See Monkey Do

The downturn in the economic system has made us rethink our fashion statements. been well pointed out that the downturn in the economy has heavily affected the fashion industry. Although recessions come and go, this recent one we’re experiencing is going to have a chronic impression on how we see fashion. We are living in a very pragmatic age now. Prior to these pragmatic days we’re now living in, we revelled in the decadance of fashion - nothing was extreme or too expensive - you only worried about being charged with being too lacklustre. Now though the fashion catwalks and labels are receiving bad publicity. And now that everybody’s conscious of globalisation, even nickel-and-dime fashion brands are receiving flak for utilizing sweatshops to manufacture their garments! Is it that everybody has become so unbelievably hard to please?

Not at all. People need fashion, and always will. It is burned into our minds to identify new styles! In point of fact, looking online there is strong rivalry between online store retailers (e.g. looking for wholesale fashion accessories) - a sign there is still a great need for fashion. What’s dying out is the old way we thought about fashion - being told what’s now chic by the big labels. Actually, fashion has always looked at the public rather than vice versa, and nowadays many factors are stopping us buying from big fashion brands. For a start, young people are a lot more mindful of globalization, and flaunting your clothing labels can give the impression you are selfish and uncaring in certain circles. Second, we’re poor! Fashion has forever been a luxury, not an essential. In a recession, luxury items are the first to be forgotten on the shop shelves. Lastly, individuals define themselves a lot more individually these days -we don’t need to be ordered how to act or what to wear, we no longer consider ourselves as being part of large groups, and fashion demands that sort of sheep-like thinking to sell in numbers.

What is the future for the fashion industry? As ever, they must adapt to exist - create a wider range of fashion lines to cater to more corners of the marketplace. If you’re a tiny shop offering individual clothing at a decent price, you have a strong business model in spite of the subdued economic times we are in. Nowadays, individuals are blending their styles, buying from markets and more personal, bargain-priced fashion shops.