Bringing in over 460 million in revenue per year and steadily increasing, the clothing sector is a giant with a lot of market value. So for the sake of our wallets and the environment, fashion, as it is, has got to be stopped, right? Allow me to touch on how sustainability concerns, designer runway shifts, and free expression are saving the industry of fashion in a way that you probably wouldn’t suspect. Is it possible that fashion is over? Come along on this journey with me to find out!
Sustainability
How do we fix this toxic cycle of textile waste and is ending fashion the solution? Upcycling clothes is fun for a season, but when your custom-made piece doesn’t suit you anymore, it can be challenging to find its next home. Reselling is a great idea but unfortunately, it isn’t for everyone. Companies and people are making strides towards using more sustainable textiles. Fabric companies are also making sure that vegan and eco-friendly fabric options are available so that sewists can make clothes that are better for the planet. Unfortunately, creating sustainable garments means that designs err on the simplistic side right now, but knowledge will continue to grow, and like everything else, the more we learn and discover the more options that will be available. Fashion will still be alive and well, but in a way that’s a lot kinder to the planet.
Runway Shifts
Well-known designers are bowing out of runway presentations. Is it because fashion is over? The answers are certainly mixed. Last spring, Calvin Klein announced that they were no longer going to present collections at NYFW. I don’t think in this case, that fashion being at its end is the culprit. From my experience, people buy Calvin Klein intimates because their name is attached. I don’t recall a time when Calvin Klein designer items were ever on my radar like a highly sought after Gucci belt or a Louis Vuitton purse. At least from my perspective, when people think of Calvin Klein, they think of higher-end intimates. I feel like CK realized that it was no longer profitable to branch out when their core designs are their true cash cow. Meanwhile, NYFW is continuing to prosper each season. Fashion is just fine.
The Power in Fashion
Fashion indeed repeats itself. Does that mean we should be concerned that fashion is at its end? Some are speculating that the repeat of trends from the past means that fashion is over as we know it. For the sake of fashion, I have to say that this has always happened. There’s nothing groundbreaking about this re-occurrence. It has been happening and will continue to. Fashion is a part of a cycle. History repeats itself, and the world continues to spin. Old trends resurface and are given new light by adding small flairs to once-popular trends, making them fashionable again. Subtle changes like fun patterns or fun new details are the things that provide just enough of a refresh to find their way back into closets even after several years. A repeating style is nothing to fret over, I assure you. Go ahead into the clothing arsenal that you packed away years ago or go thrifting to get those flared jeans from the ’60s, grab your pattern paper, your sewing machine, and give those pants a modernized spin by adding a high waist or utility pockets!
Ending on a conclusive note, many things in life cycle back around and evolve into different variations of their original form, just like garments in fashion do. My final thoughts are that fashion is not over and that it will continue to remain as such. Fashion is here to stay, but it will continue taking the shape of things that are relevant to our current society and the events that we are facing. As more sustainable fashion practices arise, fashion continues to evolve, and designers continue to make changes that are in the best interest of their business. Fashion will continue to be a part of our lives, and it certainly is not over.
Is fashion over, or is it still thriving? We want to hear from you, so sound off below.
