Time has flown by, but also moved so quickly. Last summer, I wrote about Lessons in Fashion while in quarantine and the importance of wearing what makes you happy. Whether you lived in sweatpants for months on end or went full out most days to maintain structure, we all had to find our new normal, meanwhile, the fashion industry experienced a major nosedive. Let’s discuss where we are now.
Looking for Change
For most, last year was full of sweat sets and all the comfy clothes imaginable, but this year fashion experts are finding that people are ready to get out and get dressed up to embrace the summer weather on the horizon. Consumers are looking for sustainable and ethical consumption, which was a key concern that was identified in the early months of the pandemic. Large retail and e-commerce companies are testing more economic ways to get products to consumers, like ordering electric cars for delivery or placing retail pick-up lockers outside of central locations instead of shipping straight to consumers’ houses. Designers were also hit with many curveballs as they were forced to rethink the way they create, source, and present their designs. Check out our FW ‘21 Fashion Week Reports to find out more.
Investment Pieces
Once the pandemic hit, large strides in rebuilding a more sustainable textile industry were heavily discussed. In countries like Europe, high-end retailers are noticing that consumers are spending less time browsing and getting in and out of stores as quickly as possible. Another observation is that consumers are visiting luxury stores to purchase high ticket items that they consider investment pieces. In America, there has been a decline in brick-and-mortar fashion retailers and fast-fashion retailers. Consumers were forced to work with the things they already owned while postage was backed up for weeks, forcing everyone to realize it’s a want to buy more things instead of a need.
Beauty in Artisanship
As a lover of anything creative, I have been closely following the rise in handmade items from clothing to other types of artwork. Sewing machines were in such high demand that some people couldn’t get their hands on one. Once busy civilians suddenly had time to pick up fabric for sewing or try new hobbies. Lastly, my favorite lesson is to support small businesses since they depend solely on our contribution. The media (with the help of platforms like TikTok) helped to boost small businesses selling handmade items like garments, decor, or other custom made-to-order pieces.
Many lessons have been learned, and there are probably still more to come. I’m looking forward to what the future has in store for fashion and the textile industry entirely.
What are some lessons you have learned from quarantine?
