While Adidas is in a deep crisis and Kasper Rorsted (“bad numbers, bad people”), who was celebrated as a management pop star and “rough role model” because of his radical leadership style, is going under, Germany’s largest fashion retailer Peek & Cloppenburg Düsseldorf has filed for bankruptcy has, Galeria formerly known as Kaufhof, had to close 52 or 48 of its 129 department stores, I ask myself whether it is finally high time to rethink the system. Of course, I only ask this question rhetorically. Because: More and more (at the expense of people and the environment) is obviously no longer a contemporary concept. It is time to redefine values and goals and to rethink leadership styles.
Always better and fairer instead of always faster and more.
I have neither economic expertise nor would I call myself a political professional. I studied journalism and communication science. But my common sense tells me that there is an ever-growing imbalance here. Between need and supply (keyword: overproduction or mass production). Between “we’ve always done it this way” and contemporary concepts that think along with people, animals and our planet (*reading tip – see below). Between “what is possible” and what MUST be done.
The way it is – yes, I repeat myself – it must not stay the way it is.
One of the reasons why everything has become too much, too fast, too short-lived has to do with fashion becoming entertainment. Thankfully, Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia also noticed this and announced during the current show that he wanted to devote himself more to the art of making clothes from now on. Hallelujah! What a realization. Fashion has overtaken itself in recent years and gone haywire with collaborations like Balenciaga x Simpsons (as great as I think they are) and the IKEA Frakta (yes, the blue bag) lookalike (also Balenciaga). Balenciaga hasn’t left out the ugly shoes hype either and without batting an eyelid has thrown Balenciaga x Crogs (yes, the camping slippers) onto the market and – like many other brands – has ventured into territory that, to put it mildly, is unhealthy. At this point, I will spare us any explanations about Balenciaga x DHL (yes, the delivery service).
Is this still in fashion or can it go away? Can obviously go far too often. It is not for nothing that the landfills (especially in the Global South) are overflowing.
Today it’s more about being noticed than about style – in high fashion as well as in (ultra) fast fashion. Loud is more important than quiet. Social media has changed our relationship with fashion. You have turned fashion into a disposable item. Garments are sorted out faster than ever before. With catastrophic consequences for the planet. Returns (keyword: Zalando) travel thousands of kilometers through Europe to finally be disposed of.
By the way: Sign the Greenpeace petition against the destruction of new goods at Amazon, among others >>>
Our wish: back to quality.
Let fashion live longer again.
Fashion should (must) become what it was again: a textile way of expressing our personality that is produced with respect. Which is bought again in order to be worn for a long time and not to be sorted out and disposed of after a short time thanks to new trends communicated much too quickly – especially via social media.
That’s why we’re dedicating ourselves to inspiring slow fashion projects, brands and news this week.
#lovedclotheslast
With this in mind: long live fashion.
*mirjam & Florens
*Lesetipp: Das Meer klagt an! Der Kampf für die Rechte der Natur von Laura Burgers und Jessica den Outer (Hirzel).
