Editor's Letter | Summer 2021

2 min read | Editorial | A.M.

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Pictured above is model Hillary wearing Heidi Fish Swimwear two-piece at a community pool.

The Pacific Northwest has undergone more changes in the past year and a half than any other time in recent memory. This is certainly true of the fashion industry at large and extends into our environment, politics, economics and even our physical proximity to each other. Health mandates have called for a complete reopening of businesses, only to return to a more cautioned stance as we face new variants of the coronavirus.

The fact is that many small fashion businesses have closed their doors and even moved to other states with fewer regulations and less expensive retail spaces. The doors that remain open do so at diminished capacity, reduced product availability, and a general increase in consumer prices resulting in increased overhead throughout the supply chain, even now, over a year into the global pandemic. And those who remain do so by adapting to change with little more than a belief in universal goodness and the goodwill of others to see them through as they double down on digital-first business models, internationally streamlined supply chains, new products, and better services. But belief is a powerful thing, and the Northwest is nothing if not adaptive to change.

Throughout this issue, we feature stories from people whom have adapted to change and find themselves upheld by their commitments to their personal and professional evolution. In fashion, it’s all about the clothes. But in 2021, it’s all about how designing better clothing can shape our world for the better. Buying local is a small part of the solution to be certain, and no less an important one, as a local purchase directly impacts communities all over the world.

Our summer season has been one of the hottest on record with few signs of cooling down. And while travel has been accessible, limiting our vacations has been seen as a wise precaution under the circumstances. And so the great staycations begin again, though with far more freedoms than were seen last summer. And times of reflection offer a unique opportunity for growth.

The theme of our Summer Issue is renewal, and as such, we present this without advertisements. This has little to do with the magazine itself. Instead, it has everything to do with the time we intentionally create in our busy lives to reconnect with our true selves and realign with our purpose. And as we each strengthen ourselves individually, we inevitably create a stronger community.

For fashion company Nuciano, renewal resulted from intense self-reflection and fortitude in the face of devastation. For Seattle brand Jersey Virago, it began with a leap of faith and flourished under a blossoming new creative direction. For fashion designer Julie Danforth, it emerged from a decision to listen to her truth and deliver a collection paying homage to a past that deeply informs her future. For event production company Fashion District NW, it required a complete reimagining of the future of runway experiences. For local artists Violet & Jayde Rankin, it began as a means to cope with immense change and has become a beacon of hope to one of Seattle’s largest photographic communities. For the Northwest as a whole, it requires a commitment to remain steadfast in its pursuit of excellence in ever-evolving commercial and artistic waters. And for Seattle Fashion Collective, it requires an expansion of our scope of coverage to hopefully create a platform for more voices throughout our communities offering unique perspectives into our global conversations.

The time for renewal is now. Our collective commitment to individual and professional growth and adapting to change will directly influence the success of our larger fashion community. Fashion Group International and CFDA have increased their commitments to mentoring new talent and connecting with small businesses. And as for this publication, we have renewed our commitment to delivering the best fashion that the Northwest has to offer. Fall/Winter 2021 will be here before we know it. And Spring/Summer 2022 is only a season away.

—A.M.