5 MAJOR WAYS THE FASHION INDUSTRY HAS SHIFTED IN THE PAST DECADE

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE

The chaotic and ever-changing fashion industry has withstood some major culture shifts within the past 10 years. It’s crazy to think that ideas and trends that were once greatly frowned upon, have become the most celebrated and glamourized, & vice versa.

As an active fashion creative, sometimes, I like to just take a moment to observe the industry that I’m in from a more objective standpoint to adjust and adapt my methods accordingly. While pondering the topic recently, I realized that while change is to be expected (it’s what keeps the fashion industry going), we’ve witnessed some huge culture-shifting patterns among creators & consumers alike that may never be reversed; some for the better, and some for the worse. Here are a few of the ways the world of fashion just may be forever changed…

STYLE & CHARACTER OVER QUALITY

Gone are the days where one must be draped in luxury from head to toe in order to be looked at as a style authority. As I stated in my blog post on “The Evolution of the Handbag”, we can now find our fave celeb stylistas unapologetically flaunting a look for less from a fast-fashion retailer.

While the luxury market is still booming, it is a lot more common now to find a mix of high and low fashion within someone’s outfit choice. In fact, due to the nature of social media, & how we document what we’re wearing through frequent selfies & #OOTD posts, you’ll find that many of us care less about whether our favorite ankle booties are made from genuine or faux leather, and more about the boldness of color, print, or overall shock value.

EMBRACING LOWER QUALITY FABRICATION

“Is that polyester? No, thank you.” - said no millenial ever. This one goes hand in hand with the change above. While poly blends and synthetic fabrics were once a thing that almost every fashion lover of a certain tax bracket aimed to avoid, we can now see people being less afraid to mix it up when it comes to the materials their clothing is made of.

Don’t get me wrong, while there are some who still demand their blouse is made of pure silk or linen (some have allergies to certain materials and some simply only want genuine fabrics in their closet), the younger generation is often more concerned with how much it costs and how many ways they can layer or restyle it to increase wear value. When’s the last time you’ve caught someone complaining that their favorite shirt isn’t made of 100% cotton?

CONSUMERS HOLDING BRANDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SHOWCASING DIVERSE TYPES OF BEAUTY

This has been the most prominent and obvious change yet. Remember when season after season, a designer could fill a runway with 50+ models, none of them being Black, Asian, Hispanic, or of any other minority group, and no one would say anything about it? Well, fortunately, that time is over. Many are speaking up, and revoking their brand loyalty when they see no change.

Consumers have longed for decades to have the ads and promotional content that are targeting them, feature people who look, well, like them.. This demand from consumers extends beyond race and includes size & gender and while many brands have unfortunately responded by offering us one “token black girl” or one plus-size model every few seasons,it has been refreshing and rewarding to watch a versatile range of looks being pushed to the forefront, even if we had to disrupt tradition to see it.

KNOCKOFFS TRICKLING UP

There was a time when if you spotted a popular design, you instantly knew which designer house conceived the item first, and what lower end brand was knocking it off. However, with today’s streetwear and couture worlds constantly intertwining, as well as consumers following a mix of well-known brands and smaller owned start ups, it’s becoming almost impossible to always know who is copying who. One thing we do know though, is that knockoffs now go both ways. Countless major fashion corporations have been called out for knocking off some of the most innovative and resourceful independent designers.

Unfortuanately, many major brands are able to get away with stealing the designs of independent designers. The main reasons for this include micro brands and startups not affording a team in their budget to take proper legal action, as well as bigger brands having the ability to produce a design and bring it to market quicker than an independent designer could, due to their ownership of factories and larger staff.

THOSE WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES OF FASHION BEING PUSHED TO THE FOREFRONT

When I first began to pursue styling, I enjoyed the concept of being lowkey, and working exclusively  behind the scenes to bring a vision to life. As the industry has shifted, I’ve been pushed to acknowledge that I will sometimes be the face and voice (check out my podcast here) of my own brand.

