The Future Of Fashion Design Post COVID-19

The future of fashion design post COVID19 needs a deep dive at this juncture. In this webinar, three product and design leaders from Bestseller India shared their expert views on the future of fashion design post covid19. We had a deep dive into the future of fashion forecasting and cash flow in our previous edit. You can read the full article here.

Watch the full webinar recording below. In this edit, we share the highlights of the discussion which are practical and forward-looking.

Full Recording of the Webinar

Highlights of Future of Fashion Design

Ganesh: Digital amplification is happening as we talk. In the US online share in fashion is crossing 30% and home crossing 50%. In contrast to pre-covid, consumers are visiting physical stores with serious intent to buy than browse. The brand needs to be on top of the mind of the consumer. This puts a huge question on the future of fashion design for post-COVID 19 consumers.

With a few days of opening up online for non-essentials, we see the ratio of top to bottom wear changing.

How consumers shop is changing. What is your view on the future of what consumers will buy.

Nidhi: Consumers are looking at protection and comfort. It is the biggest focus area. Emerging trends are 2-mile clothing, merging of work, play, home, lounging, and living. There is a shift towards timeless fashion.

Kanchana: The shift is towards life wear. Also, there is a huge drift towards wellness clothing, clothing that will not hamper your activity but enable. In addition, we see a trend towards moving away from slim-fitted clothing.

Ganesh: We see from our intelligence there is a 40% drop in demand for fashion products compared to the same time last year. Will consumers move from Buy and Throw to Buy to Keep?

Kanchana: Buy and Keep is natural, not a new idea and it will be a key attitude in the coming times.

Mukta: We are in for a trend in trans-seasonal products at least for the next 12-18 months. We need to start focussing on the longevity of the products. It will be good to move away from the fads.

Ganesh: There is no discussion complete unless we talk about technology. What do you think is the role of technology in the future of fashion design?

Nidhi: Like sustainability, technology will be a way of living. Also, technology enables sustainability. It is not the availability of information, it is the filter that is important to have the right tool and technology.

Mukta: Technology will help us cut through the clutter. Technology is helping us save time, efficiency, and also enable sustainability. In addition, during these times we need to be relying a lot on data.

In conclusion,

The panel came up with three commandments for the future of fashion design post COVID-19,

#1 Thou shalt create for the present and empathize with the consumer

#2 Thou shalt create durable products that last longer

#3 Thou shalt create responsible products