The 2010s Are Already Back and Other Fashion News You Should Know
Your weekly fashion news digest is here.
This is the Wednesday NEWSletter where I break down a few fashion news stories you should know about this week and why. The fashion industry has a lot of news, and not all of it makes it into the mainstream. Fashion often tells one side of a larger story, and usually, it impacts us all.
Apparently 2010s fashion is already back. Sorry to Y2K.
This week, online fashion search engine Lyst sent out its weekly round up which included an interesting note: 2010s fashion is back. Specifically, searches for Jeffrey Campbell’s platform boots were among the top searches and up 20%. The report also mentions that searches for wedge sneakers have increased 26% week-on-week.
Two shoe types aren't a guarantee that a resurgence is happening, but it certainly proves the theory that trend cycles are moving faster than ever. The furthest back this would even go is 12 years. Do you realize how many of us have and wear items in our closets from 12 years ago?
On the bright side, it's probably pretty easy to find Lady Gaga-like platform boots and wedge sneakers in good condition on resale sites – and hopefully brands quit chasing trends that are better off bought consignment (note I did not say vintage, we're not there yet).
A new fashion scorecard highlights the best and worst brands.
Remake launched its second annual 2021 Fashion Accountability Report this week. The report scored 60 brands on their commitment to the environment and human rights in the supply chain. The scores in the report range from a -13 (for Forever21) to an 83 (for Nisolo).
While I encourage you to read the entire report for yourself, the biggest takeaway for me was that traceability was a major issue for almost every single brand, including some of the ones who are often touted as beacons of ethical fashion. This is not to say that they aren’t putting work in to take accountability for paying living wages for their garment workers but more that they are disclosing the information. As a consumer, I think we can go into this with a good faith lens, especially for brands that want to do better and ask them for more information on what they are doing to protect workers.
$30 million in fake handbags were seized in Los Angeles.
On December 2nd, US Customs and Border Protection officials released a statement saying they had seized over $30 million in fake handbags from China at the port in Los Angeles. This is not an uncommon problem, and as online shopping for luxury goods continues to skyrocket, so has the market for fakes. The problem often becomes that these bags can flood resale markets and end up in the hands of an unwilling customer. It’s a good reminder to make sure you are always buying through an authenticated service like Rebag or Fashionphile to make sure you aren’t accidentally buying counterfeit.
Resale value on investment bags is growing.
Speaking of resold luxury handbags, certain investment bags like the Hermès Kelly are actually increasing in value over time. According to resale site Fashionphile, via Forbes, “the Hermès Birkin bag has increased 32% in value compared from 2018 to 2021, while the Hermès Kelly bag has increased 47% in the same period.”
These bags can range upwards of $14,000 so I’m not suggesting everyone should invest in them. It’s interesting, though, that accessories and clothing don’t always have to be bought and tossed. And it appears a younger audience is beginning to understand that as well. The report also notes a rise in customers ages 18-24 who purchased “five times more orders in 2021 than in 2019.”