Who, when and why?? Another rant about my wonderful fashion world..

I could use all my fingers and most of my toes to count the years I've worked in the fashion industry. 

My mother reminds me of events in the past that only confirm that it was a path I was destined to follow. (At the age of three I teared a dress off because it wasn't to my liking)...stubborn and determined..not much has changed..

 Alfred Eisenstaedt

I have written before about my incompatability and disagreement with many of the industry's manners and games. 

There is a basic logistical issue which I simply can't get my head around and have debated with many as to who, when and why did the season deliveries become a reflection of the lack of commonsense that my industry seems to operate by...

Last year one of my Japanese buyers asked for a Winter delivery in May!

I wasn't surprised as it just seemed like the next step in the ladder,  and in this business... the higher you go up the retail end, the earlier the delivery should be....even though you end up delivering 100% handknitted cashmere to New York in June.

Since August, I have become a retailer myself so for the first time I can experience and act on what it is pe0ple want...

Today is the 3rd of January, it's snowing and probably -3 degrees Celsius (26 Fahrenheit). I anticipate I will not sell a bikini in the shop until April..and what is flying out the door??...knitwear, coats and anything waterproof or thermal...

If I follow the industry standard I should be 'in sale' when the consumer requires my product the most... and I should be holding Spring Summer stock since the end of November....absurd absurd absurd..

I think for too many years the industry has been bullied by  financial advisers and bankers with their computer charts and excel sheets  instead of following the customer's real wants and needs... 

Commonsense and fashion may not go hand in hand but I am determined to continue my 'war dance' through this circus and just hope the gods will listen.....

Comments

[Javmb]

"...I think for too many years the industry has been bullied by financial advisers and bankers with their computer charts and excel sheets instead of following the customer's real wants and needs..."

Are you talking about the fashion industry or the advertising industry? because, for me, it's exactly the same!

I have wondered one million times why the hell a certain campaign has to be on air the X day. I can't imagine people outside in the streets, thinking "hmmm strange, it's january the 3rd and the new campaign from X, hasn't come out yet!, something must be happening!".

Let's keep fighting for common sense.

[Jane Flanagan]

I suppose some of this perpetual forward-thinking started when fashion shows became something for public consumption and not just buyers.

I feel the exact same for journalism... I'm writing articles about Valentines Day, Christmas, Summer etc long before anybody wants to think about these things. It makes me feel completely schizophrenic. But once the stuff is out there, we rush to cover it for fear of being scooped.

It's interesting to note that most bloggers (my blogging self included) keep "real time" with their content. Call me a freak, but everything (fashion, food, content) becomes a lot more attractive to me when it's in real context!

[Silent Storyteller]

I couldn't agree more!

[Javmb]

I agree. This is the time for real things. Real People in Real Time.

[helen james]

I have long thought that there should be a "Slow Fashion" movement, just like the slow food movement. A movement against disposable fashion and even against "FASHION" ....the "slow clothes" movement?. Maybe Blogs will be a part of the process that readjusts our world back from the claws of media and press to the gentle hands of people with common sense and intelligence. I was reading only last night an article in the Sunday Times about how the paparazzi are suffering because the public palette for pictures of "celebrities" cellulite is waning, so maybe sense has finally started to creep in already. x

[Silent Storyteller]

Slow Clothes Movement... a brilliant idea.. I wonder if there is anyone campaigning for it yet... ???

[helen james]

We can start ................ slowly?

[Silent Storyteller]

hahahahaha....yes....very, very slowly please!!!

[Julieta]

well well - it all sounds so familiar - don't get me started with the life cycle of a book!

[Silent Storyteller]

Julieta......Would love to know the life cycle of a book...? Do you have a blog???