The pandemic has forced most industries to think outside the box, including the fashion world, which has greatly evolved since the pandemic started. But, is the change for the better?
Fashion Weeks
Gone are the days when whos-who await Fashion Weeks that are flocked by the biggest names from different countries across the world. Brands have not become too occupied in organizing and presenting their pieces in these shows, proving how the pandemic has paused how things normally go in this industry.
Fashionstock/DepositPhotos | A-listers used to sit with each other to watch fashion shows
Fashion weeks usually start in New York, then London, and Milan. The last is held in Paris, although many labels have backed out of the September event. Burberry is thinking of doing a live streaming during the London Fashion Week and having an outdoor event for its guests.
Copenhagen Fashion Week, meanwhile, is also considering presenting digitally and aims to use this opportunity to spotlight sustainability. Its efforts have also shed light on what seemed like the transition of the industry to the exact opposite of fast fashion: slow fashion.
The Onset of Slow Fashion
Nowadays, brands and labels have accepted the fact that there needs to be a change in producing clothes. Surely they have seen their backlogs and have faced the limitations in distribution.
All Serebrina/DepositPhotos | Designers and labels have faced the fact that the pandemic has affected the fashion industry
Moreover, there are many garments stuck in warehouses, waiting to be shipped and because there was a sudden pause in manufacturing, less clothing was made. Indeed, slow fashion is making a scene.
Corporate Culture
The recent events have also served as a reminder to companies to restructure after the Black Lives Matter movement shook every industry. Most companies now intend to add more people of color employees after countless staff came out with harrowing tales of discrimination.
Quarantine
Fashion in-the-know and aficionados, who used to stay in the same room to watch models don pricey outfits, are now locked up in their houses, pretty much like what the average Jane and Joes have been doing in the past months.
Razvanchirnoaga/DepositPhotos | Many brands debuted their collections online
Many brands have also tried to keep the fantasy alive, like luxury label Chanel, which showcased its ‘Resort’ collection on Instagram in June. This was supposed to drop in the scenic Capri in May.
Adapting
Michael Kors is a brand that only plans to do two seasons per year. This means that his cruise and resort shows have been canceled. The Off-White and Heron Preston licensee said it will have a slower-paced schedule to keep in check with what’s happening around.
No one can tell how the fashion industry will fare but it obviously is evolving and adapting to the current situation.
