Predicting even a month in advance is a guessing game in light of the coronavirus pandemic that we are still experiencing throughout the world, so predicting a year in advance seems to be totally impossible. However, there are some indicators that show us some possibilities of what we can expect.
McKinsey & Company’s “The State of Fashion 2021” is a good place to start. The report advises: “The pandemic will accelerate trends that were in motion prior to the crisis, as shopping shifts to digital and consumers continue the champion fairness and social justice.” The report also states that “The primary driver of growth in the coming year will continue to be digital channels, reflecting the fact that people in many countries remain reluctant to gather in crowded environments.”
In a September 16, 2021 article in Vogue Runway, Nicole Phelps reported on what we can expect from designer Mickey Boardman. Phelps wrote: “In his Ashish sequins and vintage costume jewelry, Mickey Boardman cuts an outsize figure in New York fashion circles, with an extroverted personality to match. … It was 1992, while studying design at Parsons, that Boardman began interning at Paper, the bible of cool for people who don’t read The Bible. He’s earned his icon status. Now he’s multi-hyphenating, adding designer entrepreneur to his list of exploits.
“The debut Mr. Mickey collection drops on the new internet and app-based shopping platform Live Rocket tomorrow and it’s very much made in Boardman’s image with sparkly polos, pull-on pants, and hoodies, and printed pieces featuring party photos of Boardman over the years … ‘There’s not a person on the planet I could have chosen to launch Live Rocket other than Mr. Mickey,” Mark Bozek, the platform’s founder and CEO, told me. ‘His soul, his compassion, and especially his heart made it a very easy decision on every single level.’”
An article in Financial Express, published on August 31, 2021, presented an international view, titled “Future of Fashion: From Indian Heritage to Digital Outlook.” The article was written by Archana Surana, the founder and director of the ARCH College of Design & Business, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Surana introduced the subject with this statement: “As we know India is the land of mixed culture and has roots in craft design philosophy which can be observed in its tradition. India has embraced sustainability from the very beginning and is still practicing.
Surana continued, “Fashion has become a buzz word over the years along with sustainable craft practices. … India has embraced sustainability from the very beginning and is still practicing. Our Indian heritage has been the source of inspiration for the generations in the past and future. We have observed that many renowned fashion designers have taken insight from our heritage and given fashionable clothing to the world. Which has changed society’s perception.
“Evolution is what? — open your wardrobe and look beyond the clothes you are regularly wearing these days. You will find many clothes which you have just stopped looking at because of evolution in fashion. You may have observed that how much ever the fashion changes you will require an Indian outfit for every occasion which is a part of Indian culture. And that’s where heritage plays an important role. Although being in the fashion world you need to evolve clothing keeping the essence of tradition alive. Looking at the present need of time and technological advancement to build a digital design future, we need to cater to the necessities of individuals by keeping the story of our heritage alive.”
Surana continued to explain the industry’s evolution: “The way fashion has evolved as an industry all over the world can be attributed to the industrial revolution in the 19th century; before the world wars, women never thought they would wear trousers. For men too, trends changed from the completely formal wear to casual. Therefore, living standards and geographical locations also affect the trends at a particular place for a period. Observing the changing fashion for so many years, I feel that heritage gives the whole designing industry a new dimension. From Kalamkari to Pashmina, it is our heritage that inspires many innovations.
“Being experienced in the design industry, I can say, there is a lot to explore in our culture. India has many craft stories woven in the fabric of its tradition and a lot to share to the world. Fashion designers creatively think and try to bring change. Be it Paul Poiret, Edith Head, Andrew Lever or Indian designers who are representing craft heritage on a global stage … By the time the latest fashion clothing reaches the nearby stores, everyone has already ordered it from online retailers. Nevertheless, the blend of fashion with proficiency, that we must adapt to; to have heritage meet technology and go on hand in hand. While AI is the biggest threat to our traditional fashion and it can never give the kind of output traditional artisans can give, we must remember that it is here to stay and we must accept and adapt AI to serve.”
Surana concluded the Financial Express article with this observation: “Fashion has its own definition for all, and everyone is free to choose one’s style. That goes for every section of society. The sustainable development of the practices must be looked at. Over the years, the industry has understood its social responsibility and has been continuously evolving and we must prepare the youth to be the reason for the change. Along with the curriculum, there is a large space for exploration and ideation in the form of relevant tasks … Creativity is not something you can learn, but here you will learn to maintain it, enhance it and apply it for doing great work.”
Benjamin S. Seigel, Esq. is Of Counsel to G & B Law, LLP specializing in matters related to the textile and apparel industries. He can be reached at bseigel@gblawllp.com.
