-the big question this week: do you think the current economic crisis will encourage creativity, or stifle creativity?
who's creativity will be stifled, if at all? if so, how? who will be inspired to be more creative?
this question was sparked by a.), this quote from mary quaint, in an article about her that was recently published in the telegraph:
"the energy comes when you need it. i think out of this recession we'll get enormous energy and a lot of new ideas. you create things when you're deprived of them – that's what i did. there will be all sorts of new and exciting things which will grow out of this time now."
b.) the news that many fashion companies are shuttering or perhaps just scaling back due to rising costs and lowered profits in recent months.
it seems to me that...in a time of economic uncertainty, corporations who produce clothing and the retail establishments that sell them would choose to take fewer risks with the styles they deign to offer, instead choosing to lean upon items that they believe will sell (i.e., more classic or plain styles that might perhaps appeal to the masses). also, if a company with innovative ideas was trying to get off the ground these days, i'm guessing they would be harder pressed to find backing or credit with which to start said company. even more so, if the products they were choosing to sell were on the more avant-guarde side of things, fashion-wise.
on a mass level, on a big scale, i'd wager, creativity might be stifled, some.
or maybe not? maybe bigger makers will continue to make innovative product, in hopes of luring people back to stores, back to buying?
so who are the ones getting creative when the economy stinks? i'd guess it's the people out there who enjoy fashion, who crave novelty. if they can't find innovative products they desire in the marketplace, they will be the ones creating the innovative products they want to see, on a personal or small-production level (think: etsy, or perhaps small boutiques).
what say ye? feel free to disagree! what do you think is going to happen in the coming months, and years, with regard to a not-so-good economic environment and the world of fashion? will we be even more pressed to make it all ourselves? will fashion innovation become a grass roots endeavor?
sort of related to the above, actually!:
-remember the discussion a few (not so) random links posts back where i was wondering if craft/DIY sales would go up in response to this shaky economic climate we're currently "enjoying"? seems they have! see this recent article in the new york times: for craft sales, the recession is a help...
but of course! the quick and dirty!:
-fabulously intelligent discourse at the crossroads of "fat" and fashion happens over at fatshionista...i just recently started reading (i know, i know, it's been around for a while).
-the rumors are confirmed, the sart has a book deal.
-always mod is having a BIG, HUGE, GIGANTIC sale on some select marimekko stuffs. go, go, go! (my god, i love marimekko. you?)
-whip up recently posted about “'Stickkontact' – a Swedish hard core guerrilla knitting project". said project intriguing and artful (to me anyway). reminds me of knitta please. if nothing else, i'd argue that it's way(!!) better looking than those unreadable, unsightly "tags" thrown up on every non-moving surface in any urban area worldwide...
-this free classic cables scarf knitting pattern from lion brand is quite lovely, and yes, classic. want to make it look a little less classic, but still classy? do it up in a firey bright hue like hot, hot pink or perhaps electric neon blue. would be just as fine for the ladies as the men, methinks.
-nylon magazine (in conjunction with urban outfitters) is giving away free subscriptions at the momento. signing up for such might get you on a myriad of annoying marketing lists (that will likely shower you with their materials), but hey, free magazine?!
-these reconstructed sweaters made of sweaters by outsa pop are AMAZING. i am desperately pining for a tutorial on how to replicate such. please, outi, indulge us, we implore you!
-not strictly fashion-related but i can't stop myself from mentioning: orla kiely is doing a line of homegoods for target (via sf girl by bay). uh, HELLO, OMG, i'm in love with all of it already!! sign me up!
-the interesting origins of 5 famous hairdos, including the mohawk and mullets (via mental_floss). (as an aside: anyone but me remember the beastie boys magazine grand royal and the issue with the multi-page spread all about mullets?? so, so good, and so, so burned into my memory. awesome.)