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

[iluvjeisa]

*consumers are running out of motive to spend-spend-spend under this tight and uncertain economic atmosphere

That's true, but isn't that a time for fashion to be appealing to the emotional side of people? I would think that during plush times all you really have to do is encourage people to strive for prestige, and items (clothing) that goes with it. But during harder times you instead have to appeal to people's emotions. Artists are generally better at that than businessmen.

 

[F0F0]

That's true, but isn't that a time for fashion to be appealing to the emotional side of people? I would think that during plush times all you really have to do is encourage people to strive for prestige, and items (clothing) that goes with it. But during harder times you instead have to appeal to people's emotions. Artists are generally better at that than businessmen.

I LOL'd at your last sentence as it's certainly true. But businessmen can also have s!!

During recession UK fashion consumers show two major extreme attitudes towards consuming clothes. On one side you have those looking for the best prices (pocket-friendly disposable fashion) and on the other side you have those looking for good manufacture quality, design, heritage, and style (secure investment). For the later case this is a good opportunity for fashion creatives to appeal people's emotions with design and style and/or compelling marketing communications.

 

[Lena]

That's true, but isn't that a time for fashion to be appealing to the emotional side of people? I would think that during plush times all you really have to do is encourage people to strive for prestige, and items (clothing) that goes with it. But during harder times you instead have to appeal to people's emotions. Artists are generally better at that than businessmen.

lets not confuse fashion with art
fashion is business
even if one gets emotional, without money there is not much you can do

as you very well put it we used to strive for prestige
now we strive for substance and i'm afraid fashion cannot provide us with
much substance at the moment

 

[educo]

So then, WHAT is the consumer looking for from the industry? What are all of you looking for designers to provide?

Keeping that question in mind, what are you expecting designers just coming into the fashion industry, even those small ones who are on the fringes of the industry to give to the consumer in this digital age?

I often wonder what place does art and expression have in fashion (yes, it is still possible in fashion) where the pace of consumption and digestion is faster than the output.

I feel there will be a rumble of designers pushing back against the very thing that made fashion such as force today. The digital access that, more often than not, glosses just the surface of the process. This push back might force people to slow down and actually think about what they are consuming, digesting and criticizing afterwards.

It seems like these days, the praise comes in hindsight simply because people are not given the chance or the expectation to think about what they are purchasing, consuming, or doing whatever they do when the newest offering is on the table.

It starts to mirror the food industry where there are so many disgusting options so readily available and people just eat it because it's there and it's cheap.

 

[iluvjeisa]

lets not confuse fashion with art
fashion is business
even if one gets emotional, without money there is not much you can do

as you very well put it we used to strive for prestige
now we strive for substance and i'm afraid fashion cannot provide us with
much substance at the moment

The best art is so good that it creates a new business. And once the business side grows, things deteriorate and the reason that the art form became popular is gone.

What I meant was to appeal to people/consumer's emotions rather than to their instincts (sex, power). So it would certainly be a business founded reason to use such methods.

When the world is relatively calm and the economy is doing well, most people have jobs etc, it becomes important to show just how well to do you are, which you can do by wearing expensive fashion. The easiest way to get the message across to even the most aesthetically stunted people is through logos and brand names. So the artistically sub par fashions are then more abundant.

During harder times, on the other hand, it might be necessary to present truly beautiful fashion in order to convince the consumer to make a purchase, something that says something else than "Hey, look at me, I'm so spoiled and loaded".

 

[smartarse]

Alot of designers are contemplating and/or delving into lower-end labels as well as diversifying their business (ex: home furnishing, perfume, home decor and the like) just so they can keep afloat with trying times.FYI: China is a hot bed and designers are clamoring for its share. Interns don't be surprised when, "Chinese speaking is a plus" is part of help wanted (full-time or internship) ad.

 

[papillote]

About the designers' waltz,
Vanessa Seward left Azzaro
Cédric Charlier left Cacharel
And I think there were more
...

Why did no one talked about it here ?

 

[F0F0]

What is going on in the fashion industry right now?

We have come to a point where folks are starting to eat their fashions.

De Culinaire Werkplaats is a concept store that was started by marjolein wintjes & eric meursing. it's a blend of a design studio, a workshop, a restaurant, a shop, a cooking studio, a bakery and a gallery. they create contemporary dishes, bites, delicatessens and sometimes a new way of eating.

As part of insidedesign during dutch design double they presented their 'fresh colours' exhibition which included eat' in advice, fresh colours ready to eat collection and textiles for the dinner table. also on display was their 'taste the unwearables' fashion collection and accessories made with vegetables fibers and other various foods. the exhibition was held at the lloyd hotel in room 27 (a former kitchen of the lloyd).

Yummy clothes images here at the source: Design Boom: De Culinaire Werkplaats Edible Clothing.

 

[rosiecheeks]

lets not confuse fashion with art
fashion is business
even if one gets emotional, without money there is not much you can do

as you very well put it we used to strive for prestige
now we strive for substance and i'm afraid fashion cannot provide us with
much substance at the moment

I have to disagree here. I don't think fashion is just business. There are those who are not focusing on getting as much buyers as they can get. Hussayn Chalayan for example, and I think Lacroix was a good example too, even though he did sell and had to and it was his only 'thing' (whereas Chalayan is more than a clothing designer). But his love was so obvious in clothing people, not in selling people his clothes.
For the most part, fashion has become a business, but it's not in all niches, and not in every costumers mind.

 

[ultramarine]

^ Im sorry, honey. But fashion IS bussiness.

