AW20: Editor's Letter
4 min read | AW20 | 11.1.20 | A.M.
Images of blossoms outside The Polyclinic in Capitol Hill last March.
It’s the eleventh hour as I write this.
In a matter of days, our nation will elect a new president in what many predict will be a hotly contested decision. Washington State as well as the rest of the world, is in the midst of a new wave of COVID-19 cases, having seen over 2,400 deaths in the last several months.
Over 475,000 people are seeking unemployment assistance. Flu season is upon us. Schools and businesses have made the switch to remote work. Many businesses closed their doors for the last time. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other special occasions have been either remanded to small home gatherings or have been postponed altogether. Some fashion professionals have career alternatives, while others do not. To say this has been a difficult year would be an understatement at the very least. Many are tired with a weariness that cannot be voiced, but that all have experienced, even the youngest among us, in a season with an indefinite conclusion. And that’s perhaps the hardest part—placing one’s life on hold without knowing how any of this will end, or when.
But it is the role of fashion to remain ahead of the curve. Our job is one of leadership as we continue to chart our course into the unknown, as we have done countless times before. The difficulties our independent fashion community now face are not so different from years past. Consumers still value convenience and low prices over handmade goods with luxury textiles. Comfort is key, and a lack of opportunities to gather publicly serves to reinforce this dictum. In times of recession, people withhold spending, which adds urgency to find better solutions that solve consumer problems. But perhaps most important, times like these reveal who we truly are, and after all is said and done, we are a community that cares deeply for each other. We open our hearts and minds to one another, recognizing that we’re in this together, and that united, we can find better solutions.
In our TALKS series, we discussed the state of Northwest fashion with twelve local professionals ranging from designers and retailers to models and students. The goal was to gain the lay of the land in order to plan our next steps forward. Face masks became the obvious pivot point. But beyond the immediate reactions to early shutdowns, it became clear that now is the best possible time to approach fashion from first principles. Watch all of our Talks to discover the story of the Northwest independent fashion industry’s response to our present crisis.
In our interview with Evrnu CEO Stacy Flynn last January, we discovered Stacy’s vision of designing waste out of the fashion lifecycle, with Evrnu’s proprietary textiles able to withstand up to four recycle generations before breaking down into their base elements. Evnu previously showcased their concept proofs in partnership with Levi’s, adidas, and Stella McCartney, and remain hopeful as they look to 2021 to license their technology more broadly.
International manufacturing shutdowns revealed just how interconnected we truly are. The entire fashion supply chain broke down, and while many businesses in China recovered quickly, the rest of the world is only now trying to regain momentum as everyone looks ahead to the Spring/Summer 2021 season.
Health code restrictions that keep us safe have also presented new challenges for those with fixed places of business. A reduction in allowable maximum occupancies and redefining what’s essential have forced many business owners to take drastic measures. Those that were able to successfully pivot found that a reduction in overhead and creating new efficiencies allowed for even greater productivity to meet the rising demand for face masks and related accessories.
Staying indoors doesn’t mean forgoing adventure. Many parks and hiking trails reopened throughout the summer, providing opportunities to reconnect with nature. While gyms were shutdown, online companies like Peloton saw an incredible uptick in sales of their in-home bikes, treadmills, apparel, and accessories.
Connection has never been so important, and although most connections are digital, they are empowered by truly innovative technologies. These days, anyone with a smartphone can enjoy FaceTime and Zoom calls with friends and family, and even conduct doctor’s examinations and meetings with business colleagues. It’s never been easier to make the shift to a digital-first strategy. Connecting with customers, taking measurements, checking inventory, working through financial spreadsheets, photographing marketing assets, and even basic website design can all be accomplished on an iPad or its equivalent.
And in the midst of all of this, we remember our shared humanity. We all need to be seen, heard, and loved. To be valued for who we are. To know that what we do really matters. That change is possible if we really try. To stand up for others, even when our voice trembles and our legs shake. To know that even when we’re in the toughest fight of our lives, someone has our back, and we have theirs. To know that anything is possible, even when we’re told otherwise. Fashion touches upon all of these things. We’re a network of creative rebels and business mavericks whose total far exceeds the sum of our parts. And just like the Goonies, we never say die, because we know that more often than not, the destination is the journey.
There is so much more to be said, though perhaps this isn’t the proper format. Which is why I’m pleased to announce our upcoming podcast will launch soon. We will offer our community a place to share ideas on life and business as well as all things fashion in the Northwest. It will be quite different from what you’ve heard before. We’re developing the first season around some of the biggest pain points in our region and we’ll announce more soon.
While others busy themselves with forecasting trends, we will focus on connecting with people. There are endless places to learn about how to make money and sell things to new customers. But there are very few places to learn about the people of the Pacific Northwest and the lives we live here. This is not a publication focused on building wealth and sailing off in your private yacht, though we’ll certainly discuss the topic as it becomes relevant. Rather, we’re making a statement and a promise to shine a light on Northwest fashion and invest in a community that may one day arise to become a fashion capitol.
All things change. And change can be quite good. We’re looking forward to the next chapter of fashion in our region. And we expect to see you there, dressed to impress.
Drinks at six.
— A.M.
Editor’s Letter originally published as Arise in our AW20 Print Issue and republished here in its entirety.
