UK Today Fashion Futures

Fashion Futures

What do we wear when no one can see us? With most of us spending a lot of time in our homes over the past months, not going out with friends or to public places, we’ve had a long time to wear what we want without anyone judging* us. But will the cultural changes of life under lockdown create a lasting* change in our relationship to clothes?

Comfort First

The answer to our first question is that, unsurprisingly, when we are not ‘on show’ we choose to wear loose, comfortable clothes. While we wait for life inside to become life outside, we are wearing leggings, wide trousers (or pants if you are in the US), loose T shirts, and sports clothes of all kinds. There’s not much point* in putting on your best clothes when only your family or house mates will see you. But comfortable doesn’t have to mean you aren’t taking care of yourself. In fact, there is good evidence that with more time on our hands*, we are listening to our bodies more. We are not only wearing what we want, we are taking better care of ourselves.

Fashion – At a Distance

The fashion industry has been hit hard by the global lockdown*. Shops have been shut, and with nowhere to go, many people have not added to their wardrobes. Now, fashion industry leaders are wondering if this period of change could lead to new ways of thinking about fashion. Perhaps, they say, this is a time to make fashion more sustainable*. They think the future will be about cooperation, and greater transparency*. We might one day know how our clothes were made, who by, and how. There is a chance to improve working conditions and reduce the environmental impact of our wardrobes, but that of course will depend on the choices we make as consumers.

The Way Forward

Research into current shopping trends* reveal that consumers are buying fewer items, but what they do buy is chosen to

Technology might also change our shopping habits. Augmented reality* can help us choose clothes without leaving our homes. What is augmented reality? You upload photos of yourself and the software helps you see what an item of clothing looks like on you without even trying it on.

In the future, we may have our own ‘shopping channels’, with brands and prices suited to us. Our previous shopping habits and online searches will be used to create a new shopping experience. We won’t have to rely only on the shops in our towns and cities, but will be able to buy from anywhere in the world.

be worn many times, and is likely to be suitable for a wider range of seasons. In fact, there are signs that consumers are becoming much more aware of sustainability. They no longer want lots of cheap throwaway* items but are building a ‘capsule* wardrobe’ –a much smaller collection of better quality items and accessories. By changing our relationship with clothes, we are changing our relationship with the planet.

The Wardrobe Review

The good news is that a smaller wardrobe means less pressure to spend as much on clothes. Time by ourselves has given us time to think about who we are and what we want our lives to look like. We can take a step back*. We can look at the clothes we have, and decide what we want to keep and what we no longer need or want. Maybe it’s time to take some less loved items out of our cupboards and, depending on what you are allowed to do where you are, take them to the charity shop (thrift store if you are American), give them to friends, or sell them online. A review of your wardrobe can be a great way to release* the old, and welcome in the new you that you have got to know in the last few months.

Quiz

On a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 means ‘totally disagree’, 5 means ‘neither agree nor disagree’, and 10 means ‘totally agree’, answer the following questions.

1. I like to follow fashion. ......... 2. Comfort is the most important thing for me when choosing clothes. ......... 3. I am happy with my wardrobe, there’s not much I want to change. ......... 4. I am conscious of the environmental impact of my clothes. ......... 5. My attitude to clothes and fashion has changed during the past year. .........

Find the verb for the definition.

1. describe what the future will look like ................................. 2. form an opinion (often negative) about someone / something .............................. 3. make something better ................................. 4. make something again, after it has been damaged or broken ................................. 5. represent or show .................................

What the Future Holds…

No one can predict what next year will look like, but we do know that we have a chance to change. This is an opportunity to rebuild and make things the way we want them to be. That doesn’t mean we will all be going around in our pyjamas from now on, or that life will be in monochrome*. In fact, many in the fashion industry believe that, when everyone is let out again, fashion will reflect the feeling of freedom, with bright colours and big eye-catching* designs, but maybe those clothes will be made in a different way, with natural fabrics and natural dyes*, with better working conditions for those making the clothes we wear... But that, of course, will be up to us.

Glossary

judging: having an opinion on something / someone lasting: that continues for a long time not much point: (idiom) no use (whatever you do, it will make no difference) time on our hands: (idiom) when you don’t have much to do lockdown: (here) order to stay indoors due to health crisis sustainable: that does not damage the natural world transparency: (here) when you do something in an honest way, without secrets trends: (here) general direction that something is going in throwaway: (adjective) object designed to be used once or a few times only capsule: (here; figurative) small container take a step back: (idiom; here) give yourself the mental space to think about something release: (here) become free of monochrome: black and white, or of a single colour eye-catching: (figurative) that you notice immediately dye: chemical (natural or man-made) used to add colour to fabric

augmented reality:

technology that adds a computer-generated image to your view of the real world