Come What May

They say that when life throws you lemons, make lemonade. But with fashion at a global crossroads today, many are asking important questions about the industry and realising that it has to change. Designers and retailers tell elle singapore how they’re coping and adapting, in the face of such uncertainty

- Andrea Sim

By now, most of us have gotten the hang of it. The new daily routine: Wake up, get dressed (optional), start work, exercise and cook (also optional), before heading to bed. There is comfort in regularity, especially so during irregular times when the clothes you choose to put on and the number of burpees you power through seem to be a few of the things left that we have control over.

The impact on the fashion industry was palpable as soon as the coronavirus hit critical mass. Stores were temporarily closed, production was halted or slowed down, and fashion weeks either cancelled, postponed or readapted as digital presentations. In light of this, a multitude of questions arose. Are physical fashion shows really necessary? Does the seasonal calendar still make sense? Has there been way too much product in general?

A handful of luxury brands have made known their stand at press time. Gucci has announced that it will release two seasonless collections a year moving forward instead of five. It’s a decision that goes hand in hand with its sustainability-focused initiative, Gucci Equilibrium, that aims to reduce its impact on the environment. Saint Laurent has confirmed that it is reassessing the fashion calendar, and will no longer show during Paris Fashion Week. Chanel conversely, has affirmed that it is sticking to its six collections per year, but will likely scale back its runway shows, extravaganzas that were widely known to be the very epitome of fantastical excess.