‘Fashion needs to reinvent now’

|
  • 0

‘Fashion needs to reinvent now’

Wednesday, 16 September 2020 | Mithun Bhardwaj

The present pandemic is changing the world rapidly especially the fashion industry. Hence, it is important to add creative concepts of practical use to curriculum, says MITHUN BHARDWAJ

Online classrooms present particular challenges for students seeking hands-on skills but creative solutions are on the horizon. While some of these changes may or may not be permanent, certain tectonic shifts in industries like fashion are inevitable. If ever there was a time for fashion to reinvent itself, it is now.

Myths versus reality: Expectations of impractical, uncomfortable work attire are floating away. People will consume fashion in a different way now; this means more personalisation for brands, relaxed fundamental clothing and the need for students to get closer to understand the pulse of the modern age customer.

While fast fashion is flying out of the shelf, durable and sustainable clothing is making its presence felt like never before; style will sure take a 360-degree turn in post COVID-19 world.

So while the virus continues to flex its muscle, new curriculum should be added where they should be taught to create creative concepts of practical, cost-effective, affordable fashion to influence customer’s journey.

Improvisation will be key: Trends in the fashion industry changes very fast with new designs or patterns come every day in the market. Designers need to keep pacing with new styles and AI algorithms can analyse designs through images to copying popular styles. The 3D virtual prototyping is an ideal technology for fashion universities to work with considering distance learning.

But the students are not well equipped with handling these softwares because these softwares were not taught before. Making them learn these softwares will play an important part in the fashion education now more than ever.

More tech apps are coming in which are using augmented reality and virtual reality to give a new consumer experience while shopping and these technologies should be inculcated in the syllabus.

They should learn how to fill skill gaps in the fashion industry, many fashion degrees offered by universities focus too much on the design and marketing aspects of fashion, failing to teach students the revenue aspect of it and how the brand will be scalable in terms of number.

They should also be taught how to build brand which will be scalable in terms of revenue.

Technology is crucial but will not replace craft: However, as important as digital technologies become, at the same time there will be a growing interest in traditional craftsmanship. As many consumers are going for local, crafted products instead of generic, mass-produced options.

The kinds of skills that fashion students should be acquiring now and into the future have more to do with how they are thinking and using design, rather than skills specific to a certain technique or process. While there are platforms that allow students to construct patterns, drape and fit virtually, these will not entirely replace the need for hands-on training with the craftsman as we know it today. If anything, we may see the more traditional craftsman techniques being used in tandem with newer digital technologies and more hybrid learning models where students study through a combination of on-site and online education.

Sunday Edition

CAA PASSPORT TO FREEDOM

24 March 2024 | Kumar Chellappan | Agenda

CHENNAI EXPRESS IN GURUGRAM

24 March 2024 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

The Way of Bengal

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

The Pizza Philosopher

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

Astroturf | Lord Shiva calls for all-inclusiveness

24 March 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

Interconnected narrative l Forest conservation l Agriculture l Food security

24 March 2024 | BKP Sinha/ Arvind K jha | Agenda