Resetting Our Relationship With Fashion After COVID-19
What will the fashion industry look like post-pandemic?
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Image via Pinterest - Follow the Leader 2009, artwork courtesy of Chloe GIll-Holster Projects.
Fashion is an industry that's long been plagued by concerns and worries, from those inside and outside of its walls. The fact that the fashion system is broken is not a new conversation, but the past and present issues that disturb the world of fashion have become magnified during the pandemic. Fashion is going through a crisis. The industry came to an abrupt halt at the start of COVID-19 and now faces an uncertain future; fashion weeks were cancelled indefinitely, design studios were unable to create numerous collections, workers were forced to continue labouring in unsafe conditions, and orders were stuck in warehouses with no release date in sight. It seems like we’re living in an alternate fashion universe, so what would a world without fashion mean?Â
Somewhere along the way, fashion went chasing money and revenue above values and morals, and now in the middle of an ongoing crisis many brands are realising that they may be doomed. The fashion system desperately needs to change, and it needs to happen at all levels. How can an industry rife with problems move forward in what’ll turn out to be a very new looking economy? What will fashion look like when it's time to re-emerge? Design students have had their graduate shows cancelled, independent designers are struggling to stay afloat financially, even brand heavyweights like Zara have had to close hundreds of stores worldwide. With all of the inevitable bankruptcies, store closures, and brands that have gone into administration, it’s going to be interesting to see who survives. How will fashion find its purpose after a global pandemic?
If any part of society were motivated to shop ethically pre-pandemic, how will the frivolous spending attitudes of the fashion elite look to a world that's reawakened to the glaring inequalities of the fashion industry? When the most prestigious brands rely on unfair labour practices, when they don’t pay factories on time, and when their creations aren’t as environmentally friendly as we’re led to believe, consumers will begin to question where they shop. People will be wary of flaunting what's considered excessive. As our outdoor movements were restricted during the height of the pandemic, the outfits we once wore became mute. But as we begin to once again venture beyond our front doorsteps, what will we wear? Clothing has historically characterised pivotal moments in time. We remember our pasts, the pasts our ancestors lived through, in part due to the clothing that symbolised those moments. Fashion has an important part to play in how we’ll remember this time.
The longer the pandemic continues, the more our relationship with fashion will change. A lot of the current issues within the fashion landscape we already knew existed, they just remained behind closed doors - fashions gatekeepers did their best to keep them hush hush. The pandemic has given us the time to think about the parts of the industry that need revolution. Unsafe working conditions, the pay crisis factory workers face, the rise of fast fashion and its effects on the environment, racial disparity and representation within all levels of the industry, cultural appropriation, animal cruelty, child labour, the exploitation of skilled creatives, the list goes on. The entire industry needs to change. We need to consider the excessive waste six collections (or more) a year creates, and the fact that the current fashion week schedule creates the carbon emissions of a small country. This crisis has given fashion the chance to reclaim its soul.
What will become of fashion once the pandemic is over? One thing is certain, I'm not sure anything will ever be the same again. The public mindset and attitudes towards fashion are shifting. Key workers are gracing the covers of our favourite magazines, campaigns are launching to support more small independent businesses, and the industry overall seems to be having a reckoning with race. This is an opportunity for the world of fashion to reexamine its values, the amount of waste it generates, and for us as consumers to rethink the extraordinary levels of fashion we devour. Times of great hardship are when we are tested the most, and when we come up with our most brilliant solutions. Creativity doesn’t stop when times get tough, it perseveres as will we. Fashion can find its purpose again. We’re resetting our relationship with fashion, hopefully for the better.Â
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter to see more of what I’m up to, and I’ll see you same time same place next week!Â
Catch you soon,
J’Nae
WHAT I’VE BEEN READING:
- If you haven't heard of Beyonce's new visual film ‘Black Is King’, where have you been? The visuals are stunning, the cultural references are important, and it's a jaw-dropping creation to witness come to life. Zerina Akers (Beyonce's stylist) is interviewed by Dazed Digital in this article to discuss this epic work of art.
WHAT I’VE BEEN WATCHING:
- I love an old-school film, and for me the 1986 movie Labyrinth ticks all the boxes. The visuals are done in collaboration with Brian Froud, conceptual designer on this film, whose artwork I really enjoy.
WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO:
- I’ve really been liking having the radio playing in the background recently whilst I go about my everyday life, and one station I take the pleasure in listening to more than most is Kisstory for some good throwback tunes.
WHAT’S CAUGHT MY EYE:
- An art account I recently followed is @aniko.arts - I love her print designs, the overall style of her graphics, and her subtle yet powerful tributes to nature within her artwork.
ON MY BLOG:
- After a slight break, my blog is back! My first post is all about ‘My Easy Lockdown Makeup Routine’, when I’ve been bothered to wear makeup that is. It's a good’un and worth checking out.Â