"But in an industry that thrives on newness, what will next season's trend be? A backlash in favour of all things artificial and plastic - a nu-syntheticism? Call us cynical, but right now fashion is at risk of being greenwashed: subject to a superficial treatment that will bleed out in the next cycle of fashion seasons before it has a chance to become fixed. The result will be considerable consumer confusion - and ennui." - Fiona Harkin, on the eco-fashion trend, in the Financial Times.
Jun 16, 2008 @ 10:00am
2
posted by guest
Jun 16, 2008 11:25AM
I agree that eco fashion isnt going away soon, if anything it will become more integrated as techniques for more eco friendly production are developed. Ms Harkin raises an interesting point that in fashion the pendelum does always swing back from one extreme to the other, but I think this is not a trend but a general shift in the conciousness of consumers.
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posted by guest
Jun 16, 2008 11:37AM
I don't really see this "consumer confusion" becoming a reality. People are either consciously seeking greener means or simply buying into another trend...
Anonymoose: I agree, I don't think eco-fashion is disappearing anytime soon...
however, I DO worry that the conversation is quitening down a lot. It's not getting the coverage it was when this whole green topic was a lot newer and a lot hotter... I'm always grateful for the interest given to real issues, but they end up resembling a trend... and then going out of fashion... I think eco-clothing has a chance of becoming a permanent fixture in our society if it was, as anonymoose mentioned, more widespread and more affordable...
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posted by Holly
Jun 16, 2008 12:32PM
Well said anonymoose, I totally agree.
I'd love to see more eco-fashion out there.
I don't think the impetus of the green movement is losing ground, but in these difficult economic times, eco-fashion could gain a greater foothold by being more affordable and therefore accessible to everyone.
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posted by guest
Jun 16, 2008 10:14PM
Anonymoose:
I'm barely old enough to remember the eco-trend of the late 80s, which gave way to apathy in the 90s, and has made a resurgence again now.
It's obvious by most people's limited understanding of the issues (can't quote more than Al Gore) that we aren't seeing concrete changes in the consciousness of the average person, because most people aren't giving it SERIOUS thought.
I'm of the mind that this trend will die off in the way of the fashion anti-fur movement.
posted by anonymoose
Jun 16, 2008 11:03AM
interesting, but i really don't think eco-fashion is going to disappear anytime soon. as global warming and other environmental issues continue to get worse and worse, people are going to be thinking and talking about it more and more (i hope so, anyway) and if anything, there should be more demand for it. what i'd like to see is eco-fashion to become more widespread and more affordable. one small line at target and a few organic cotton pieces at h&m are a good start but it's still not enough.