While there was once a time when our fave style icons remained a well-kept secret and we barely knew the names and faces of who dressed who, social media has opened the door and allowed us to discover, celebrate and acknowledge the accomplishments of image consultants, makeup artists, and creative directors more out in the open. Many of the public figures we look up to have no problem tagging the team who helped put them together for an event, or day to day activities. In fact, it’s almost always expected.  

Which major shift most impacts your life as it relates to fashion? Let me know in the comments!

Sharra,

“Empowering her evolution through style.”

WAYS TO MAKE YOUR MARK IN FASHION DESPITE THE "YOU CAN'T SIT WITH US" MENTALITY THAT PLAGUES THE INDUSTRY

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE

Pioneer and Curator of Ebony Fashion Fair, Eunice Walker Johnson sitting front row during fashion presentations: a rarity during her era in the industry and the photos say so much.

As expressive and beautiful the phenomenon that is fashion can be, there’s also such a strong sense of secrecy and exclusivity concerning the industry. Anyone who wants in has experienced this in one way or another. From authorities in fashion refusing to hire people of a certain look, race, religion, or social class, down to giving no front row seats at shows for those who aren’t deemed “good enough” over trivial matters, even down to how secretive individuals can be when it comes to plugging each other with valuable resources , the “crabs in a barrel” attitude that often exudes from many of those who are apart of the fashion industry is virtually impossible to miss; and if you let it, it can leave you feeling discouraged, disheartened, and underrepresented. Thankfully, we’re living in a time where those who came before us have walked so we could run, and it’s becoming easier to still show up and kill it in this industry, in your own right.

Whether you’re an aspiring influencer, designer, model, stylist, or even if you’re just a lover of fashion culture, I’ve found on my journey just how important it is to unapologetically offer your 2 cents, despite voices in the industry constantly trying to control what is perceived as worthy, acceptable, and appealing and what is not. You never know how your perspective will positively influence and inspire others along their own journey. Here are a few ways to keep making your presence known…

IF YOU CAN’T JOIN THEM, CREATE YOUR OWN

This has been the approach that some of fashion’s most iconic trailblazers and legends in the making have taken, and are still taking. When we abandon our need to be accepted by everyone we feel is important, that’s often when our true calling makes itself known. As a young black woman who’s building a career in fashion, it’s no secret that throughout history, there have been many doors closed for people who look like me. However, I’m so blessed to be pursuing fashion in a time where those who came before me have knocked down some doors and in a sense, tossed me the key.

For context, the LEGENDARY AND ICONIC Ebony Fashion Fair Curator Eunice Walker took initiative to highlight blacks in fashion during a time when the mainstream tastemakers in the industry were ignoring us. After having a dream of writing for Vogue deferred, Editor in Chief of Fashion Bomb Daily, Claire Sulmers (if you read here often, you already know she’s my fav!) utilized her growing online presence to create “her own Vogue” in so many words, building and maintaining a unique space for multicultural fashion to be celebrated. “First you ask, then you take.”, she says.

Eunice Walker Johnson’s Ebony Fashion Fair exhibit, highlighting black up and coming designers of her time.

From Instagram born, profitable fashion brands to influencers who found their tribe, went viral, and never looked back… we live in an era where when we can’t join someone’s movement, we can create our own and be just as, if not even more successful, and a lot of industry vets are upset about it. But there’s honestly no going back… due to the way we consume our information and entertainment. (internet, social media, etc.) There’s an array of ways to consistently contribute your perspective in any industry, especially fashion.

Seeing a lack of representation in fashion that moves you to want to act on it? Instead of wasting time begging and waiting for certain opportunities, be the change and create your own. It can start with establishing your own movement, whether it be via an online presence where you air your grievances on the issues that move you on a podcast, blog, IGTV, etc. or even creating your own line of clothing and making sure we see black women and women of color in EVERY. SINGLE. campaign. Through experience, I’m learning that it gains momentum when you continue to create your content, share your style, share your opinions, and continue to show up and speak up despite whoever’s trying to silence you. You’d be surprised how many people identify with your voice when you use it. You’d also be surprised how many people are willing to invest in your movements.

