Where can fashion really go from where it is now?

[BerkeleyStudent]

As much as I love my Balenciaga, Vetements, Gucci, Yohji, Rick, and more I do find myself thinking about the potential future quite often. I am rather inexperienced in terms of the "eras" fashion has seen and evolved from (I am still a teenager) and want to know from you all where you would predict fashion to move forward.

 

[jeanclaude]

Judging by the current state of the industry, I´ll say it is going down the drain.

media1.tenor.com

 

[brandon J pierre]

As much as I love my Balenciaga, Vetements, Gucci, Yohji, Rick, and more I do find myself thinking about the potential future quite often. I am rather inexperienced in terms of the "eras" fashion has seen and evolved from (I am still a teenager) and want to know from you all where you would predict fashion to move forward.

Aww a teen 💖 I started In 1995 I was 12 fashion has changed so much since then, the worst part that has changed is the lack of creativity and the full-on commercialization of fashion and entertainmentlization fashion. The only way forward is more creativity fashion will be split more as we move along or it could just go in the same direction which seems to be going the same designers at the same big houses. If you're really into fashion you need to look back a little to see what u missed, imagine watching fashion files on Saturday morning and seeing Gucci McQueen and Calvin Klein all in one tv show they're all so different and it made fashion more interesting. I think it's docs of the fashion brands start to go down we will see lvmh and the big conglomerates start to shed off the houses if they're not making money the houses will have to either close or go back to where they started on their own and then things will become a little bit more interesting. There's too much competition and there's too much saturation of designers some good and some not so good and some absolutely awful. I wish you the best whatever you choose to be make sure you start ASAP do not wait go forward even if it means being homeless. Follow your dreams and make money.

 

[IsabelMarantBoy]

The years I was tuned into fashion in my teens was Fall 2005 (I remember cutting up the September Vogue issue that year in an art class) through Fall 2008, and if you're looking for some amazing creativity I highly recommend checking out those years of fashion!! Everything from the magazines, the designers, the models, it was all reaching it's peak 🩷 I think that after the financial crisis hit around Spring 2009, designers were losing jobs (Olivier Theyskens 💔) or buckling down and were afraid to churn out "creative" collections in fear of losing customers.

When I look at fashion these days, it feels like you're looking at an AI generated image: sure it's something you came looking for, and it's still the same designers/houses, but there's no soul behind it, we've lost the human hand that guided fashion into the realm of creativity beyond just being "a bunch of clothes".

 

[Olaffo]

Straight to hell in whole honesty...

 

[MulletProof]

The years I was tuned into fashion in my teens was Fall 2005 (I remember cutting up the September Vogue issue that year in an art class) through Fall 2008, and if you're looking for some amazing creativity I highly recommend checking out those years of fashion!!

I notice that when some people here mention their favorite time in fashion or the best time in fashion in general, it's always the first 1-2 years when they discovered the world of fashion and were a bit intoxicated by what seemed like endless creativity, which in reality it was them on a personal journey of education and exploration of a brand new field and it's never really going to be as exciting as when it first unfolds, all fresh, in front of you.

That being said, I was also lucky to come of age around those years and.. we were really spoiled and had no idea!. The amount of categories and subcategories in fashion design, the fashion design scenes that were full of talent and so uninterested in imitating NY/Milan/Paris, like those in Vienna, in Tokyo, the projects that actively rebelled against commercial fashion and its gross marketing and went out of their way to remain as distant as possible (Altieri's Carpe Diem, etc). And of course, the amount of independent design and the more ethical boundaries within luxury brands to not try to quickly absorb anyone that demonstrates minimal potential into a conglomerate. Press was less sponsored too, it still had a respectable place so, while there was no social media, harsher criticism in large-scale publications compensated for that and kept things competitive.

When I look at teenagers now, I feel a bit bad that it's all been so eroded for them, and that, just like in most industries and economies, the aggressive grip of the boomer generation has really impacted several generations at a time and the way they understand the possibilities of clothing and creativity is inevitably constrained by this indoctrination that 'this is it for you, take it or leave it'. In the 80s, 90s, early 00s, fashion design being highly competitive in terms of creativity felt like a requirement to stand out among other people that were under the same pressure to be respected and believable as a potential 'fashion genius'. That competition seems to have been replaced with the race for who can master better the double role of businessman and creative director. That's what 'being at the top of your game' means now and it's always, always under the direction of the suits, who care about profit and nothing else.

