Fast fashion is “drowning” the world. We need a Fashion Revolution! “Nothing to wear?” Well here’s something to think about: Every piece of clothing we buy has had an impact on our planet before we even bring it home. That’s before you step out of the door, walk down the street, and spot that attractive item you see hanging in the window. A shop at “International Jeans Wholesale City” in Xintang, the “denim capital of the world" in Guangdong province, China. First, there’s water consumption. 2 billion pairs of jeans are produced every year, and a typical pair takes 7,000 litres of water to produce. Secondly, there’s the dyeing process of which 1.7 million tonnes of various chemicals are used; not to mention the hazardous chemicals like PFCs that leave a permanent impact on our environment. PFCs (per- and poly-fluorinated chemicals), which are often found in outdoor clothing to make materials stain resistant and waterproof, are incredibly resistant to breakdown. And what about the clothing that doesn’t make it to market? So how did we get this way?
How social media has changed the fashion industry - BBC Newsbeat Shift in Power: the Blogger and Vlogger Influence on the World of Fashion | Huffington Post Zoella, Sprinkle of Glitter, Inthefrow, That Pommie Girl; these are all names that are currently having an impact on the world of fashion, and with hundreds of thousands (sometimes millions) of adoring fans it’s no wonder PR companies and brands have switched on to promoting their products through them. However, because of this, there has been a real shift in power when it comes to bloggers and vloggers and they are now celebrities in their own right with real influence over what people buy. Zoella (Zoe Sugg) is the strongest example of this. With 3.77m followers on Twitter, 2,404,527 likes on Facebook and a subscription list consisting of 9,172,815 viewers on YouTube at the time of writing, she has a lot of credibility with a lot of people. This shift in power, from the usual advertising platforms to those talking into a camera lens, is a trend dominating the fashion industry currently. There are a lot of hoops to jump through now when it comes to bloggers and advertising.
Who Are the Fast Fashion Leaders And Why Does It Matter? Recently Sourcing Journal quoted John Thornbeck, chairman of Chainge Capital, that Fast Fashion is the rapid translation of design trends into multi-channel volume. Fast Fashion may be the most important disrupter in the retail industry today. He also said that disruptive innovations, or product or services, that transform an existing market by introducing simplicity, convenience, accessibility and affordability, have the most positive impact on a company. Zara, Inditex’s leading brand, has been a groundbreaker in bringing new fashions, new designs, and new ideas quickly to its stores. Zara has managed to make clothes that are not only affordable, but also on top of the latest trends. The idea of moving merchandise quickly from the designer’s table to the retail sales floor has influenced the entire global retail industry and attracted competition. The benefits are huge. New entries in Fast Fashion will challenge the industry again.
Why You Should Mark Fashion Revolution Week By Making Your Own Clothes | Huff... Our attitude to clothes and fashion is frivolous - it’s estimated that the average British woman is hoarding £285 worth of clothes she will never wear. Fashion trends are moving ever faster and the rise of social media means we feel the need to keep up with the extensive wardrobes of celebrities, bloggers and peers whether we need it or not. But I think it’s about time we started to slow down. We need to start embracing slow fashion and become truly conscious consumers. Fashion Revolution is highlighting the importance of understanding where our clothes come from and most importantly being who made them. While work must be done to force retailers to understand where their clothes are being made, we shouldn’t have to support their ignorance. For many people sewing and the idea of making your clothes is still something associated with grandparents and years past. Sewing your own clothes allows you to take back ownership of your wardrobe.
