Hello readers!
I started writing this newsletter a year ago, and I couldn't be happier to have you here.
We've made it. 2020 is almost over. It has been a year when we had to deal with a new reality, but we got through it šĀ
To end this year on a positive note, I curated some articles for you: from Work-From-Home fashion trends that shaped 2020, sustainability- and China-themed reads to predictions for the next year.
Happy holidays and see you in 2021,
Assiya
The Year in Review:
The Ups and Downs of Fashion in 2020 (NY Times)
This NY Times piece sums up perfectly the weird fashion choices we made this year and what impact the store closures, social distancing, and social media had on the fashion industry. Remember #QuarantinePillowChallenge? Should TikTokās āBored in the houseā be officially called the anthem of 2020?
What we wore: āthe Zoom shirtā and sweatpants became a WFH uniform for many, while uggs and crocs made a comeback (Vogue says ugly shoes are here to stay).
Hard times call for comfortable clothing.
From circularity to climate change: Sustainable fashion in 2020 (Vogue Business)
This year the shift in consumer attitudes amid the health crisis, the boom of resale and climate activism swept the fashion world ā all ushered in by a new era of responsibility:
āThere is much more pressure on fashion companies to address the environmental and labour issues embedded in their business and products. The world has woken up, the brands are aware of this, and we look to 2021 to see that this awakening turns into legitimate action.ā - Maxine BĆ©dat, founder of the New Standard Institute
ThereĀ is, however, aĀ silver liningĀ to be found inĀ every crisis ā here are ā5 promising developments ā from mindset shifts to disruptive technology ā which could help us emerge from this wearing something we can feel good aboutā, according to Guardian.
How 2020 Changed the Worldās Biggest Fashion Market (The Business of Fashion)
In 2020, Chinese consumers' spending was unstoppable even as global sales shrank and much of travel was on freeze. Just this November, Alibaba's Singles Day sales exceeded $75 billion.
When it comes to luxury, Bain & Co predicts a continued growth in Mainland China, which will represent the largest share of the worldās luxury market by 2025. No wonder why this year Louis Vuitton showed its menās spring/summer 2021 collection in Shanghai and held the SEE LV exhibition in Wuhan. As Glossy puts it, āfrom the bottom up, fashion trends are starting in China and spreading to the west in a way they never did before.ā
Related reading: The 6 Big China Luxury Trends From 2020
2021ā¦ Whatās next?
Listen to this: Harvard Business Reviewās predictions of how the next year will play out:
What Iām reading around the web:
Retailersā biggest buzzwords, deciphered
For everyone from founders to influencers to marketing gurus, hereās Modern Retailās non-exhaustive list of words and phrases often said ā and their actual meanings. (Modern Retail)
UK Confirms Post-Brexit Trade Deal With EU
The agreement will allow for tariff and quota-free trade in goods after December 31, but that wonāt apply to the services industry ā about 80 percent of the UK economy ā or the financial services sector. (The Business of Fashion)
Popular Luxury: How Telfar Perfected The It Bag
For luxury to survive, it needs to take on new lives. That means trading ideas of āaspirationā for empowerment. Telfar has perfected this formula. (The Popular Times)
Topshop: How the Once-Trendsetting Brand Fell Behind the Times
The downfall of the London-headquartered company has been creeping up in recent years, as its extensive portfolio of brands [ā¦] have come to feel outdated compared to the likes of faster, digitally-native mass-market names, such as Boohoo and ASOS. (The Fashion Law)
How fashion got marketing right in 2020
During a year of turmoil, fashion companies focused on their customers as never before. The lessons will endure beyond the pandemic. (Vogue Business)