Recent media hodge podge

5

The Wall Street Journal now has a fashion blog although it appears to be in cessation until September (?!). In the context of “The gap between couture and ready-to-wear is narrowing”, Saturday’s entry mentioned the emergence of origami in the 2007 ready to wear collections from Balenciaga, Givenchy and Dior.

Now, as fast-fashion labels such as Zara, H&M and Mango have become expert at reinterpreting runway fashions at a fraction of the price, couture is creeping into high-end ready-to-wear. The result: ready-to-wear details that will likely be harder for less-expensive brands to mimic.

Pictured in the entry was an intriguing photograph but too small to make out detail. Surely some of the fashionistas in our midst could point me to a source with photos of these lines for optimal viewing? The remainder of the article is gated. I’m waiting on SO to send me a link; I find the premise that the gap between couture and ready to wear to be narrowing is titillating. Related: the detail on this is Vionneseque gorgeous. Sans the logarithmic scale of course.

Another media mention; a press release from Time magazine teases me about a great variety of fashion news they’ve printed up -you know, the kind of fashion news that would interest me- only the press release didn’t mention if this is a new publication featuring fashion or if it is a new section related to fashion within Time. I don’t know which it is yet. The PR person didn’t even include a URL(!). I had to google it and even then, only found the link from within an entry from another publication criticizing the new Time magazine (or section, whichever it is). Time’s website was also mute on the subject. Lesson: no matter how big or important you are, don’t assume that everyone knows who you are or what you’re doing so provide basic information for dumb bunnies like me. Don’t make people think and don’t make them do your homework. You need to shape your message, don’t force people to resort to finding you from a link on another site that is criticizing you.

Speaking of providing basic information, I found a public service website last week that did not list their address, telephone numbers or email addresses. The website is for an organization that assists displaced garment workers but it’s hard to help further their goals if you can’t find or communicate with them. I’d heard they were looking for contracts but have no confirmation as of yet.

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5 comments

  2. Kathleen says:

    Maybe no one’s interested in this but with regard to the break down of price points in the industry, Li Edelkoort says:

    We are set for a comeback of the middle market, she says. The public does not understand the prices of big brands anymore and there is room for ideas — companies will have to find ways to get desirable products to the market at a price people can relate to.

    With a global view, Edelkoort mentions concerns of mutual interest

    If we lose the ability to make fabrics locally, we will have the same Chinese fabrics every year, become powerless in the market and kill our own expertise. The silk industry is already dying in India, in favour of cheaper polyester imports. There is a challenge to bring back production to our own countries.

    Still more on trends:

    Military and religious style will escalate in the fashion industry. It’s about coming to terms with a constant threat. By absorbing our environment through what we wear we become ‘it’ and there is nothing to fear anymore. We are designing ourselves out of a situation, it’s a case of: if you can’t beat them, join them.

    and

    …These are all signs that we want to retreat into ourselves once again and treasure the mysteries of being, Edelkoort concludes. The trends indicate that we are finally addressing the issue of saving our planet.

    oh fiddle. just read the whole thing

  3. Alexa says:

    Dear Kathleen,
    First of all thank you for the amazing book!For those of you who are concerned about the price as I was, it IS the best resource book you can ever find. It actually saves you money since you don’t have to buy any of the other books just to find 2 pages of real useful info…

    I have a quick question, I hope this the right place to post it. Yesterday I came across http://www.mastheads.org and saw your testimonial there. I just wanted to make sure that it’s in fact yours…Since if it is I’ll go right ahead and join it, because I know you’re the person to trust. Thank you very much once again!

  4. Kathleen says:

    Yesterday I came across http://www.mastheads.org and saw your testimonial there. I just wanted to make sure that it’s in fact yours…Since if it is I’ll go right ahead and join it, because I know you’re the person to trust.

    I wanted to clarify something. That testimonial read “fashion-incubator”, not me exactly :). As it happens, they pulled that quote from a PR person I interviewed on the blog. Now, I have no reason to doubt what she says, she’s a PR person who thinks it’s of value but it’s not anything I know anything about personally.

  5. Alexa says:

    Wow, it’s sort of funny:) Thanks for replying, I’ll give them a try anyway it’s not a big investment. It’s just when I saw fashion-incubator.com, I automatically think Kathleen..the next association: I can trust these guys if she does:) Anyways, thanks again for all your help!

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