What Will Fashion Mean In A Jobless World

By Ashley Rubens - Although it is only April, the year 2020 has quickly become a year that will be widely discussed for decades to come. The world is currently facing the pandemic, COVID-19.

The effects of the Coronavirus have been brutal for societies and economies worldwide. Specifically in the United States of America, Coronavirus has caused the biggest peak in unemployment filings in history. Currently around 3.3 million people in the United States have filed for unemployment (Brown).

As the Coronavirus continues to cause a surge in unemployment, more individuals and industries will undoubtedly be affected, including the fashion industry.

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Fashion at a U-Turn

In order to survive the changes that come with a jobless world, the fashion industry will be forced to evolve. This change can be a positive aspect to the industry, by shifting the fashion industry to online. One of the possible benefits from shifting the fashion industry online would be by expanding the consumer base. As our society becomes progressively more dependent on technology, consumers are spending more time online. If the fashion industry were online it could increase sales and consumer interest, especially during times like these. 

Creativity Will Rise Up

An increase in joblessness could also result in a growth of creativity within the fashion industry. Currently, due to COVID-19 everyone in the United States is forced to stay home and practice social distancing. These rules have unintentionally created a unique window of opportunity for the people at home, by granting them the time to let their creativity flourish. This time to think and explore new ideas has the possibility to revolutionize the current fashion industry. 

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Hard Times Are The Best Times

This happens to be a reoccurring trend throughout history, as evidenced by the release of Christian Dior’s first collection in 1947. Shortly after the Second World War came to an end, Christian Dior introduced the “New Look”. This collection was extremely innovative and transformed women’s fashion at the time. This collection implemented details like a cinched waist and rounded shoulders, which were new concepts for the fashion industry at the time.  

Indie Designers At The Heart of Change

Lastly, another effect of joblessness in the fashion industry, is through creating the perfect environment for Indie designers to thrive. As more consumers are online and utilizing online shopping it gives all designers the chance to be recognized by new customers. Through utilizing platforms such as Wear the Future Marketplace, Depop or Etsy. All designers have the capability to reach consumers. 

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WORK CITED

Brown, Courtenay. “Coronavirus Creates Biggest Spike in Jobless Claims in 

U.S. History.” Axios, 26 Mar. 2020, 

www.axios.com/coronavirus-jobless-claims-unemployment-f4b4ead6

-73c4-4bf3-b6ad-bb2da9391711.html.

Tomes, Jan. “The New Look: How Christian Dior Revolutionized Fashion 70 

Years Ago: DW: 10.02.2017.” DW.COM, 

www.dw.com/en/the-new-look-how-christian-dior-revolutionized-fas

hion-70-years-ago/a-37491236.

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