A Pandemic Fashion - Part III

An economic blow by Chandana Biswas

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Do you have the luxury of buying that expensive bag that you always had your eyes on

anymore? Do you get to spend money carelessly on buying clothing/accessories anymore? NO. As fashion is need-to-basis now, consumers have taken a step back, into their tortoiseshell. More focus and money are spent to acquire necessities such as safety needs and food. Thus the failure of money changing from hands to hands resulted in the economic depression. 

As for the fashion industry, it has taken a huge blow. The fast-fashion brands have suffered the most, like shopping malls and their outlets were forced to shut down due to safety precautions, not only did they suffer a huge loss due to excessive inventory but also had to cut down on employees which resulted in drastic unemployment throughout the whole industry.

// EDITED.COM // ZARA

Each and every sector and person in the supply chain got affected. Starting from the farmers who provide us with the raw materials such as cotton, linen, silk, etc., the suppliers, the manufacturers, the distributors, all where manual labors are required, ultimately to the consumers. The simple demand and supply chain got affected. As there are no demands of these commodities from the consumers, brands aren't interested in producing more products and add to their excessive inventory. As a result, farmers, the manual labors are all out of work.

And more so to get the excessive inventory cleared out, the brands are giving discounts and sales at this time more than ever, experiencing a huge loss. Here, at The Narration, we have given discounts and promotional campaigns for occasions in the midst.

// THE NARRATION

In spite of the current situation and the difficulties that the smaller businesses and eco-brands had to face, it is actually turning in their favor gradually. As they do not produce excessive commodities at a time, the inventory stored up is quite less. They are getting more recognition in the digital world more than ever, as well as the FDCI (The Fashion Design Council of India), for example, was first to announce a COVID-19 Support Fund for small businesses and young designers in need resulting in #supportsmallbusiness.

// FDCI

The other sectors of the fashion industry have drastically given rise to unemployment. Workers in Bangladesh/India have no way to support their families anymore, the models, the photographers have very less to no work at all, the fashion shows are not held in person anymore, the fashion students are unable to continue with their studies due to lack of equipment and practical teachings. All resulting in chaos.

At The Narration, we have made sure not to layoff anyone from our team, instead, we have taken college students as interns to make them more experienced and to reap benefits from this time at home, to be introduced to the industry.

Though this pandemic has been hard on all of us, we have become more compassionate, more kind to each other, to the other living beings, to Mother Nature. And we wish that it continues to be such as we are starting to open our eyes to the wrong being done all over the world and slowly pacing our ways to be more sustainable and live a more ethical life.

I hope you and your family are well and safe and please take proper precautions.

So much love,

Chandana