The fashion industry has always been at the forefront of innovation. It is challenged with several problems every year. Inarguably, the biggest challenge we have faced as an industry is the one posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Through this article, we bring you the latest fashion updates on the challenges faced by the fashion industry in 2021 and how you can overcome them.
Absence of Physical Stores
The biggest impact of the pandemic was felt by physical stores. Many customers remained hesitant to enter large retail spaces due to the increase in the number of Covid cases. Moreover, even in countries where open purchasing was still allowed, companies began to pivot towards digital sales.
People Choose Necessity Over Fashion
Another striking fashion update of 2021 is people choosing necessity over fashion. As so many people stay at home, dressing up formally has become rare. People now generally purchase clothing right ahead of a special event, such as weddings and vacations. Besides, fewer consumers can afford to purchase new clothes - particularly those who have been laid off from work or have gone through pay cuts.
Sustainability
Consumers are making decisions that not only focus on their own bottom lines but also on the values of the brands they choose to associate with. Many fashion and apparel companies have to start adapting to this by implementing initiatives such as corporate social responsibility into their brand strategies, having a voice in addition to being profitable.
Supply Chain
Amid the pandemic, in 2021, many brands have had to make some meaningful adjustments, especially in their supply chain. To avoid disruption and get special attention from consumers, brands across the globe have been constantly on the lookout for new supplies.
If there is one thing that can dampen the spirits when it comes to shopping, it’s the fact that when we go to a shop, we have to worry about making sure we’re wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment such as gloves and masks. This has completely changed the shopping experience.
Creative Strategies
As another fashion update in 2021, we heard of fashion brands seeing seismic marketing shifts, in direct response to the ecommerce explosion. Under pressure to survive in hard times, brands are being forced to streamline their creative strategies. This means that distinction might become increasingly difficult, but it also presents an opportunity for fresh-thinking brands to bring something entirely new to the market.
Marketing Strategies
Every fashion brand is struggling to capture their users' attention through the same networks and social platforms, so it's become imperative for companies to rethink their strategies to capitalize on whatever marketing strategies they have left.
Going Green
Seeking inspiration from the latest fashion updates in 2021, more and more fashion brands are going green in their designs. They're betting on embracing new options for making a difference with consumers by replacing traditionally-used fabrics with new, sustainable, or technical ones that offer a drastically lower environmental impact.
Competition
As Asian products and products from small and medium enterprises start to get popular, many fashion brands are surprised by the unspoken competition. A couple of years ago, working with a manufacturer in China was all you needed to get what you wanted at competitive prices, but now there are so many factors to take into account, such as overall quality, shipping logistics, and marketing.
Cheap Labor Cost
Large clothing brands use factories that are located in areas they refer to as emerging or developing markets catering to a huge base of consumers. In order to keep prices low, the factory employees have demanding schedules and make very little from their work. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the business, many workers are forced into compromising situations for a short-term profit boost.
Production Cost
The rising price of raw materials is one of the biggest challenges that many fashion industries are facing today. The number of different materials needed to make new fabrics, design lines, and manufacturing processes has been continually growing, which makes the total production cost sky-high.
Logistics
Fashion houses need to make sure that they have a handle on their logistics from time to time. The cost of doing business has been going up substantially due to the increase in the value of crude oil and petrol. Fashion houses deal with a lot of raw materials, and transporting them can end up being a real pain.
Changing Marketing Strategies
Millennials, with their strong preferences and opinions on what they want to wear and where they would like to purchase their clothing, have mobilized the industry. Major apparel companies are now focusing their marketing strategies based on this group.
Disposal Policies
Statistically, tons of fast fashion apparel are wasted each year and there are several reasons for this. Instead of recycling or donating unworn stock to charities afterward, most fashion brands throw away or incinerate unsold products due to their brand-centered disposal policies, which unfortunately also leads to devastating losses in terms of natural and financial resources
Overcoming these Challenges
Like a book has a table of contents, a business has a strategic plan. The fashion industry has undergone significant redefinition in the last decade with globalization defining new development, renewed consumer interest, and altered technology facilitating networking capabilities.
Keeping up with fashion updates, here’s how the industry has been trying to overcome the challenges of 2021:
- The fashion industry has understood that collaboration is the key to increasing efficiency and expanding into new markets. We have seen many new companies indulging in the practice lately.
- With a lack of diversity in developed economies and recovering markets, the industry requires government support with real-time reports on customer demand, pricing, competition, and supply chains.
- The luxury fashion sector is one of the most dominant of all segments. You can stand out by breaking gender stereotypes and ending toxic masculinity.
- By understanding what consumers are saying about their fashion needs and demands, brands can keep abreast of what’s popular and make relevant changes.
Conclusion
The fashion industry is evolving and growing more rapidly than ever before. The industry is at a point where it is no longer possible to be successful with the same tactics that you used five years ago. Successful fashion brands are having to adapt to new challenges in order to stay competitive.When you’ve got a fashion brand, staying ahead of the curve can be a challenge. But it’s not impossible. Being able to leverage new technology, new trends, and new insights can help you grow your brand. And that’s exactly what we do at Fashinza. We help fashion brands like yours stay ahead of the curve by connecting you with amazing apparel manufacturers, which can be a daunting task for you. Also, we take ownership of the complete process from design to delivery, so you can rest assured and channelize your energy to bettering the other aspects of your business.