We're at rock bottom now but I don't think we're at a cul-de-sac. The reason independent design rose to such a respectable heights late 90s/early 00s and the way it became so abundant, raising the bar so high for everyone in fashion and multiplying into different scenes and subcategories, wasn't really because they couldn't get hired by a big conglomerate (a common idea among young people now and the result of the indoctrination the suits want you to acquire), but simply because a lot of mainstream fashion in the mid 90s denoted vulgarity, lack of sophistication and relied solely on in-your-face sexuality and wealth (e.g. Gianni Versace), so some people started to repel that and to gravitate towards the designers who valued intellect and more complex, less obvious techniques and image. That's how a lot of these circles were also super exclusive even if the clothes themselves were more affordable than those from a big label.. because it demanded a sharper, more educated fashion consumer to be understood. So yeah, I think it only takes a generation or a movement in some culture/society that understands all the domineering elements of the industry right now (the conglomerates, the covers band format, meritocracy being at an all-time low, the role of social media, the current bro/all-men dynamic in womenswear) and that wants none of that. There really is nothing particularly worse in young humans right now, everything just goes in waves and these waves span for a few decades. The role of the internet has been major in the past 20 years, it has transformed education, sense of world, wealth, communications. For the generations that have experienced these changes (and not born with them), such as gen x, millennials and gen z, it's hard to come to terms with these resources as a tool to study, seek individuality and build, it's been mostly connection and pleasure really.. but maybe generation alpha will be the one. @BerkeleyStudent just get really angry, and stay angry, and save us. 🥲

 

[susseinmcswanny]

Idk if this is for a homework assignment or something but I'm just gonna say fashion can go other places than into Arnault's and Pinault's pockets. Idk if I'm just really into the Art Nouveau movement right now but it feels very that. Arts and crafts. Anti industrialization. Talk to ur friends and hone a craft and make stuff lol.

 

[tourbillions]

I love my Balenciaga, Vetements, Gucci, Yohji, Rick,

if this is the current list (aside from yohji) of teens' fashion dreams atm... then there's no way but up 😁

Hopefully we get more diversity in each collections because now everyones only serving either streetwear or some play on philo's celine. If they do present more evening wear it seems to be always the nicey and delicate mgc type. That's why when Galliano presented a full back to form collection with all the theatrics, it became viral. Back in his best days, there were atleast a few other houses serving theatrics. But then each house had their own signature and the shows didnt look like each other.

 

[Alquimista]

Hopefully less centralized, more smaller brands, more designers trying to do on their own, making a space for niches. The conglomerates will still be exist but we need options! Small made to measure or ready to wear brands, contemporary brands, a fashion ecosystem with various points, edges.

 

[philophile]

I'm just really into the Art Nouveau movement right now but it feels very that. Arts and crafts. Anti industrialization. Talk to ur friends and hone a craft and make stuff lol.

I've been saying we should go back to the Art Nouveau anti-mass production way (local independent artisans, craftsmen and artists) for around 18 years, since I read a book about the movement, philosophy, etc back then (I've been a fan of Gaudí, Victor Horta, and the whole Vienna Secession/Jugendstil since I was a student in the late 90s). I'm happy to read people are endorsing this principle now, it's about time! We're in an era where it is even starting again in architecture for some years now.

 

[Phuel]

Idk if this is for a homework assignment or something but I'm just gonna say fashion can go other places than into Arnault's and Pinault's pockets. Idk if I'm just really into the Art Nouveau movement right now but it feels very that. Arts and crafts. Anti industrialization. Talk to ur friends and hone a craft and make stuff lol.

LOL TFS being a Quora for fashion students: Post a few times and never heard from a again.

A fashion cottage-industry renaissance n theory, and definitely in ideal and principle— is encouraging, inspiring and optimistic etc etc. Unfortunately, the reality is that it’s oftentimes then not, unsustainable and doomed from the start. I’ve worked with these talents earlier in my career when we all started out together. These were genuine talents and snatched up by the ruling elite of the industry; the talents contributed to more coveted brands of the time; their designs pulled and they were commissioned for the better publications; their pieces were worn nd adorned on the top faces and pop darlings of the time. Unfortunately, several years later, most have left the industry , or have evolved into a more pragmatic entity that’s more akin to a commercial service for teh consumer, in order to make a living. The current state of the industry does not allow the brand of dedicated artisanal talent to survive, let alone make a living. Unless such talents are independently wealthy, or securely funded by generous investors, there doesn’t seem to be a chance— and absolutely not with whatever is being taught at the fashion/design institutions these days. Those of us privileged enough to have lived, experienced and learn fashion growing up in the 90s, lived with the principle that these fashion heroes of ours dedicated their blood/sweat/tears to their work. This current generation seems to live with the mantra to put the minimum effort into their “work”, while dedicating their blood/sweat/tears into dressing celebs, acquiring status and wealth. (…And it’s why someone like Elena Velez— to some standard, serves as a decent model for plugging away, doing your own thing, even with all her struggles and mediocrity, I hope she succeeds to maintain her place.)

