Keeping up with an industry that’s in a state of constant fluctuation is never easy. By conventional calculations, the odds that fashion will continue trying to reduce its environmental impacts in the face of the coronavirus pandemic seem bleak. At its worst, upheaval like this can cause our favourite creatives, freelancers, and businesses to shut their doors. However, at its best, it can also push us to question the status quo; to think of ways we can do things better.
In the interim, this is a moment to pause and rethink what matters to our wardrobes, and how we, as consumers, participate in the economy. What’s hanging in our closets? It could be—a softened, denim jacket, a snug 100 percent wool jumper, or loose-fitting woollen pants. Then there are the pieces that capture who we are; the ones which lift morale and investing in them (if a budget permits), can be a good thing. Think of them as a re-entry into the world, at the very least a rejoinder to the news and a personal, positive reminder: keep going, we will come out of this.
Meanwhile, some industry experts think, cautiously, that the challenges of climate change, plastic pollution, and workers’ wellbeing are too urgent to ignore. Rather, this can be a moment of re-evaluation and transition for the industry. If handled right, can spell opportunity. Join Melinda Looi on this Friday at 10.30am for our debut episode of #BAZAARTalks—‘Malaysian Fashion: Now and The Future’. The president of Moda Malaysia is going to share with us a holistic insight into current local fashion’s essential commitments as she illustrates a future picture of the industry. Together, we reconsider practices that may accelerate positive changes which have already been in motion.
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