Editor's Letter | Winter 2021

4 MIN READ | EDITORIAL | A.M.

Seattle artist works on a mural with themes of inclusion celebrating a vision of America in which all belong. Notably, a sign that reads, “Can’t talk right now. . .” has been crossed out and replaced with one below it that reads, “It’s nice to be important. . . but it’s more important to be nice.”

“It’s that time of year when the world falls in love.”

— The Christmas Waltz

Late autumn ambers have softened into their early winter steely blues and grays. Temperatures have settled into the upper 50s, and soon enough, will shift into the 40s and below. Rain clouds tease our convergence zone with momentary splashes of mist and mirth. For those near the Sound, the occasional brilliant sunset erases an entire year of gloom convincing us that the Northwest truly is the most splendid place on Earth. And we readily buy into the myth and magic believing our best days are both in the here-and-now and just ahead.

The independent fashion scene has seen a resurgence of live events including trunk shows, popups and runways. And while social distancing, face masks, and proof-of-vaccination are still important measures, people across the Northwest are ready to spread their wings for work as well as play. 2020 showed us a world in dire need. 2021 shows us a world willing to take on that challenge.

King County reports show that COVID-19 has been trending down for months with current cases seeing an 11% decrease (328 daily average) and deaths at a 43% decrease (3 daily average). And while businesses were fully opened earlier this year, the push for vaccinations remains strong. King County reports that 83.7% of our population have received a full vaccine series.

As of this writing, Washington State elections are slated for November 2nd. Many claim change is needed, and surely that is the case. But a change to what and whether it will occur at all is anyone's guess. Yet at the forefront of every fashion professional’s mind are the realities that necessitate more streamlined supply chains and increased customer spending—problems that seem quite small compared to what we have already overcome.

Many businesses in Downtown remain closed with boarded windows now home to community murals and tagging. The coronavirus may have subsided, but the emotional weight of the previous 18 months still hangs like an anchor throughout a largely vacant downtown. A quick stroll through Pike Place or Westlake Center reveals a population struggling to regain a sense of normalcy which means different things to different people. And alarmingly, more people are now facing winter on our city streets. But once again, Northwest communities are taking these challenges head-on, and in some cases, using the vehicle of fashion to spread hope beyond mere commercial successes.

Slideshow images from an hour’s walk around Westlake Center, October 2021.

At this point you might be asking what any of this has to do with fashion. Fair question. We've hardly gotten to clothing, after all.

A quick walk through Westlake Center is telling, both of the change in season and the nature of our political climate. Change is in the air. What it looks like is anyone's guess. But one thing is certain—change, whilst inescapable, is still a force of good, so long as it's upheld by a vision strong enough to unite us.

Vision is something that fashion professionals—specifically in artistic endeavors—seem to unconsciously invoke with little effort. But communicating vision is an entirely different thing requiring an understanding of both topic and audience. We praise the collections, silhouettes, necklines, textiles, and even the construction. But what of the packaging, shipping, trucking, retailing, merchandising, marketing, and the myriad of other tangentially related aspects of our industry? What is the vision for a sustainable future right in our own cities?

For Seattle, the vision of sustainability has always been small. But that's not to say it's bad. In fact, the message of slow-fashion and local economies has been preached for decades. But the effects often go unnoticed largely because they're difficult to measure without taking a long view. It's all the more important to remember the wisdom in the saying, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Small ripples become massive waves. And generations from now we'll see the cumulative benefits. Changing small things leads to a big impact. And that’s a message worth repeating.

The fact is simply that our independent Northwest fashion industry is still in the midst of a long recovery from the economic collapse only a year ago. Some fashion businesses were able to recover quickly due in part to inexpensive lease options and generous loan programs. Others weren't so lucky. And while Seattle residents remain somewhat homeward bound, stockists and boutiques from Capitol Hill to 1st Avenue have seen a refreshing uptick in visitors whom quickly become repeat customers. Perhaps their only real competition now are the many nearby coffee locales vying for consumer attention whilst serving the best blends available in this or any other city.

This, more than anything, demonstrates that the Pacific Northwest is as resilient as ever, with creators still creating their best work and consumers still shopping local to rebuild our fashion economy. It is a call to arms for designers and makers to create visions of a future in which we all belong. In which we are loved, valued, heard and accepted. Where the clothes we wear uplift us in ways that elevate entire communities. Where space is given for self-reflection. And where beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

In The Winter 2021 Issue issue, we've paired everything down to focus even more keenly on local stories. We'll hear from three local designers that have plotted different courses toward success. Our next interview in The Designer Series is with Elisa Yip whose grit and determination led to a successful brand launch in 2020 and a profitable 2021. Lisa Marie spent the year creating an epic collection whilst managing Visette Boutique's bespoke experiences. And Madison Leiren opened a new atelier in Ballard whilst launching a new line of intimate wear to accompany her bridal offerings. For these entrepreneurs, business has been good. More importantly, 2021 has been a year of new beginnings built upon a bedrock of self-care and doubling down on the core values at the heart of their lives and businesses.

For our cover story, we interview the new President & CEO of Seattle Counseling Service Victor Loo. Victor is no stranger to fashion, with a modeling career spanning more than a few seasons. But more important is how fashion has intersected with public service in ways that can truly transform our communities, specifically for our homeless and unsheltered citizens.

Each of these stories begin with vision and end with transformation. From a warm sweater to a second chance at recovery, to reclaiming a special occasion once thought lost to the changing times. Nothing is impossible. And change, whilst constant, is quite good indeed.