Editor's Letter | The January Issue

2 min read | A.M.

The fashion world has seen its most promising movement in seasons. Yet, in a decade marked by the downfall of brick-and-mortar and the prominence of e-commerce solutions, Seattle has felt the effects.

Macy’s Inc. chose to close its iconic downtown Seattle location. Nordstrom Inc. closed its Northgate location, while opening a Flagship in Manhattan. Amazon expanded its reach and increased its development of Seattle real estate. TomboyX raised $18 million in a Series B funding round, with Craftory now their majority shareholder. Evrnu raised $9 million in Series A funding, fueling their vision of a closed-loop fashion economy.

Tom Ford became the new Chairman of the CFDA. We said goodbye to familiar print publications. We saw traditional fashion gatekeepers grasp for relevance while social influencers created a new normal. We were encouraged by the growing awareness the industry has shown toward our planet through the important work of industry advocates and watchdog groups. And we saw the rise of algorithms in both modern vernacular and in marketing tactics. Just to name a few.

But most importantly, behind the scenes, we saw technology rise to meet some of our world’s most pressing needs. In the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster, no one could look at fashion the same way again. Long-time advocates Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney were no longer outliers—they are vital emissaries in an era of industry restructuring, inspiring a new generation of fashion professionals to design sustainability into their business endeavors.

If fashion is about making a statement, that statement resounds loud and clear. The answers we need moving forward await us at the intersection of art, empathy, technical innovation, and scientific breakthrough. It will require inclusivity, with experts in multiple disciplines aligned with the same purpose. And amid the bankruptcy of Forever21, with the shifting sands the fast-fashion sector is restructuring upon, it’s clear that the way forward requires the courage to solve big problems in life as well as fashion.

Seattle’s fashion textile innovators Evrnu invented large-scale solutions for recycling textile and made plans to license its technology as early as mid-2020. Former Microsoft and Amazon employees have teamed up to apply design thinking and software solutions to the matters of fashion logistics and artisan advocacy. And perhaps most inspiring, we’ve witnessed a new generation rise up, led by Greta Thunberg (Time’s 2019 Person of the Year) actively demanding solutions, and settling for nothing less.

Fashion stands for something altogether different now. It has, over the years, become a revolution. And there has never been a better time to participate in something entirely revolutionary. One’s status has little to do with wealth. Instead, it has to do with the application of our skills toward equitable outcomes for all. We are invited to use our voices and our spending habits to alter the course of history. And it is not hyperbole to suggest that it’s now or never. Sustainability is not a trend. It’s a lifestyle. And an obligation.

From factories in Bangladesh to Pakistan, New York to Seattle, we are all members of one global community striving to do the best we can with what we have. And our most valuable asset isn’t a loom or a laptop—it is each other. And we work everyday to make this world a place in which future generations will be proud to flourish.

As we look ahead to 2020, we remember that fashion is about embracing the new. New visions. New styles. New innovations. New inclusion into welcoming communities. And this year will be one of celebration. What remains of the industry shake-up will be a commitment to respecting people and planet alike. Dignity and empowerment for all is our baseline. Curiosity and collaboration is our operating system. Time is our currency. And our definition of luxury is the pursuit of excellence in everything we do.

As Seattle Fashion Collective grows, we hope you’ll grow with us. We will highlight the best that Seattle has to offer our international fashion community. And likewise, share stories from some of our region’s most inspirational fashion professionals. The end result being that we all move forward together.

And we commit to providing relevant and engaging visuals and stories that hold up our mirror to the world, reflecting the brilliance and craftsmanship the Northwest has to offer. We believe that our very best days are ahead, and that right now is the best time to be alive. We will be relentless in our optimism as we face our collective future. With all the creativity and technology the Pacific Northwest has to offer, it’s only a matter of time before Seattle becomes a fashion capital with an entirely captivating point-of view.

What we need most right now is the one asset we already have in abundance.