Fashion Bloggers, the Perfect Example of Influencer Marketing Potential - Thismoment Content Marketing Blog One lazy Sunday afternoon, I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and realized that the majority of the content I “follow” is fashion-related. And, the producers of that content aren’t my friends or people I know, but rather famous fashion bloggers. I found myself caught in a trap of never-ending engaging fashion content, beauty tips and information on the latest trends. I started thinking about fashion bloggers, have they appeared in recent years or have they been here for a while? Some may say their popularity is a new fad that will diminish, is that true? And more importantly, should brands think seriously about finding ways to work fashion bloggers into their content marketing and influencer strategies? I’m sure all marketers know the terms “opinion leaders,” “influencers” and know about “turning customers into brand advocates.” How influential are fashion bloggers? They create powerful content and brands are noticing. How and why your customers engage with bloggers? Follow:
Social media is behind the new fast fashion revolution New York: New York Fashion Week this season has put "click and buy" on the map, revolutionizing the antiquated global fashion calendar with clothes that now can be ordered straight from the catwalk. For more than 100 years, the world of high fashion has been divided up into four seasons -- spring/summer, autumn/winter. Designers debut their collections at fashion week, fashion magazines write them up and go to print a few months before the clothes are available to buy in boutiques -- six months after they first grace the runway. But gone are the days when only magazine editors, socialites and the in-crowd grace a fashion show. That means that high-end clients no longer want to burn thousands of dollars on an outfit that has been plastered all over the Internet for six months. "The younger customer does not want to wait any longer, they want to see it and wear it that day or the next day. Difficult challenge But Cohen said it would be tough to enact change.
Social Media, Fast Fashion, and the Supply Chain Keeping up with the latest trends is essential to success in the clothing industry. To beat your competitors, you'll need to learn how to use social media, fast fashion, and the supply chain to your advantage. Research from the Pew Internet Project shows 74 percent of Internet users also use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Perhaps even more importantly, 89 percent of people between 18 and 29 years old use social media. This creates multiple opportunities for companies to reach new customers. Personal reviews are effective because people trust their friends more than ads. Historically, the apparel industry has lagged behind in market-research-led innovations. You may notice that social media has much in common with fast fashion. Fast fashion thrives because it makes affordable, attractive clothing that keeps pace with the market's whims. Leading manufacturers leverage that short lead time as a unique selling point.
ASOS Releases Statement Addressing Working Condition Allegations | British Vogue FOLLOWING a spate of allegations regarding the working conditions in its Barnsley warehouse, ASOS has issued a six-page statement refuting the recurring accusations in detail. “I’m disappointed that inaccurate and misleading things have been said about how we manage our warehouse at Barnsley in Yorkshire," CEO Nick Beighton wrote in the document published on the brand's website. "I take huge exception to the idea that we are secretive and exploit our people. We have nothing to hide and much to be proud of." "We don’t pretend to be perfect and we are learning all the time," he continued, highlighting some recent changes that have been made to the practices in the South Yorkshire warehouse following discussions with its staff-elected Employee Forum. ASOS Responds To Allegations ASOS Responds To Allegations "The picture of an uncaring, secretive and exploiting employer from Victorian times is false," Beighton added. ASOS Refutes Working Conditions Concern
Zara Is the Latest Fast Fashion Retailer to Launch an Eco-Friendly Line Zara’s owner Amancio Ortega is the second richest man in the world, according to Forbes, with a $67 billion dollar net worth. And someone who’s made such a killing off a fast fashion clothing brand certainly knows that his wealth doesn’t come without a cost to the environment. Next to oil, the fast fashion industry has been noted as the second most polluting industry in the world, and with this information, it’s up to leaders in the business to do something about it. Luckily, Zara is following the lead of other fast fashion retailers like H&M, launching the Join Life collection, an eco-friendly range of clothing crafted from materials like Tencel, recycled wool, and organic cotton. According to Glossy, along with the release of its new collection, Zara is also calling on artists to turn the retailer’s cardboard boxes into art, and has added 300 clothing drop locations in Europe for people to donate all their old threads. Zara has rolled out environmentally friendly initiatives before.
5 New Solutions For The Fashion Industry's Sustainability Problem | Co.Exist | ideas + impact It's the holy grail for the fashion industry: Can manufacturers seamlessly close the loop on fabric, so an old T-shirt or dress headed for the landfill can be turned into something new? The world now buys more clothing than ever before in history; the average American throws out 68 garments in a single year. A new €1 million competition asked for new ideas to help the industry become more circular. "Fashionista or not, clothes are a necessity, and one of the biggest challenges facing today's fashion industry is how to create fashion for a growing world population while protecting our planet," says Erik Bang, project manager for the Global Change Award, sponsored by H&M Conscious Foundation, the nonprofit created by the Swedish fast fashion giant. Waste—and the unsustainability of the supply chain—is a problem endemic to the entire apparel industry, but especially interesting in the context of fast fashion. Here are the five finalists in the competition, which is now open for public vote.