https://www.youtube.com/embed/_mhREK2XEGk
Thanks to the internet and technological advancements the fashion industry is changing everyday. So in this video I'm going to tell you why exactly the future fashion is in Africa and how that affects you the African fashion designer and tailor. Stay tuned to the very end of the video and don't be shy about joining in the conversation in the comments below. Hi and welcome to my channel if you're new here my name is Kaidza and thank you for joining us. Previously fashion has always been divided into three major categories. The first would be the designer labels and brands like Versace, Prada, Gucci, and the likes and then the second tier were the departmental stores such as Bloomingdale's and then the third would be the the mass production for the general masses - that's you and me, what we can afford and that would be like the TJ Maxx and the Walmarts and the sears now I think the Internet and the advent of Technology has changed all that to create a little bit of disruption in the fashion industry and I'm going to explain to you how in this video.
If you've been observant in the recent years you'll notice companies such as fashion Nova and forever21 popping up and kinda taking over the fashion industry by creating affordable and stylish clothes for people. So Fashion Nova has really disrupted the industry by creating affordable replicas of major designer labels making them affordable and available to the regular person I would like to add that this did not come without its fair share of lawsuits from different fashion houses against fashion Nova.
Yeah you'd have to save up for months physically walk into a store and buy it but now with companies like Fashion Nova, this has changed and people can buy online now how does that affect the fashion industry in Africa? So I don't think mass production for the African continent will work because people in Africa are very different from the rest of the world our sizes differ greatly the shapes of our body is different greatly and so the cookie cutter cut of a dress will not work we as a people really relished of the the process of going to a tailor getting measured and getting things tailor-made for us for our bodies because the Western standards of of sizes the Western aesthetic the Western cut does not really does not flatter the African body as much as it would the Western body that's what the tailoring industry in Africa is still very prominent and it's still thriving even though there are cheaper imports and secondhand goods still in the market people still visit their tailors because when you go to a tailor you know you're gonna get something that was made for you specifically for you and the future is going to be just that because people are realizing that bodies aren't the same we're not created the same what might look good and you will not look good on me and therefore the regular size 16 even though I might be or somebody might be the regular size to my size - isn't your size - because we are proportioned differently and therefore the fashion industry in Africa is already on the forefront with the bespoke aspect of what I think the future of fashion is going.
We already have individualized experiences in our lives your tv-watching preferences may not be the same as my tv-watching preferences and therefore watching the regular TV isn't as popular as it was 10- 20 years ago there is Netflix as Disney plus there's all sorts of streaming services that cater to your individual need caters to your individual preferences. so why shouldn't we do the same for our clothing we also need clothes we all wear clothes so why is it that this is the this industry is still hell-bent on putting everybody in the same category or cookie cutting everything for the masses that's not going to work in the future things will probably be bespoke if the current situation is an indication of where we are going as a society I think the way the African people are doing it the way we work with our tailors and with our designers in creating things are specific for us is what is going to be for the rest of the world and that is one aspect of fashion where I think Africa is ahead of everyone else and if we as a people and if the governments and the private sector also join in and create the the foundation to make it so like there's training and education that caters to this we will definitely raise up the fashion industry in Africa.
And another thing Africans have given the world the confidence the guts to wear some colours okay we love our colors we like bright things bright colors and I think that is where the trend is going if you take a look at the celebrities instagrams you would notice that there are trends that are inspired by the African continent. If you look at the major designer labels you will notice that they are looking towards Africa for their fashion inspiration there are a number of lawsuits going on at this moment where some African designers are suing major fashion labels they're suing these people for stealing some of their ideas why is that because everything else has been done ten times over and now they're looking towards the mother continent for inspiration which means we had the descent of creativity Africa also has the youngest population in the world the average age in Africa I think is between 17 and 24 years which means this is where creativity and Industry is going to be in the next 20 30 50 years again I feel that we are at a special moment in history where we can change how the world looks this is a moment in history where people in a hundred years will look back and say that's when people started wearing what they're wearing now and that's because we have the youngest population in the world and this is where the innovation will come from for the future generations and already they're looking towards the continent for inspiration right now so what can what does this mean for you the designer for you the tailor who wants to get into the fashion industry and who wants to get into the African fashion industry I think you should look to the continent don't try to emulate what people are doing outside look for inspiration around you around your neighborhood around your city around your country even borrow from other countries I think we should have a pan-african identity when it comes to fashion as well as a localized identity that we can borrow from each other and marry from each other as a designer it's okay to incorporate the Western cut to your clothing because we right now we are a globalized society where the young people are looking towards the West for inspiration you're looking at the rap videos you're looking at the music videos you're looking at movies and that's okay but I think the essence of your designs should be inspired by the African continent and that will have longevity over the long term and if you are a tailor also looking at the cut looking at the European the American cut is okay marrying that with that essence the African essence will take you even further because the current millennial and the generations ed or Z depending where you're from they are trying to come back to the continent and we're realizing being a millennial myself and realize there's a lot that our continent has to offer in terms of beauty and talent and I don't really have to wear that high and very expensive clothing for some from some European label when I can get equally as creative equally as beautiful piece that's made just for me from a designer who is on the continent and in the process I would be promoting their work I would be feeling my brother or sister and just propagating this talented mass of people who are right now suffering and not being recognized for their creativity I know some of these Labor's are aspirational you want a Balenciaga shoe in your closet you want some Gucci belts in your closets and that's okay but if you think about how long those articles of clothing will last in your closet and remain relevant it's really not that long I mean after a few years then you know people will look at you like why are you wearing last year's Balenciaga like come on and here you are you saved for like five months trying to get that pair of shoes so is it really worth it is it really worth it trying to impress people who don't matter because you just want to be you know looked at like you have money or you're trendy but the people who actually have any money they get things custom-made do you think Beyonce goes to balance yoga and to buy probably if she's born but most probably they make things specifically for her don't try to go broke trying to impress people who don't really matter or care instead buy things for the longevity and support the African fashion industry if fun value in this video don't forget to Like comment and subscribe and we'll see you on the next one next Sunday
No comments:
Post a Comment