The fashion industry is volatile and controversial. Perhaps these are the two qualities that attract me most to working on the management side of this illustrious field. I enjoy that fashion is constantly evolving and that any individual can create loud statements simply with what they’re wearing. I mean, who would have ever predicted that feather jackets donned by the music icon, Brandon Flowers, would translate into the high fashion scene?
As trends come and go, the debate arises as to how exclusive these major fashion houses will remain. High fashion is becoming more and more accessible to the average consumer who is easily bored and craves innovation. Tim Gunn’s (a fashion mentor, consultant, and host of Bravo’s Project Runway) advice, “Make it work” transcends any and all barriers. He’s right. Fashion is an art form and it’s for everyone.
Haute Couture has its roots in the mid 1800s when Charles Worth created the first fashion house in (you guessed it) Paris, France. Coco Chanel, the prime fashion entrepreneur, basically revolutionized fashion in general by creating beautiful suits and glamorous quilted handbags. Her suit is the most imitated design to this very day. Later, women’s fashion showcased military cut clothes as influenced by World War I. Following the flapper styles of the roaring 20’s came unusual bright colors, the adjustment of hemlines, ethnic inspirations, and the mod style dictated by London’s rock music scene. Lately, simplicity often gets swept aside by more radical and theatrical designers, such as Alexander McQueen, who have emerged onto the fashion scene. Across time, the point is simple and the motto remains the same…”anything goes.” Popular fashion trends are truly unpredictable.
Though, no matter what trends arise in the elite and international fashion houses, one issue is prevalent: the democratizing agent in high fashion. Target’s international go-line has offered affordable collections by high fashion designers such as Proenza Schouler, Alexander McQueen, and Anna Sui. H&M had hundreds of people lining up and down the streets of New York City when Jimmy Choo released a reasonably priced collection for the retail stores. Forever 21, though, is an interesting case to note. Offering massive amounts of cheap yet chic clothing, the retailers have been sued by several fashion houses for copyright infringements. They are constantly ripping off designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, creating exact replicas of $325 dresses and selling them for $32.
So the question becomes, can you copyright fashion? It doesn’t seem like you can. Imitators and knockoffs will always persist and it seems as though the multi-billion dollar company, Forever 21, will continue on the same path. I strongly advocate the mentality that fashion is for everyone, and no one should have to sacrifice style because of a price… but I don’t agree with the infringement of a brand’s intellectual property. The future of the fashion industry is far too unpredictable, but as the economic downfalls suggest, fashion houses may lose reigns of their exclusivity. So, does a silver lining even exist? The consumer and designer can always make it work.
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