How has the Housing Crisis Affected Home Fashion Retail?

As of right now, the United States is going through a recession and the effects are felt around the globe, but obviously seen the most through the buying habits of Americans. Money is much tigher these days, so fashion companies have to be more innovative and cheap in order for consumers to buy their products, or even look at them.

Home fashion is a good example of innovativeness at the moment and there are so many aspects in this department to look at, admire, and get ideas from. From chairs to couches, to coffee tables to lamps, the possbilities are practically endless as to how you would want to funk up your house in an interesting way, but nonethelss a cheap way. Since Americans have less money to spend on everything now days, consumers are buying cheaper pieces of furniture.

Nowadays, such popular shows on TLC such as trading spaces, have made a fortune our of refurnishing the space you already have and turning it in to something beautiful and useful. Little accessories to wamp up your living space are also becoming very popular around the U.S., for example take Target. Everything from mirrors to rugs to picture frames are available for consumers to purchase at a reasonable price, and are easy to use in order to change the look and feel of a room.

The recession has been hard on everybody in the world of fashion, but hopefully we can get out of it okay, and then some.

Changes in Apparel Retailing

The apparel retail industry has undergone huge changes during the past few years in the U.S. During this very trying time in our country a recession is happening and we are seeing a decline in spending all over the place. Walmart has seen the only increase in sales, while all other retail stores, and stores alike, continue to see a decrease in sales.

This recession has also taught consumers to be money-conccious and value-conscious, something that will stay with them way after everything turns around. I believe that for apparel to continue to grow at this level, retailers will have to become better at in-store marketing. Not only can the U.S. feel the hurt of sales going down, but countries around us will also feel the hurt; all those places we count on for clothing will also see a decline in money.

Three major forces transforming the apparel retailing in the United States are most like changes related to plus-size, aging, and immigrants, such as Hispanic/Latino consumers. Each force pushes apparel retailers toward a new mentality of defining their customers and making strategic decisions for long-term prosperity.

I believe that apparel retailing in our country is in a bad situation right now, but I do believe the recession will soon be up with the new President, and we can hopefully get right back on track. If not, well, I might need to change my major and think about a new profession.

Sweatshops

Sweatshops are places where people, even children sometimes, work insane hours and don't get paid nearly enough. By just looking at these key facts, I really can't say im pro sweatshops. It makes no sense to me why a company can have workers work in such harsh conditions for next to nothing. I cannot say weather or not I stronly agree or disagree, but I can say im probably more against them.

Another terrible side to sweatshops are the torture they ensue on the workers. The places they coexist in are usually in poor areas, where crime and drugs will follow. The people working in the sweatshops have no other way of making money, but to spend day on end in a giant warehouse sewing together clothes that sell for next to nothing because it helps out the corperation. America has no sweatshops and I think this is a big step towards the rest of the world because we can set an example to all other countries par-taking in this problem.

I believe sweatshops are a terrible thing to make and I strongly diagree with them and the things that they stand for. We should all do something to say no to sweatshops by starting up businesses that make clothing and such in America. By saying no to sweatshops we are making the world a better place to live on!

Art vs Utility

(Just Cavalli) (Emporio Armani) (Giorgio Armani)

Fashion is something we all use to communicate in our everyday lives, and can be intuitive or simply functinal. Sometimes you can put the two together, and when this happens, I believe a real border can be crossed. I believe in different humans eyes, art and utility can be the polar opposite of one another, or they can be one in the same.

I think having utility in clothing, such as pockets or amazing buttons can be a form of art (examples up above), but once again this is utility. People with certain jobs, such as a construction worker, may look at a piece of clothing as funcional because that is what they must do when in it. When exiting the work world, well that is another story in itself.

Looking at the designers point of view, clothing and fashion and everthing that embodies it, is art. Watching all the couture lines at Milan, I can see each look and piece as beauty and art. When these designers come to think of what they are to sketch and design, art is the main idea, but function does come in somewhere. However, at Milan most pieces of clothing are not as wearable; sky-rocketing heels and see-through dresses were everywhere this season and absolutely couture driven, as is the place of stay.

When the clothes exit the runway and consumers buy the pieces, art starts to take place yet again. When a buyer takes a piece of clothing and adds it to other designers of sorts, art also begins to take place. Art and utility go hand in hand in the world of fashion, and that is the wonderous thing about it.

What Inspires Me When Creating Something

When I started to think about what I was going to design for this blog, I really didn't know where to start. I knew I wanted something that was simple, but a little fashion-forward and definitely something I would want to wear!

I ended up sketching something, I believe, to be both chic and fun at the same time, and I love it! I love the whole look, down to the color of the model's hair and stance!

The silhouette of the dress is meant for a curvier woman, but if a thin woman were to wear this dress, with the accentuating waistline, her look would be much more soft. The draping of the dress is also very important for the shoulder and the bottom of the dress because it gives a feeling of water. The inspiration for my dress has absolutely been influenced by water and air because of the fabric I would choose. The large clutch and bangle just add to my fashion-forward look and I can't believe I made this! I have never seriously sketched an outfit before and am proud of myself; I love it!

Ethnic Influences on Apparel Design

Ethnic apparel has a very big influence on apparel design across the border. The word ethnic means belonging to or deriving from a cultural, race, religion, or linguistic traditions of a people or country, such as ethnic dances. All of these things can introduce what a designer can base their collection on and the direction in which they want to go with it.

Designers and their teams are known to go across the globe to see what is going on in other cultures and incorporate that into their dress, which is a very good decision to make. Many different people from various places have come to the United States in the last few years, and this has had a positively ethnic influences on dress here. Designers have taken such outfits as the saree (right) and made it for their runway collection, such as the design at left at Anna Sui. She has made her Fall 2008 very clear that ethnicity and culture has made very strong influences on her collection, such as the Indian look.

Main Trends of the New York Fashion Week

Looking back at the new Spring 2009 fashion shows, the dresses created by various designers were all fabulously architectural. The looks were either ruffly, bondage-like, or had very strong shapes to enhance the average woman (or in runway sense, the average skinny girl).

Looking at Calvin Klein's show, there is a very distinct emphasis on architecture and white dresses, as is common in his signature look. The juxtaposition of the soft silk fabric laying across sharp edges really made for an interesting collection. A big trend that also made its way into spring shows was the look of flowy dresses which were long, luxurious and beautiful, such as Carolina Herrera's line. But at Herve Leger by Max Azria for example, the look was very tightly fitted, showing off curves and long legs.

Another trend that popped up in a lot of places was that of color and fun! At Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson the girls were smiley and happy walking down in pink and blue print dresses adorned with mega jewelry.

The trends for Spring 2009 runway shows are looking amazing and definitely more womanly and fun for us; now if there were a way I could actually see these collections up close and front row, I could die in peace.