Comments on: Death Of The Original Idea

By: lisa

lisa — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:02:24 +0000

Unfortunately with the poor economy we might see even less creativity and originality, as consumers and retailers alike invest in “classic” choices that have stood the test of time rather than taking risks with new ideas.

By: WendyB

WendyB — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:36:00 +0000

“There’s nothing new under the sun” is an ancient concept. I would say there’s nothing new about feeling that everything is old :-)

By: fashion herald

fashion herald — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:28:51 +0000

Yes. And this dialogue reminded me that I used to be able to tell in an instant who designed what dress in an editorial. But now it’s much more difficult to spot a distinctive style.

By: Mandragora

Mandragora — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:55:55 +0000

The fashion system is really killing the creativity! The times that every season are faster, and the economy competition are ones of the murders. But a great guilty is Zara and the other enterprise like this one that kill all the creativity of the designers, copying and saling economically million person’s work. Is a plag!! But the people is happy buying cheap, with out thinking in the way Zara works!

By: Nico

Nico — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:43:42 +0000

I really dont think there is anything original anymore. This is a great post. It really makes you think.

By: Style Symmetry » Links à la Mode: IFB Weekly Roundup

Style Symmetry » Links à la Mode: IFB Weekly Roundup — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:33:05 +0000

[...] 39thandbroadway.com – Why our obsession for fast fashion is causing designers to burn-out and result in less innovative wardrobe choices for you! [...]

By: Links à la Mode: The Independent Fashion Blogger Roundup | THE COVETED

Links à la Mode: The Independent Fashion Blogger Roundup | THE COVETED — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:48:13 +0000

[...] 39thandbroadway.com – Why our obsession for fast fashion is causing designers to burn-out and result in less innovative wardrobe choices for you! [...]

By: admins

admins — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:10:13 +0000

Bravo guys, great points all around. The frustrating thing is there seems not end in sight to this situation. Even smaller designers who internally have the freedom to take risks, still have to sell to wary buyers. When retailers are facing slowing sales and bankrupcies, buyers will stick with safe choices. Hope you’re right Barry and change is on its way!

By: Barry Wright, III

Barry Wright, III — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:35:51 +0000

Originality is always scarce, because it’s risky and difficult. Unfortunately, big companies rarely take risks (they know we will buy the same boring stuff), so we don’t see a lot of new, interesting, creative ideas.

With the growing clan of independent designers, I have great hope that a resurgence (renaissance if you will) of creativity is on its way.

By: katie

katie — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:41:50 +0000

And I do get that there are trends and even fads, but they’re not even being modified anymore!

By: katie

katie — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:32:37 +0000

In being so focused on that bottom line I think everyone forgets about creativity and it has a domino effect on what designers make (they have to think about what their bosses will approve, the market reps thinking about what buyers will want), then what buyers order (they have to think about their customers will actually buy, with a strong emphasis on those safe items that will have mass appeal and be best-sellers). And then instead of doing their own research or really studying their customer, a lot of places seem to be utilizing the same forecasts and trend reports. It’s one thing to use them, but then I feel like places aren’t even creative in how they adapt the ideas they find from any particular source and so of course customers choose fast fashion (exception being investing in classics for quality) over designs that aren’t even trying to be innovative or differentiate themselves from what’s already out there. I remember a few years ago suddenly feeling like I was seeing the SAME thing EVERYWHERE, for entirely different markets or customers and all kinds of prices, and I notice it more every season whether it was those tops/dresses with sequin/paillettes around the neckline or neon yellow or gladiator sandals. I realize the fashion life cycle has gotten shorter, but people aren’t stupid. I’d be willing to pay for something completely original but a lot of what I see is, to quote a song from The Pierces, “boring!” So are original ideals out there? I think so, they’ve just gotten harder to find because stores aren’t willing to gamble on them and with this crap economy I think shops have even gotten more risk-averse…

And the picture on the right, I remember seeing that (NYmag?) article that interviewed people who were known for wearing only one signature color! I loved the lady who’d been wearing lime green for, like, decades!