Economy Of Fashion: How Different Trends Reflect The Financial State It's common knowledge fashion is cyclical in nature. The concept of “newness” in fashion doesn't refer to the premiere of a trend, but rather its revival. Why fashion cycles in this manner, however, is less obvious. There are lots of factors at play: cultural trends, politics, celebrity influence. One one of the most surprising factors to influence the cycle of fashion, though, is the state of the global economy. If you think about it, it makes sense. During tougher times, if you need new clothes, the focus is less on passing fads and more on classic, quality pieces worth the expenditure because they’ll last (which also aids in cutting down cost per wear). As FIT professor John Mincarelli tells ABC News, “In rough economic times, people shop for replacement clothes,” adding “basics” prevail during an economic downturn. Economist George Taylor was the first to notice the correlation between fashion and the economy; he developed the “Hemline Theory” to describe his findings. Pinterest How?
Sustainable Clothing and Sustainable Fashion - The Fashion eZine Also known as Eco-Fashion, sustainable fashion is a growing design trend in the fashion and textile industry wherein the goal is to create environmentally friendly and socially responsible clothing. There is also a larger trend called sustainable design, wherein architecture and products are made with special consideration for their environmental and social impact throughout its total life span (meaning the product doesn't pollute or harm during production, usage and eventually disposal), including efforts to minimize its "carbon footprint" for transportation. Sustainable fashion has been getting a lot more press in recent years, appearing in magazines like Vogue, but that is only because the staff at Vogue noticed the growing trend of independent fashion designers who are selling sustainable fashion online and via independent stores. Eco-conscious clothing is becoming the forefront of fashion design. CONCLUSIONS Sustainable clothing is here to stay.
How much do top fashion brands really depend on China? When, in July 2011, LinkedIn hired Dan Roth, everyone in the media industry thought the “professional” social network was up to something big. Roth came with an impressive résumé: Forbes, Condé Nast Portfolio (a great but ill-fated glossy), Wired, then Fortune, where he served as managing editor before being poached by LinkedIn. Four years later, Roth snatched Caroline Fairchild, a young, talented writer and editor from Fortune. Everyone (yours truly included) was wrong about LinkedIn editorial potential; it didn’t became a significant business media player—and most likely never will. Why? First of all, instead of developing true journalistic content, as expected from its impressive talent line up, LinkedIn opted to bet on quantity. If Quartz or Politico taste like espresso, LinkedIn’s editorial content feels more like American coffee: cheap, bland, diluted but unlimited refills. On LinkedIn, every piece has a purpose: self-promotion (“I’m looking for a job, see my expertise!”)
The New Green Voices: The 5 Best Green Fashion Blogs Bloggers really are taking the fashion world by storm. They now rub shoulders with Vogue editors at the big international fashion weeks, interview famous designers and models and even create full time careers from marrying the digital world with sustainable design. With so many fashion writers seeing the future in sustainability, I look at where the new green fashion voices are coming from and how to find them online. Here is a round up of five of the best eco style blogs. 1. Pretty much a roll call of any sustainable fashion designer worth knowing, Eco Fashion Talk provides short and snappy summaries of the who, what, why and where of new designers and collections. 2. Linked to an online eco style store of the same name in Australia, State of Green helps those of us living ‘down under’ with a full picture of modern sustainable design in the region. 3. This sweet blog is all about living simply, living green and living economically. 4. 5.
MADE IN BRITAIN - Topshop Blog Featured Tis the season to be British – tralalalala… lalalala… With the Jubilee and the Olympics encouraging our patriotic tendencies, we thought it was high time classic, quintessential style hit the fashion headlines and thus, our new collection Made in Britain was born. Marrying tradition with innovation (because isn’t that so the British way?), every piece has been lovingly crafted in the heart of London’s East End to create a capsule collection that even the Queen herself would be proud of. From slick, utilitarian outerwear in the finest wool, tweeds and cashmere to sumptuous silk separates in graphic and floral prints: think pure, unadulterated luxury that exudes true British heritage. Queue our fashion fantasies of countryside frolicking in a sailor dress and wellies, pounding the city streets in the ultimate biker jacket and not to mention enjoying a spot of afternoon-tea (with her majesty and corgis of course), while sporting the cutest swan-print jumpsuit.
Collective Evolution - Journal Can big brands catch up on sustainable fashion? | Guardian Sustainable Business Imagine a pair of trousers you could throw on the compost. After years of use, they could decompose among the eggshells and tea bags to leave behind nothing but some fertile soil to help grow new raw materials. It takes the circular economy to a whole new level. This is the idea behind F-ABRIC, a range of materials developed by Swiss company Freitag. Until recently, Freitag’s only line of business was making bags out of old truck tarpaulins. While natural fibres like cotton will compost over time, synthetic fibres like polyester won’t, and natural fibres are often blended with synthetic. The fact that it is biodegradable does not make the fabric any less hard-wearing, says one of the founders, Daniel Freitag. Freitag is not the only company looking to microorganisms for inspiration. Essi Johanna Glomb, head of design at Blond & Bieber, says: “The colours for dyes are extremely toxic and really harm the people working with them and also nature. The fashion hub is funded by H&M.
Investigating The Sustainability Claims Behind H&M ColumnIs fast fashion giant H&M really making moves to become more sustainable, or is it all just greenwashing? Editor’s Note: This is Jessica Marati’s first column for Behind The Label, which will explore whether brands claiming sustainable initiatives are going green – or just plain greenwashing. It’s so easy to love and hate H&M. On the one hand, the Swedish fashion chain has played a significant role in democratizing fashion and bringing trends once reserved for the upper classes to the masses. On the other, H&M’s fast fashion model has accelerated the fashion cycle to its current frenetic pace, driving down prices and increasing pressure within the industry to produce more, quicker, with little regard to the people and environments involved. In recent years, H&M has made efforts to be more transparent with its social responsibility efforts, releasing a hefty Conscious Actions Sustainability Report in 2010 that outlined its sustainability goals and action roadmap. Images: H&M.
Interview with Olivia Burton founders, Lesa Bennett and Jemma Fennings Succeeding in creating a women’s watch collection that is distinctive, creative and fun – we wanted to know a little more about the women behind the Olivia Burton watch brand, that brings us such delectable and affordable British styled wristwear. How did you decide that making wristwatches was what you wanted to do? We’re both very passionate about watches and have talked about starting our own business for a while. Jointly we had both been working in fashion buying and production for 15 years and felt that we were ready to take the plunge. You met each other on your first day at London College of Fashion, would you say your friendship is paramount to the success of Olivia Burton? It certainly contributes to the success! What are your plans for future collections? We will continue to take our inspiration from vintage, catwalk and nature. What watch/accessories are you wearing right now? We have an absolute weakness for accessories. Which jewellery / watch brands do you lust after?