WHAT CAN FASHION EXPECT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR?

By Benjamin S. Siegel, Esq.

founder and CEO, told me. ‘His soul, his compassion, and especially his heart made it a very easy decision on every single level.’” person, as a way for brands to stand out. changed from the completely formal wear to casual. Therefore, living standards and geographical locations also affect the trends at a particular place for a period. Observing the changing fashion for so many years, I feel that heritage gives the whole designing industry a new dimension. From Kalamkari to Pashmina, it is our heritage that inspires many innovations. redicting even a month in advance is a guessing game in light of the coronavirus pandemic that we are still experiencing throughout the world, so predicting a year in advance seems to be totally impossible. However, there are some indicators that show us some possibilities of what we can expect.

Technology continues to be a major component of fashion consumer retail. This is a perfect avenue to elevate personalization through new digital tools, ethical and sustainable business practices and interactive customer experiences.

Fashion Weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris brought trends back to the physical world with inspiring shows. This season’s top looks were full of basic staples, as well as bold and creative pieces. Sheer and neon creations highlighted the season’s attention to details, a trend that fashion experts appreciate no matter what season we are in.

PIn a recent article from 3DLook entitled “Top trends shaping the future of fashion retail in 2023,” it was reported that consumer demand for digital, sustainable and engaging experiences is driving new trends and creating new growth opportunities for fashion businesses to explore.

The article reported that fashion execs are optimistic about sales for the rest of 2023, which are expected to increase as consumers unleash their pent-up desire to shop.

In competitive markets, retailers have been advised to explore new ways to differentiate themselves from other brands, as they view digital sustainability and consumer engagement as some major opportunities to highlight.

McKinsey & Company’s “The State of Fashion 2021” is a good place to start. The report advises: “The pandemic will accelerate trends that were in motion prior to the crisis, as shopping shifts to digital and consumers continue the champion fairness and social justice.” The report also states that “The primary driver of growth in the coming year will continue to be digital channels, reflecting the fact that people in many countries remain reluctant to gather in crowded environments.”

Consumers are making up for lost time and have demonstrated the strongest appetite for leisure spending during the pandemic recovery with fashion at the top of their shopping lists.

Consumer engagement represents a new opportunity and reflects the growing importance of customer experiences, both online and in-

In a September 16, 2021 article in Vogue Runway, Nicole Phelps reported on what we can expect from designer Mickey Boardman. Phelps wrote: “In his Ashish sequins and vintage costume jewelry, Mickey Boardman cuts an outsize figure in New York fashion circles, with an extroverted personality to match. ... It was 1992, while studying design at Parsons, that Boardman began interning at Paper, the bible of cool for people who don’t read The Bible. He’s earned his icon status. Now he’s multi-hyphenating, adding designer entrepreneur to his list of exploits.

“The debut Mr. Mickey collection drops on the new internet and app-based shopping platform Live Rocket tomorrow and it’s very much made in Boardman’s image with sparkly polos, pull-on pants, and hoodies, and printed pieces featuring party photos of Boardman over the years … ‘There’s not a person on the planet I could have chosen to launch Live Rocket other than Mr. Mickey,” Mark Bozek, the platform’s

An article in Financial Express, published on August 31, 2021, presented an international view, titled “Future of Fashion: From Indian Heritage to Digital Outlook.” The article was written by Archana Surana, the founder and director of the ARCH College of Design & Business, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Surana introduced the subject with this statement: “As we know India is the land of mixed culture and has roots in craft design philosophy which can be observed in its tradition. India has embraced sustainability from the very beginning and is still practicing.

The metaverse will also continue to play a role and will transform digital spaces from twodimensional, linear spaces into multifaceted 3D worlds. Consumers, particularly young shoppers, have been and will continue to spend a lot of time immersing themselves in online spaces.

From virtual reality to popular games like Roblox, the metaverse is expected to have exponential growth in 2023 and beyond. Fashion NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have also been rooted in the industry, with major brands like Dolce & Gabbana launching virtual-only collections.

Surana continued, “Fashion has become a buzz word over the years along with sustainable craft practices. ... India has embraced sustainability from the very beginning and is still practicing. Our Indian heritage has been the source of inspiration for the generations in the past and future. We have observed that many renowned fashion designers have taken insight from our heritage and given fashionable clothing to the world. Which has changed society’s perception.

Examples of these trends are puff shoes with Minnie Mouse-like heels or a squishy pair of slides, the color beige with incorporations of brighter, bolder colors, tops with coordinating sequin pants that show off our legs in a very luxe way, jeans with fancy embroidery, fringe hemlines on skirts, dresses and evening gowns, supersized bows on belts, tops and backs of dresses and glam hoods as separate head coverings or attached to tops and dresses.

Size inclusivity is also growing thanks to technology. Mobile Tailor, a digital solution that enables companies to measure body sizes remotely, has allowed brands to provide customers with personalized at-home and in-store measuring tactics.

YourFit, another digital sizing solution, has been touted as “the ultimate virtual fitting room experience,” and allows customers and brands to tailor clothing according to body type, style and comfort all within discreet, personalized technology.

“Evolution is what? — open your wardrobe and look beyond the clothes you are regularly wearing these days. You will find many clothes which you have just stopped looking at because of evolution in fashion. You may have observed that how much ever the fashion changes you will require an Indian outfit for every occasion which is a part of Indian culture. And that’s where heritage plays an important role. Although being in the fashion world you need to evolve clothing keeping the essence of tradition alive. Looking at the present need of time and technological advancement to build a digital design future, we need to cater to the necessities of individuals by keeping the story of our heritage alive.”

Surana continued to explain the industry’s evolution: “The way fashion has evolved as an industry all over the world can be attributed to the industrial revolution in the 19th century; before the world wars, women never thought they would wear trousers. For men too, trends

The fashion outlook for 2023 is going to take women’s wear out of the doldrums of the past several years, which were overpowered by the overall chaos and unpredictability of the pandemic era. Coupled with emerging trends from recent years in sustainability, technology and diversity and inclusion, the new face of fashion has adapted to pandemic supply chain woes and is expected to come back swinging.

“Being experienced in the design industry, I can say, there is a lot to explore in our culture. India has many craft stories woven in the fabric of its tradition and a lot to share to the world. Fashion designers creatively think and try to bring change. Be it Paul Poiret, Edith Head, Andrew Lever or Indian designers who are representing craft heritage on a global stage … By the time the latest fashion clothing reaches the nearby stores, everyone has already ordered it from online retailers. Nevertheless, the blend of fashion with proficiency, that we must adapt to; to have heritage meet technology and go on hand in hand. While AI is the biggest threat to our traditional fashion and it can never give the kind of output traditional artisans can give, we must remember that it is here to stay and we must accept and adapt AI to serve.”

Benjamin Seigel, Esq. is of Counsel to the firm of G&B Law, LLP. He specializes in matters related to the fabric and textile industries. He can be reached at bseigel@gblawllp.com.

Surana concluded the Financial Express article with this observation: “Fashion has its own definition for all, and everyone is free to choose one’s style. That goes for every section of society. The sustainable development of the practices must be looked at. Over the years, the industry has understood its social responsibility and has been continuously evolving and we must prepare the youth to be the reason for the change. Along with the curriculum, there is a large space for exploration and ideation in the form of relevant tasks … Creativity is not something you can learn, but here you will learn to maintain it, enhance it and apply it for doing great work.”

Benjamin S. Seigel, Esq. is Of Counsel to G & B Law, LLP specializing in matters

bseigel@gblawllp.com.