SPEAK UP, NEVER BE AFRAID TO PLUG YOURSELF

Me introducing myself to legendary stylist Misa Hylton at the Convos with Claire networking event in December 2018.

With fashion being such a competitive industry, it’s important to know how to plug yourself. This is probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned thus far when it comes to my business. When I first started styling back in 2014, I was not as confident as I am now, which probably caused me to fumble a few bags in the process. It didn’t help that I’m naturally introverted, believe it or not. But over time, I’ve learned when to break out of my shell and handle business because if I don’t speak for my brand, no one else will.

When you walk into a room hoping to make your mark, Ive learned that it’s important to remember that people don’t read minds. They’re not aware of the gifts you possess, and until you speak up and let them know, you risk missing out on building meaningful connections with others and further establishing your brand. If you’re looking to get better at representing yourself, practicing your elevator pitch and testing it out at networking events or when you meet new people can help you learn to leaving a lasting impression at a moment’s notice.

SUPPORT A MOVEMENT BEFORE IT’S “MOVING”

It pisses me off to see the countless dope brands and creatives in fashion who offer a fresh point of view and quality work getting knocked off, ripped off, and overlooked. I’m sure you’ve heard of the saying “nobody is messing with your movement until it’s moving” but it can be challenging to gain momentum when people don’t support you just because you haven’t “made it” yet, whatever that means. That’s why I’ve recently been making a point to support my fellow small business owners, minority owned businesses, and an array of other groups in fashion who constantly seem to get put on the back burner.

When you choose to support a label, or brand before it has completely taken off and gone mainstream, not only do you gain credibility to whoever’s watching as a trendsetter and not a follower, but you also gain leverage by supporting at the beginning stages because it often leads to strong partnerships with the owners of these companies that others missed out on because they simply jumped on the bandwagon later on down the road. I actually just recently interviewed a BOMB micro influencer who executes this concept amazingly. Stay tuned, my Q&A with her is coming to the blog next week! But back to the point, consider taking on ambassadorships or even simply purchasing from more of the brands that are slept on, it can help you make your mark in the long run, in more ways than one.

Hope you got something from this post! New content on its way to the blog very soon! Stay tuned safe & Stay tuned!

Sharra,

“The definition of walking art.”

"AUTHENTICALLY HERSELF": MY INTERVIEW WITH DESIGNER, BRAND OWNER, & AMAZON PRIME'S "MAKING THE CUT" COMPETITOR MEGAN SMITH

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE & FEATURING MEGAN SMITH

Megan Smith.

If you’ve been watching the hit Amazon Prime fashion series “Making the Cut”, you should be hip to women’s ready-to-wear designer Megan Smith of the growing brand, Megan Renee. Upon binging the series, I was instantly drawn to her, both as a resilient woman who comes from humble beginnings and as an immaculate designer who’s mastered balance when it comes to sultriness and sophistication. Rooting for her from the couch, I watched her kill challenge after challenge, showcasing innovative silhouettes and impressing the likes of Tim Gunn and the legendary Naomi Campbell. I was so inspired that I HAD to connect with her and learn more.

Looks from Megan’s SS’18 & SS ‘19 collection.

In my latest episode of Style With Sharra: The Podcast Series, Megan and I chop it up about the ways she navigates the ever changing fashion industry. I interview her on various topics ranging from where she started her career in design, her experience as a contestant on “Making the Cut”, the support she’s received from Naomi Campbell, and ways we can elevate each other as black women in fashion.

Megan consulting Tim Gunn on “Making the Cut”.

Hit the button below to listen to our full interview on Style With Sharra, available here, on iTunes, and in your Apple Podcasts app.

Check out Megan’s amazing collections and shop her line at shopmeganrenee.com

Follow her brand here and keep up with her journey on Instagram here!

Make sure y’all let me know your favorite part of the interview in the comments!

Sharra,

“The definition of walking art.”

P.S. New style advice is coming up next on The Walking Art Blog very soon. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss a post!