Talking to Fibre2Fashion About the Future of Denim...
A short time ago, Fibre2Fashion, a renown B2B resource for the fashion and textile industry asked me to write an article about the future of the denim industry. I often don't go in depth on the economics of the denim industry here because I enjoy keeping it 'light' so to speak. Therefore when I got a chance to dig deep I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately, the article can only be found in print, but here are some excerpts you might find interesting;
"I am often asked if the skinny jean will ever go away... When posed this question, I often reply with a question of my own that asks the whereabouts of the bootcut jean. I do this to point out that although the bootcut lost its dominance as the default jean for everyday wear, even now there are those consumers who have a preference for it and most established brands still keep the style in stock...I'm not saying everything is in, but when it comes to denim, what's new is new and what's old is heritage."
"Roomier styles will also have an effect on the cotton content of jeans. Skinny jeans demand more stretch [but] the overuse has created a love/hate relationship with consumers and their stretchy jeans as recovery and durability don't often live up to the price tag."
"Recently, Banana Republic ran a campaign that featured a man called "Startup Guy" that drew a lot of attention...Startup guy wore a pair of slim khakis rolled up at the ankle and a half-tucked chambray button-down. Not quite what these young professionals are wearing but the message is clear. The business landscape is changing and...denim days will no longer relegated to the creative departiments or worse yet, Casual Friday"
I can be very opinionated as you can see. If you're interested in hearing more of me going on and on about jeans you can pick up a copy at your nearest magazine shop or at fibre2fashion.com. So do you concur or am I full of hot air.
