Global Warming Affecting Fashion Industry

 Global warming is wreaking havoc on the clothing industry. In many parts of the world, there just isn't as much difference between the seasons anymore and the overall trend is towards a warmer weather. The clothing industry relies on delineated seasons to sell different types of apparel. But if you can wear flip flops year- long round(and not just in BOMBAY), clothing sales are bound to drop. Warmer weather also affects the type of fabrics designers use and their styling.

 What other Fashion Houses have to say:

It is forcing fashion houses to ditch traditional seasonal collections for trans-seasonal garments that may lead to a drastic overhaul of fashion show schedules and retail delivery dates. "The whole fashion system will have to change," Beppe Modenese, founder of Milan Fashion Week, told The New York Times last week. "The fashion system must adapt to the reality that there is no strong difference between summer and winter any more... You can't have everyone showing four times a year to present the same thing. People are not prepared to invest in these clothes that, from one season to the other, use the same fabrics at the same weight."

Mr Modenese's comments came as New York fashion retailers blamed a prolonged "Indian summer" for poor autumn sales. Who needs a 14Oz Denims in 4 degrees-plus weather? So worried are some fashion houses about the impact climate change is having on the way we dress and shop, they are calling in the climate experts. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that American retail giant Liz Claiborne Inc had enlisted a New York climatologist to speak to 30 of its executives on topics ranging from the types of fabrics they should be using to the timing of retail deliveries and seasonal markdowns.

On the other hand Indian fashion retail giants have still to rise from the temperature changes taking place in their back yard. They are still busy with hiring Chief Mythology Officers wishing that Gods will help them in keeping India out of the Globe where Warming is concerned, we wish them luck in their pursuit of this Chamatkar*

Indigo Chemical From Denim Factories in China

Closer to home, fashion designers say they are increasingly designing trans-seasonal collections using lighter- weight fabrics for a more temperate climate and readjusting their in-store delivery dates in line with the unpredictable seasons. "There's really no such thing as defined autumn/winter and spring/summer collections anymore," says the CEO at Brooklyn Lifestyles. "A lot of our denims are more trans-seasonal and rather than dropping them into the stores thrice a year like we planned, we now tend to move things in and out of the stores every couple of weeks, depending on the weather." Things were different when fashion had just started 20 years ago in India. Back then winter went into store in mid-October and summer in mid-February and that was it. There was nothing in between. We also used lot more heavier fabrics which we can't do anymore; it just doesn't get cold enough. Even here in Bombay, with the Arabian sea fencing us,  we don’t have moderate Summers &Winters anymore which was the case in Delhi or Chandigarh. Now the weather is extreme & so would be the fashion trends. Fashion houses all across the globe have already started going Green, as for us we are doing our bit, by cutting down on dangerous chemicals to recycled paper & by saying no to plastic bags our long term goal is to go complete green with Organic clothing as our backbone towards this cause”

The general consensus seems to be that designers need to provide all-weather clothing year-round. So, instead of selling bulky items for supposed "winter" months, designers will include layering pieces, so that consumers can purchase layers as they need. Global warming is bringing many changes into our world and fashion/retail is no exception. Retailers and designers are stepping up to the plate and adjusting decades-long industry standards to better meet their customers needs.

Al Gore did warn us, he was not wearing fashionable clothes just for us to take him seriously. As Denim Consultants we have already begun experimenting on a water proof denim collection to combat unseasonal rains which if you live in Bombay would convert to a life raft after unzipping :)  

Love thy Environment, Love thy Denim

             -Denim Head