Fashion is lifestyle, zeitgeist and innovative imaging in all areas of individual and societal arrangements. It is more still, an understanding of design, form and in the 21st century, a theme of fair trade. It has displayed its performative character for centuries – whether in the homes of the nobility from early modern times, in the chic of the Golden 1920s or today – in the hipsters’ wardrobe of the Millennials in the 21st century. The transformation of time has always also been a transformation of fashion and the fashion society and changes in our societies, the political presentation of the Western democracies as well as also the other countries worldwide were always also supported by the optical influence of clothing, trends and appearance. Whether it was the Parisian chic or the trend-consciousness of the American West Coast, we have repeatedly experienced the significance of fashion and its manifestations and its history. Thus, worldwide, this industry is one of the most important providers for jobs and social progress. Megatrends and hotspots – innovative concepts from mass customisation to 3-D printing – our societies are not even conceivable at all without fashion and the conception and elaboration of these values have a substantial presence in the fashion industry. The people who work in this industry worldwide have also been integrated into quite specific and designated structures.
Fair Trade in the Fashion World – Creative and Innovative!
In the globalised economy in which, to a very great extent, the supply chains and production processes have been relocated abroad to Asia, industry-specific occupations and segments are experiencing a modern transformation. Thus, a new awareness of humane working conditions and the respecting of human rights during work processes by global companies have dovetailed with each other.
More now than ever before in the past, value is being placed on organic materials and fair trade. The notion of fair trade has now been successfully established during the past two decades in our perception and our consciousness. This development has resulted in the fact that fashion and fashion trends have oriented themselves to these standards and thus the manifestations of fashion, its styles and designs have also changed substantially. The innovative and sustainable, environmentally-friendly and ethical wearing of clothing has today more than ever developed into its own brand. The conflict between the ethical me of the Western citizen and his digital ego to make purchases favoured by online trading continues to remain a socio-economic issue.
Meanwhile, the digitalisation is demanding that the long-established corporations and other companies thus recruit new top Managers with digitally-oriented CVs. Whoever ignores this trend will face difficulties in global business.
Speed as a Brake – Aesthetics and Time Expenditures
The speed of the fashion industry and the rapid pace at which it operates can nonetheless frequently become a drawback because creative processes require time. To carefully consider designs and change them again as necessary appears to be more difficult when the speed of production and market-eminent structures are already prescribed. However, whoever can position himself in a sustainable and contemporary fashion in such a manner that he can embrace the freedom to not feel encumbered by the rapid pace of the process and nonetheless meet the market’s requirements which are characterised by “levelled” societies? The consumers, who are constantly increasing and generally developing an ever-more pronounced awareness of quality, are demanding products which are always faster and more creative. Moreover, precisely in this context, a new issue may arise because significant characteristics of quality are namely also sustainability and elegance which cannot be forced, but rather are created in sustainable processes. Unfortunately, at times, the contemporary design appears to have been very quickly processed and one feels that it sometimes lacks the proven appeal which was arranged in the past through time-consuming processes. Can it be that the standards which inevitably led to speed and ever-more products being thrown on the market faster and faster can also alter aesthetics and design? Is time a factor for design?
The products go to the consumers and the Sales personnel are confronted with this constant change in the fashion business and the already-mandated speed and they must always be up-to-date. In this case as well, creativity is required. Sales strategies are subjected to creative processes. Is the sustainable experiencing of fashion and design restricted if speed rules business? New innovative strategies for bringing creativity to sustainable development, for decelerating it without robbing it of the advantages of its rapid pace are eminently required so that the products and designs can continue to unfurl their progressive dynamic. What do you think?