Trends and styles



December 30, 2011

The Fashion Life Cycle

Fashion is a fad. The people in the industry and working to bring out something new continuously. So let's have a brief on the inside of the industry.

What are fashion trends?

A fashion trend is the latest evolvement in the fashion industry. It mainly refers to anything which is popular in a culture at any given time. It is inclusive of areas such as; style of dress, cuisine, literature, art, architecture and many other popular factors. Fashion trends often change rapidly; the term "fashion" is often used in positively as a synonym for style, glamour and beauty.

fashion trends
What it is relation of fashion to trend?

Individuals stick rigidly to the rules. You may possibly properly be solitary of persons who amble their own way and dress as they like. When it comes to the trend industry, it’s a continuously changing globe. Even though quantities of trends are regarded as ludicrous and outdated, several other comebacks with innovative ideas. In the end Trends are about how well one caries themselves. From your hair do till your foot ware all come under this fashion trends. You may be one of those who walk their way and dress as you like. Someone like your style they follow it and that becomes the current fashion trend.

This is the only industry where re emergence prevails. What goes back, comes back... the outdated fashion of 60s and 70s are the latest trends for today. It comes dazed with the aim of the hottest approach trends.

Who decides what's in trend?

It's we the people who wear the attire decide what will be in trend. The designers do their homework but designing, if the lot like the style it's a HIT else a MISS, for the season.

The Fashion Cycle

Fashion moves through cycles, ups and downs, like almost everything else in life. While this maybe the part of basic training in every designer's education, it is not understood by many who don't study fashion. It is rather simple to understand though.

It can be divided broadly in 5 stages:

Introduction:

This is the time when a particular design or style is introduced. This might be through the ramp, or is introduced through the fashion leaders /trend setters (in case of India that would mean Bollywood stars mostly), or through photo-shoots that appear in magazines. The prices at this time are generally steep, and only the very fashion conscious are seen to try out this new style. Manufacturers are also not taking the risk to make large quantities of this style, because it might not work and people might not buy it.

fashion cycle
1. Rise /Development :

As the style starts catching up, the manufacturers start producing the piece for the customers. This is the time when the style is adapted with cheaper fabrics, and lesser detailing. For example a swarvoski crystal studded dress will be just studded with cheaper crystals to make it more affordable to the customers (who may not always be as rich as the leaders). More and more people can be seen in these clothes in the rise period. The magazines would be writing about how such and such thing is a rage in Delhi or Mumbai or Kolkata. You would also see a lot of advertisements from the brands about availability of that particular style.

2. Peak :

As the name suggests this is the peak of the style. You will be able to see a lot of copies and cheaper variety on the streets. The trends would have trickled down to most economic strata of the society. The fabrics on the streets would be even lesser quality than the ones you found before. Everyone would be wearing/carrying a variety of the original style. This is also the time when the manufacturers are producing and selling the fastest. The fashion followers have fallen for the style that was introduced. The length of the peak period determines whether the trend is actually a classic or a fad or just a in and out fashion statement.

3. Decline:

I may not have to explain this, but for the benefit of those who do want to know. The trend starts to slow down. Mainly because some other trend has caught up by this time, and people want to get something new in their wardrobes and on their skin. Retail mark downs are happening by this time and the market sees the word "SALE" for such items

4. Obsolescence:

This is the time when the only people who are still holding on to the trend are fashion laggards. The manufacturers have stopped producing; and retailers have stopped putting it on their shelves, even the people have stopped buying. This is also the time that runs parallel with the peak of another fashion trend.