Week5 : Could the future of fashion be governed by "Slow" be "Even Faster Faster"?
This week we are discussing the chapters "Slow" and "Even Faster" from our book Wear Next: Fashioning the future by Clare Press.
This weeks meet up is at Blend Cafe at the 16 Foot Sailing Club in Belmont NSW Sunday 2:30pm. These are the questions we will be discussing this week:
"Slow"
- “In 2019, the WHO officially recognised burnout as a syndrome of chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”. p93 . How do you define work/life balance? Do you see any signs of burnout in your life? What could you do to decrease the risk? What can employers do to protect their employees?
- This chapter urges us to ask - What does success look like to me? And… How much am I willing to sacrifice to achieve this?
- Finding a way back to balance requires “…taking the time to slow our thinking down and consider why we do things”. p99
- What are some of the techniques you use to slow your thinking down? Time to reflect is essential, ask yourself - What do I need?... rather than - What do I want? And start slow so you can sustain it!
- One way to slow things down in the industry, is by working with a new business model - working in “Collaboration” rather than in “Competition” p97
- Why isn’t a competitive model working for everyone? For the environment?
- “Nothing is outdated”. p101. Discuss.
- What are the alternatives to trend-driven fashion?
- Slowing down fashion industry norms enables the development of the best products using the best practices possible! Consider the trickle-down effect on consumers….“Slow Fashion Season has 3 demands: transparency from companies, targets from governments, and accountability from advertisers”. p104. Discuss.
- “We have to see the dominant narrative around success, hyper-acceleration, and a productive body as rooted in colonialism”. p99 . Consider this statement and its implications… Katrina from the Shared World Collective will be leading this discussion.
Even Faster
What this could look like.....
- Better inventory management.
- Better predictions due to "big data to manage inventory"
- Direct to consumer model.
- 3D printing
- Made to order, even at the touch of a button from home.
Questions this chapter encourages us to think about:
- The younger generations are the next deciders of where fashion goes. "Do they know about the sustainability issue, or even care?"p109
- "Brands can now get products live within days" Sein is releasing "TEN THOUSAND" (p110) a day! - This makes Sein the most "important" brand on the planet "doesn't mean good....its a bellwether for what is happening" (pg110). Discuss.
- "Social media commodifies our every moment" (pg 111) Discuss.
- Survey by "Samsung, found 60 percent of young people ready to ditch fast fashion entirely". But, Vouge study finds gen Z buy most of their clothes from fast fashion. And even worse, BoF Insights research suggests just " 7% of gen Z" are driven "by a strong sense of ethics and purpose to change the world" (pg112). Discuss.
- Apparently its not not "trends" - its now called "Aesthetics" that motivates gen z pg.112. The other is issue is financial. Also, they are so overwhelmed by "social upheaval and political unrest. There is a feeling of nihilism out there". pg114. Discuss.
- Do you think fashion can be pulled by demand rather than pushed out products. So less waste on unwanted items. e.g. order customized on line and 3D printed (hopefully made from biodegradable materials such as corn starch, where old fashion becomes compost) pg 114. ?
- "used right, tech innovation can unlock speed and Sustainability" Such as Magic fit technology used by Citizen Wolf pg115- 117, Discuss.
Hope to see you on Sunday,
Love,
Yvie xo