2008 Woodie Awards
By now the suffering economy has switched from "paranoia" to a true issue.
The government is acting and reacting, be that effectively or ineffectively. People are switching their habits, reforming or groveling. With the sensitive threads of the economy unraveling before us, everything, including fashion, is altering and stitching the loose ends.
In times of need, the fashion world must react like the rest of us. It is, after all, an industry that depends on the people, and we can see fashion trends are shaped by the revolutions, wars and economy of the times.
During World War II, Levi Strauss and Co. stopped using suspender buttons and lessened the use of rivets in order to conserve copper.
Clothing and fashion does not just change because of company monetary problems, but because the consumers it serves have different needs and outlooks.
If Americans were watching copper conservation, then it only makes sense that the companies they shop in should do the same.
These days are no different. The somber colors of the season are nocoincidence. They are responses.
Many fashion designers are opting for safety clothing, timeless classics, investment pieces, etc. Black sand whites, sleek and simple set the mood for this winter.
Even British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood advised people in Paris to survive the potential economic hardship by taking up sewing, being creative and creating their own clothes.
Magazine articles and blogs all give tips on getting the best bang for your buck and creating a stable wardrobe in an unstable economy.
This could be a positive or a negative depending on how the pattern lines up. For college students, the budget-wise fashion statements could very well aid in our already slender wallets.
However, without anything spectacular in stores, without the definite season-must-haves, what reason do we have to shop?
Shouldn't designers be giving us more for our money, not less? Shouldn't the clothing we purchase be more unique, more individual than those of previous years?
The government is acting and reacting, be that effectively or ineffectively. People are switching their habits, reforming or groveling. With the sensitive threads of the economy unraveling before us, everything, including fashion, is altering and stitching the loose ends.
In times of need, the fashion world must react like the rest of us. It is, after all, an industry that depends on the people, and we can see fashion trends are shaped by the revolutions, wars and economy of the times.
During World War II, Levi Strauss and Co. stopped using suspender buttons and lessened the use of rivets in order to conserve copper.
Clothing and fashion does not just change because of company monetary problems, but because the consumers it serves have different needs and outlooks.
If Americans were watching copper conservation, then it only makes sense that the companies they shop in should do the same.
These days are no different. The somber colors of the season are nocoincidence. They are responses.
Many fashion designers are opting for safety clothing, timeless classics, investment pieces, etc. Black sand whites, sleek and simple set the mood for this winter.
Even British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood advised people in Paris to survive the potential economic hardship by taking up sewing, being creative and creating their own clothes.
Magazine articles and blogs all give tips on getting the best bang for your buck and creating a stable wardrobe in an unstable economy.
This could be a positive or a negative depending on how the pattern lines up. For college students, the budget-wise fashion statements could very well aid in our already slender wallets.
However, without anything spectacular in stores, without the definite season-must-haves, what reason do we have to shop?
Shouldn't designers be giving us more for our money, not less? Shouldn't the clothing we purchase be more unique, more individual than those of previous years?
RECENT STORIES WITH VIDEO
Be the first to comment on this story