I notice that when some people here mention their favorite time in fashion or the best time in fashion in general, it's always the first 1-2 years when they discovered the world of fashion and were a bit intoxicated by what seemed like endless creativity, which in reality it was them on a personal journey of education and exploration of a brand new field and it's never really going to be as exciting as when it first unfolds, all fresh, in front of you.

That being said, I was also lucky to come of age around those years and.. we were really spoiled and had no idea!. The amount of categories and subcategories in fashion design, the fashion design scenes that were full of talent and so uninterested in imitating NY/Milan/Paris, like those in Vienna, in Tokyo, the projects that actively rebelled against commercial fashion and its gross marketing and went out of their way to remain as distant as possible (Altieri's Carpe Diem, etc). And of course, the amount of independent design and the more ethical boundaries within luxury brands to not try to quickly absorb anyone that demonstrates minimal potential into a conglomerate. Press was less sponsored too, it still had a respectable place so, while there was no social media, harsher criticism in large-scale publications compensated for that and kept things competitive.

When I look at teenagers now, I feel a bit bad that it's all been so eroded for them, and that, just like in most industries and economies, the aggressive grip of the boomer generation has really impacted several generations at a time and the way they understand the possibilities of clothing and creativity is inevitably constrained by this indoctrination that 'this is it for you, take it or leave it'. In the 80s, 90s, early 00s, fashion design being highly competitive in terms of creativity felt like a requirement to stand out among other people that were under the same pressure to be respected and believable as a potential 'fashion genius'. That competition seems to have been replaced with the race for who can master better the double role of businessman and creative director. That's what 'being at the top of your game' means now and it's always, always under the direction of the suits, who care about profit and nothing else.

We're at rock bottom now but I don't think we're at a cul-de-sac. The reason independent design rose to such a respectable heights late 90s/early 00s and the way it became so abundant, raising the bar so high for everyone in fashion and multiplying into different scenes and subcategories, wasn't really because they couldn't get hired by a big conglomerate (a common idea among young people now and the result of the indoctrination the suits want you to acquire), but simply because a lot of mainstream fashion in the mid 90s denoted vulgarity, lack of sophistication and relied solely on in-your-face sexuality and wealth (e.g. Gianni Versace), so some people started to repel that and to gravitate towards the designers who valued intellect and more complex, less obvious techniques and image. That's how a lot of these circles were also super exclusive even if the clothes themselves were more affordable than those from a big label.. because it demanded a sharper, more educated fashion consumer to be understood. So yeah, I think it only takes a generation or a movement in some culture/society that understands all the domineering elements of the industry right now (the conglomerates, the covers band format, meritocracy being at an all-time low, the role of social media, the current bro/all-men dynamic in womenswear) and that wants none of that. There really is nothing particularly worse in young humans right now, everything just goes in waves and these waves span for a few decades. The role of the internet has been major in the past 20 years, it has transformed education, sense of world, wealth, communications. For the generations that have experienced these changes (and not born with them), such as gen x, millennials and gen z, it's hard to come to terms with these resources as a tool to study, seek individuality and build, it's been mostly connection and pleasure really.. but maybe generation alpha will be the one. @BerkeleyStudent just get really angry, and stay angry, and save us. 🥲

…The image of Baby Mullet rollerblading around the city in her silver belly shirt in the 90s— like a more cynical, provocative, insatiable member of one of the girls in Larry Clark’s Kids LOOOL

We grew up in such an immensely rich and elevated era of creativity. It really was only the highest of creative and technical standards ever allowed. No exceptions. Kids these days are fed on a poison diet of such toxic trash— from the publications, to social, to media, to the institutions, where mediocrity is the standard-- along with greed and social status being so ingrained to what becomes of value for a creative. A few generations before another fashion renaissance sounds about right LMFAO

 

[LoveFashion25]

LOL TFS being a Quora for fashion students: Post a few times and never heard from a again.

