Let’s be clear to begin with: The COVID-19 pandemic has facilitated a major reset and reshaping of the fashion industry. Especially the economic repercussions of it has changed the dynamics of fashion completely. Research shows there’s a clear change in consumer preferences.
The past year reflected about a 130% increase in google searches for the term: “Sustainable Fashion”
As we continue to track consumer behavior, here are the sustainable fashion trends we predict for 2021 that can ensure that we are headed in the right direction. The year ahead can be challenging but given the large role of our personal choices in the matter, let’s adapt these (already rising)Â trends for a kinder, greener future:
Â
1. Less is More: The Capsule Wardrobe
The time to opt for a minimalist lifestyle is now. Thin out your closet by embracing a capsule wardrobe every season which includes a set number of the most essential and versatile pieces of clothing at your disposal.
When we talk about clearing out your closet, what we also mean is segregating them into sections such as Donations, Consignments and your favorite clothes that you’d like to keep. The aim is to keep the clothing out of landfills and keeping the staple pieces close to your heart intact.
Â
2. The Pre-loved revolution: Rise of the Thrift Community
Just like consignments above, consumers are embracing the thrifting community with open arms. Instagram is flooded with thrift stores and the trend is here to stay as the consumer base is growing effortlessly. The best part about these second-hand online stores is they don’t just sell/resell pre-loved clothing, they also educate their audience about the dour reality of fast fashion.
Â
3.Wear, Style, Repeat: Normalize Repeating Outfits!
While earlier it was all about a new day, a new outfit, 2021 is more about accepting the idea of repeating outfits without shame from your existing wardrobe. For that matter, even celebrities and fashion influencers have started indulging in the same while giving us alternatives to style a particular piece of clothing. Looking for a new outfit? might as well style an existing one differently. It is sustainable, saves you a buck, and shows off your creative side as well!
Â
4. A conscious effort: The shift to Organic clothing brands.
Even the largest players of the fashion industry have made bold commitments about adopting more sustainable practices and collections. These include major textile and apparel retailers like Adidas, Dibella, Gap, etc. On the other hand, there has been an exponential rise in new ethical fashion brands featuring conscious collections made of sustainable fabrics like Tencel, organic cotton and recycled polyester. And this is not a trend in rich countries exclusively. Quite a few organic clothing brands in India have sprung up recently, with the target of serving conscious slow fashion to the average consumer.
Â
5. Digital Love: Fast forwarded Slow fashion. Â
The fashion industry has resorted to digital adoption while integrating a human touch. Several brands have introduced virtual customer service solutions, 3D Fashion Designs and virtual exhibitions to showcase their recent collections. AI has surely changed reality and helped us embrace the transition to digital sustainable fashion. Digital fashion if executed properly, can do wonders when it comes to sustainable fashion.
It is no secret that sustainable fashion has been the new buzzword for the last four to five years. But a concept many thought of as one for the future has become urgent since the pandemic hit. Since then, it seems like the fashion world has finally woken up to the realities of the damage that it has been causing over the years. Now it is upto us to do our part to sustain the battle for sustainability. After all, earth is the only planet we have, and we are all in this together.