder.

this has to be one of the longest posts on tfs and i hate posting long posts.....don't get me started on magazines and editors....

 

[Squizree]

Perhaps we're on the verge of a fashion revolution. Kinda like a REALLY big clean-up.

 

[before]

1. models
there are just too many models, too many topmodels and too many models who are famous for scandals or love lives or whatever....

What are you referring to? If anything I've seen the opposite. I don't know of any model who has had any scandal or "fame" since the post-90s. Most models live in anonymity, to the general public, and work hard for less kick-backs.

 

[Squizree]

^ That's true, but there are just too many models in general.