A fashion cottage-industry renaissance n theory, and definitely in ideal and principle— is encouraging, inspiring and optimistic etc etc. Unfortunately, the reality is that it’s oftentimes then not, unsustainable and doomed from the start. I’ve worked with these talents earlier in my career when we all started out together. These were genuine talents and snatched up by the ruling elite of the industry; the talents contributed to more coveted brands of the time; their designs pulled and they were commissioned for the better publications; their pieces were worn nd adorned on the top faces and pop darlings of the time. Unfortunately, several years later, most have left the industry , or have evolved into a more pragmatic entity that’s more akin to a commercial service for teh consumer, in order to make a living. The current state of the industry does not allow the brand of dedicated artisanal talent to survive, let alone make a living. Unless such talents are independently wealthy, or securely funded by generous investors, there doesn’t seem to be a chance— and absolutely not with whatever is being taught at the fashion/design institutions these days. Those of us privileged enough to have lived, experienced and learn fashion growing up in the 90s, lived with the principle that these fashion heroes of ours dedicated their blood/sweat/tears to their work. This current generation seems to live with the mantra to put the minimum effort into their “work”, while dedicating their blood/sweat/tears into dressing celebs, acquiring status and wealth. (…And it’s why someone like Elena Velez— to some standard, serves as a decent model for plugging away, doing your own thing, even with all her struggles and mediocrity, I hope she succeeds to maintain her place.)



…The image of Baby Mullet rollerblading around the city in her silver belly shirt in the 90s— like a more cynical, provocative, insatiable member of one of the girls in Larry Clark’s Kids LOOOL

We grew up in such an immensely rich and elevated era of creativity. It really was only the highest of creative and technical standards ever allowed. No exceptions. Kids these days are fed on a poison diet of such toxic trash— from the publications, to social, to media, to the institutions, where mediocrity is the standard-- along with greed and social status being so ingrained to what becomes of value for a creative. A few generations before another fashion renaissance sounds about right LMFAO

When will another fashion renaissance happen?

 

[blueorchid]

When was the last fashion renaissance?

 

[Phuel]

^^^ I don't believe it's unreasonable to say it was sometime towards the end of 1994-- perhaps Liz x Fabien’s September 1994 issue, the one with Nadja looking high fashion bewitchingly, enchantingly, seductively magical. That was the beginning of a ladylike, slick, glam revival and thankfully, pushing out the high fashion faux-grunge trend of the previous year.

You can argue that the 1950s and 1960s were the birth of glam and high fashion— and although no one can touch Vreeland and Avedon, that period of the mid-90s was a time when designers/photographers/editors and all creatives came together in a strength of unity to produce what has become the standard that remains an undisputed blueprint for fashion design, presentation, casting, publication and what makes high fashion high fashion.

When will another fashion renaissance happen?

Welcome back!

…If I possessed the clout, the pull, the network, the opportunities— I would be too busy making it happen, and not posting on TFS LMFAO

(…But Mullet’s assessment of another 3 generation sounds reasonable…)

 

[Urban Stylin]

As much as I love my Balenciaga, Vetements, Gucci, Yohji, Rick, and more I do find myself thinking about the potential future quite often. I am rather inexperienced in terms of the "eras" fashion has seen and evolved from (I am still a teenager) and want to know from you all where you would predict fashion to move forward.

its moving forward into a rabbit hole with likes and follows dictating trends, hires and who survives and who shuts down. Models, designers, photogs being hired because their name will move items not because of the quality of their work. Then everyone walking on eggshells because any wrong move may result to a cancellation which may be the end of the brand.

 

[svpernova]

As other members have already posted and discussed, I'd say it is going downhills. The fashion brands need to appeal to a new generation of people, which in my opinion know nothing about most topics concerning the industry. They are trying to work very fast, everything's so rushed, but they're also producing low quality designs, boring covers and editorials and relying much more on the influencers since they're the ones who expose the new gen to fashion, however brief and minimal the information may be.
I also don't believe there will be any supermodels soon as well, the bar has dropped so low the average model doesn't know how to pose or walk a runway. But I do hope things change.

 

[avonlea002]

Unless there will be a huge crash and collapse of the current system I don't see things changing for better or any "renaissance" happening.