Akshara

Functionality.

In April Issey Miyake introduced a new collection titled “Convertible” Series, where a jacket can effortlessly transform into a backpack & vice versa. Plus, is wrinkle-free & made from partially plant-derived polyester. I mean thats pretty impressive. Post-pandemic fashion has definitely seen a new light of creativity & huge change in consumerism. Brands are trying to be relevant, fresh & trying to re-connect to its audience who are trying to step past the current state of affairs.

When buying clothes I look for comfort over anything. For instance, I don’t find skinny jeans comfortable at all. In fact, I’m not a huge fan of jeans in general. The only pair I wear often is a pair of boyfriend jeans, which are a size too big. Why you ask?

Because it’s comfortable.

Desirability.

As obvious as it is, the pandemic has changed the way we live, breath & dress. Jeans were swapped out with sweats & heels are an artefact of the past. Consumers are not only looking for comfort but also functionality, which coincides with the wave of sustainability. Brands are focusing on being more environmentally conscious & transparent with customers on what, where & how products are coming from. There are many Instagram pages that focus on highlighting the working conditions of garment workers & the pay parity. As someone who is reading more & more on the garment industry, the transparency is refreshing.

Books, news articles & recent documentaries are educating consumers on the impact fast fashion has on the environment. High-street brands are churning out mountains of clothes each season to keep up with consumers demand, but at what cost?

Wearability.

Oversize & comfortable fits are my jam. When I buy a piece of clothing it has to be comfortable enough for me to dress it up & on the other side of the spectrum, allowing me to be an absolute lemon in it. Also, I feel the pandemic is a great reminder to slow down in terms of shopping for new clothes & instead getting creative to see how wearable your existing clothes are. There are many ways to wear one item of clothing, it boils down to wearability of a garment, finding the perfect balance of creativeness & inspiration that will fuel your mind to find the functionality in fashion.

Jumpsuits: natures own definition of function in fashion.

Note: hard to pee in.

-A