And let me break it down with Hussein and Christian:

*Chalayan has been appointed Creative Director for both the House of Asprey and Puma, how can he afford to do all those conceptual collections if he didnt have money? (hence his "side jobs")

*The house of Lacroix didnt got into black in God-know-how-many seasons. I remember when they went public about this I was astounded about how long was the label to go on with continuos losses (and see their strategy now: licensing! licensing! and about to produce womenswear).

As you can see, they *must* sell clothes in order to be able to be a bit more free and put on the more "artsy" concept on the runways .. how do you think McQueen (the label) could afford their extravaganzas every fashion week? They spend a pretty penny on the presentation and then didnt do campaigns (Especially nowadays with large conglomerates taking over small labels and new fashion houses, the need is to sell, sell and sell)

 

[rosiecheeks]

^ Im sorry, honey. But fashion IS bussiness.

And let me break it down with Hussein and Christian:

*Chalayan has been appointed Creative Director for both the House of Asprey and Puma, how can he afford to do all those conceptual collections if he didnt have money? (hence his "side jobs")

*The house of Lacroix didnt got into black in God-know-how-many seasons. I remember when they went public about this I was astounded about how long was the label to go on with continuos losses (and see their strategy now: licensing! licensing! and about to produce womenswear).

As you can see, they *must* sell clothes in order to be able to be a bit more free and put on the more "artsy" concept on the runways .. how do you think McQueen (the label) could afford their extravaganzas every fashion week? They spend a pretty penny on the presentation and then didnt do campaigns (Especially nowadays with large conglomerates taking over small labels and new fashion houses, the need is to sell, sell and sell)

Read much? I'm not saying it isn't. But it's not just that.

 

[ultramarine]

As long as we are on the same page ...

Can you please elaborate on that, please?

 

[rosiecheeks]

As long as we are on the same page ...

Can you please elaborate on that, please?

Yes I know Chalayan is making money, and yes I know Lacroix's downfall was later than we expected. But they obviously need money to make their art. It's not about the fast rush of making lots of money over the backs of the easy fashion customer the way Gucci or Burberry do, or the highstreet for that matter. They love clothes or clothing people, and that's what they exude. That is fashion too. And actually, in my opinion, that's the base of fashion, love of well tailored clothes.

 

[ultramarine]

^ You are going couture. I love it.

 

[quink]

However could you call well tailored clothes art?

 

[rosiecheeks]

However could you call well tailored clothes art?

Anyone saying it isn't doesn't understand fashion. Period.

 

[quink]

Anyone saying it isn't doesn't understand fashion. Period.

Isn't it called craftmanship?
If a furniture maker makes the perfect table, is it called art?
Even if it is just a normal wooden table wit 4 legs?

I'm not trying to say fashion isn't art because sometimes it is.
However not always.

 

[rosiecheeks]

Isn't it called craftmanship?
If a furniture maker makes the perfect table, is it called art?
Even if it is just a normal wooden table wit 4 legs?

I'm not trying to say fashion isn't art because sometimes it is.
However not always.

Yes, you're absolutely right. I wasn't making that distinction. But then again, it's rather hard to find words to cover how I feel about fashion, or anyone for that matter.
Craftsmanship is a better word, but art has a more romantic feeling too it. I'm a romantic, sorry!

 

[TianCouture]

So who else is damn tired of Nicola Formichetti and all those stupid, stupid panda bear gif.s

 

[RuxBerry]

Fashion Industry is distorting more and more. I was shocked that even nowadays the nationality, politics views matter in the world of fashion, where aesthetics should be the ones that matter. Recently, a fashion designer from Uzbekistan was rejected from NY Fashion Week on the basis that she's from Uxbekistan!!! That's dishonest and heartless. just read the articles below:

"A scandal exploded around the upcoming fashion event of the season. The daughter of Uzbekistan’s president, a young designer who successfully presented her collection on NY FW 2010, was withdrawn from the 2011 list of the participants for the only reason: her nationality.

This decision was made last-minute and came as a shock for Gulnara Karimova and her team, who came to New York, ready to present her latest collection for the label “Guli”. Moreover, this was followed by a massive campaign in the US press against Gulnara, all focusing on the fact that she is from Uzbekistan. The quality of her work and the originality of her designs were never taken in consideration. So, should a talented designer, the first Central Asian to participate in NY Fashion Week, be held back solely because of political and nationalistic reasons? And how many talents are left behind because of reasons we are not aware of?

When the news spread, internet exploded with tweets and statuses supporting the Fashion part in the Politics VS Fashion war. The Human Rights Watch Organization, which had its reasons for attacking Gulnara (as Uzbekistan didn’t give this organization an accreditation earlier this year), pointed out many unproven facts to force the management of the NY Fashion Week to cancel Gulnara’s show. And of course the NY FW organizations, supported HRW, because they saw it as an opportunity to use it as a good tool of PR campaign based on «Ethically correct culture», so it makes designer from Uzbekistan a victim of this PR.

Politics mixed up with repressing national minorities turned into killing the dream of many young aspiring Central Asian designers we may never hear about. Gulnara, apart from creating designs for her own fashion label, cares a lot about growing young talent in Uzbekistan and is currently the head of a national organization supporting creative youth.

Now, after this scandal and a huge amount of negative press coverage, she is still fighting back not only for her fashion, but for her country as well. Is it fair, mixing up fashion with politics? You decide. For thousands the response is obvious."

~Anonymous
wornandtornmag.com
*do not post links as credits, please*