Vogue Global Conversations
PHOTO: VOGUE.COM
What awaits the fashion industry once the pandemic is over? I think that all of us who are passionate about this world at the same time are concerned about what will happen, will everything be the same as before? Will the face mask be the next accessory of the season? How will the brands communicate from now on? What will be the future of fashion shows and physical stores?
“This time period is a pause to rethink and reanalyze what fashion means ”
For a period of four days, Vogue broadcasted a series of conversations on various topics to discuss what is expected for the fashion industry and answer concerns from all the fans. I had the incredible opportunity to enjoy three of these discussions:
"The Future of Creativity" with Edward Enninful from British Vogue, Marc Jacobs and Kenneth Ize.
"The Future of Sustainability" with Eugenia de la Torriente from Vogue Spain, Stella McCartney and Gabriela Hearst.
"The Future of E-Commerce" with Angelica Cheung from Vogue China, Virgil Abloh (Off-White), Stephanie Phair (Farfetch) and Remo Ruffini (Moncler).
My favorite discussion was “The Future of Sustainability”, personally it is the area that I am most passionate about in this industry and in my opinion where the future of fashion must be directed. Having the opportunity to hear Stella McCartney's opinion and point of view was a total privilege. She is a true inspiration and an example to follow, she was the right person to present on the subject. During this discussion, topics such as the importance of rethinking the way things are being done, the true future we want and how the industry can be transformed to be more environmentally friendly, were emphasized.
Stella spoke that being sustainable is being aware of our impact and thinking about how that impact that we are generating today affects tomorrow. She talked about the importance of thinking ahead, then she noted that Marc Jacobs had said minutes earlier that he could not plan much because his suppliers in Italy were in quarantine, but Stella instead, could continue creating because she had the materials and even thought what else she could do with all the material she had left from past collections. In addition, during the “Future of Sustainability”, Gabriela Hearst highlighted how resources are limited and the importance of how waste doesn't exist in nature, so brands should be mindful of the entire design process to decrease the amount of waste they produce.
“Waste, at the end of the day, is a design flaw.
It doesn’t exist in nature.”
During "The Future of Creativity", Marc Jacobs said something extremely important about giving ourselves a space to assimilate everything that is happening and everything that is about to change. We are in a process of grief, but these times are when we transform and beautiful things can be created.
In the conversation about “The Future of E-Commerce”, the importance of collaboration, empathy, knowing how to listen to customers and connect with their needs were discussed. Stephanie Phair, in representation of Farfetch and the British Fashion Council, addressed how big brands play an important role in supporting and providing spaces to reward new designers and creating a collaborative industry capable of succeeding and thriving through difficult times. It is important to exploit our imagination and creativity to open new channels of operation and communication.
This period is crucial to redefine the fashion industry, to implement all the necessary changes and to reemerge strong and exciting as it has always been. I recommend for everyone to take time to listen to the conversations, so together we can reimagine this world that moves, inspires and motivates us.
Click here to watch Vogue Global Conversations:
Note: Scroll till the end of the article to watch the full recording.
