FASHION BUSINESS OWNER MUSINGS: WHY I DON’T LOVE THE FASHION INDUSTRY
Weekly encouragement for independent fashion brand owners.
Have you ever watched the documentary “Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s?” I watched it years ago because who doesn’t love the magic and aura that surrounds that little piece of history.
I remember that within 15 minutes of watching, I wanted to turn it off. What I had anticipated would be nostalgic, historical, and glamorous, was really a display of snobbery and exclusivity.
From the nauseating but harmless statements like, “Oh my god, I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t have those python shorts,” to the more destructive gems like this one from Isaac Mizrahi: “If you’re not selling your work in Bergdorfs, you’re nothing,” it just continued down this path for most of the movie. (The only exception was the coverage of the visual merchandising team creating the iconic Bergdorf windows. There was the magic I was hoping for.)
But this isn’t supposed to be a critique of a documentary. The reason I’m telling you this little story is that watching this documentary reminded me of how much I really don’t like the fashion industry.
At least, I don’t like the part of the fashion industry that works hard to make people feel insignificant and unworthy.
The thing is, as aspiring and newly launched brand owners, you are going to feel a lot of pressure to be in certain stores, get certain press, and grace the backs of certain celebrities. If you aren’t attaining these things, people are going to tell you that your business doesn’t matter, that your work is insignificant, and that you might as well just close up shop.
And that is infuriating.
Because it’s not true.
You probably already know that I don’t believe in the traditional fashion industry rules. I don’t believe that there is one must-do way approach to your business. And I certainly don’t believe that if you aren’t in a store like Bergdorfs you aren’t really building a business.
I believe you can make your own path in the fashion industry by focusing on the things that matter to you, your values, and connecting with customers who share those values.
I talk about this a lot in my work. Because I believe it.
But when I see documentaries like this one, or watch a designer crumble after not getting the nod of approval that they’re after, it reminds me that not enough people are thinking this way.
The fashion industry has been built around aspiration but in the process has constructed a very high wall that keeps out anyone they don’t feel like including.
It’s all very “you can’t sit with us” and it’s dangerous.
Not because it’s not allowed to be aspirational, but because it manages to make those of us who love fashion feel as though we’re not allowed to build a business in it if we’re not going to show at NYFW.
It makes us believe that the work you’re creating is not “fashion” enough and if you’re not getting the notorious nods from the proper people, you’re not actually someone who is “in” the industry but instead someone who is, and most likely always will be, “trying.”
Listen, there are some of you out there with the goal to crash through this wall that the industry has built. You want to show Vogue what you’ve got, produce elaborate runway experiences, and yes, get your work in Bergdorfs. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that and I wish you all the success in the world.
But for those of you who want to create your work, sell it, and build your fashion business in a different way, this is a reminder that you are a designer, your work does matter, and you can be successful in this industry.
Whether you’re in Bergdorfs or not, your work is significant. Remember that always.
Lots of love and encouragement,