We live in a modern world where new technologies and connectivity between nations has solidified a shared union of trade and exchange of ideas across borders. This unification of ideologies and shared economic exchanges is at the forefront of the effects of globalisation. Global connectivity through social media and global infrastructure has meant that a merging of borders between nations has had an instrumental effect on the way in which fashion is appreciated as an economic commodification.
While a shared union of ideas, production and distribution seems like an ideological dream come true for those who wish to see the world connected in a single market of exchange and shared ideas of creativity, this has had a drastic effect on the way in which fashion is appreciated both as an art and a commodification.
While fashion is predominantly seen as a business to high street retailers within the UK such as Zara and Topshop, the growing increase of so called “copycat” fashion items in local high-street retailers has created problems both for fashion designers and for customers of the UK.
For those that are fashion conscious within the UK, the main question is this: should we still buy designer outfits, when replicas are made so readily available? Should we realistically pay in excess of £3000 for a Gucci jacket that has been reproduced by Forever 21, for a more pocket friendly £35?
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While the answer to this question may depend on the thickness of your wallet, the real consideration here is this: Do we as fashion consumers still strive to be original in our expression of clothing, do we still need designer labels when replica garments are being sold down at your local Primark for a fiver?
Fashion Designer Miuccia Prada has recently spoken out to The Fashion Law stating that “originality is simply not relevant anymore” (Read the article here). This statement comes after designer outlet Gucci sues high street retailer Forever 21 for producing a replica of Gucci’s £3300 silver bomber jacket, for a more purse friendly £35.
With manufacturing costs in Asia costing a fraction of the price for European manufacturing costs, globalisation has driven large UK retailers to outsource their production services overseas. While this has had its benefits on the cheapness of clothes being sold in UK shops, it has created such a deficit in the pricing of designer and high-street labels that UK customers have been driven to cheaper high street retailers and copycat replicas.
As suggested by Mrs Prada: “today we have a copy of a copy. The last one to do something, is the one who invented it”, this statement seems to have resonated with UK catwalk fashion designers, as well as high street retailers, as 2017’s London Fashion week show saw the re-introduction of Japanese and Oriental fashion influences take centre stage in many UK and European designers’ collections.
The influences of Yohji Yamatomo and Issey Miyake seem to have been replicated in collections by Vivienne Westwood, Tom Ford and other lower label designers such as Acne Studios.
These Japanese designers, who pioneered dark lined construction techniques, have seen their influences have a detrimental influence on many European fashion designers in recent years. While Yamamoto and Miyake have been modest in their acceptance of having such a huge influence of UK catwalk fashion, the evidence of the copying and replication of such styles have led many to argue that globalisation has led to a crisis of originality and a change in the ideals of fashion from an artistic and creative economy, to a business fueled by credit, acclaim and copycat tactics.
BillyHoughton137 