“Another whole year has passed imperceptibly” is a phrase that many people used to say at the end of the year, but it doesn’t seem to apply this year. 2020 has been particularly long, we started wearing masks from the beginning of the year, and we still have half of our faces covered now; we have experienced the sadness of familiar people passing away multiple times. Fortunately, we finally gritted our teeth and made it to the last month. As we look forward to 2021 bringing light to everyone, let’s also take a look back at the 10 major events in the fashion world this year, marking the end of an unsettling year.
// 多位時尚界大師相繼離世 //
The pandemic has sadly claimed the lives of many, including legendary shoe designer Sergio Rossi, KENZO founder Kenzo Takada, and Longchamp’s iconic Le Pliage foldable handbag designer and CEO Philippe Cassegrain. It is truly heartbreaking that Kenzo Takada had just established his home brand “K3” at the beginning of the year, preparing to be active in the public eye once again, only to tragically bid farewell to the world due to the infection, leaving his new works unable to be unveiled, which is a great loss. Although they have passed away, we are grateful for the enduring legacy of their work for the world to cherish.
// 肺炎疫情重創各大品牌 //
2020 was undoubtedly a tough year for major brands, hit hard by lockdowns, travel bans, and other epidemic prevention measures. Sales plummeted, financial reports showed a drastic decline in revenue, and almost no brand was spared. News of layoffs and store closures was also rampant. Now, we can only pray that brands can weather the economic winter brought on by the pandemic and quickly get back on track.
// 時尚界共同攜手投入抗疫 //
Although brands are struggling with the “epidemic market operation” strategy, in the face of such a severe epidemic, everyone is still very willing to assist in epidemic prevention. Whether it is a well-known luxury brand, fast fashion brand, or niche brand, everyone is united and working together to fulfill their social responsibility to alleviate the epidemic, including producing masks, disinfectants, medical equipment, and donations. In the midst of adversity, we witness the unity of the fashion industry and its attention and sensitivity to social issues.
// 時裝秀走向數位化；品牌脫離傳統時裝週日程//
The pandemic has had another significant impact on the fashion industry, particularly in the form of a major shift in the way fashion shows are presented. Due to the pandemic, physical fashion shows have been almost entirely canceled in order to maintain social distancing and reduce the risk of large gatherings. Brands have been seeking alternative ways to showcase their new collections, such as through mini films, lookbooks, and this may become the new normal post-pandemic. Additionally, many brands like Gucci, Valentino, and Saint Laurent have taken the opportunity to step away from the traditional fashion week schedule and instead create their own schedules, ushering in a new era of fashion.
// 品牌掌舵人大變陣 //
2020 was truly a year of significant changes, with many fashion houses seeing a major shakeup in leadership. Original creative directors Clare Waight Keller and Natacha Ramsay-Levi of Givenchy and Chloé respectively have both stepped down, being succeeded by Matthew M Williams and Gabriela Hearst. Given the existing reputation of the new appointees in the fashion world, the news has sparked considerable discussion. Additionally, Prada and Fendi have implemented a “dual creative director” system, with Raf Simons teaming up with Miuccia Prada to bring a fresh perspective to Prada, followed by Kim Jones taking on an additional role and joining Fendi, with their first collection set to be released in February 2021 for the Spring/Summer haute couture season.
// 一浪接一浪的聯乘作 //
Collaborations between brands have become common in the fashion world, and this year has seen many surprising and highly-discussed collaborations. Among them, the Yohji x Supreme collaboration has sparked widespread excitement, with its mix of dark style and streetwear creating an unexpected freshness. And how can we not mention the highly anticipated Uniqlo x Jil Sander “+J” series that has everyone going crazy? After a 10-year hiatus, the “+J” series has made a strong comeback, causing a city-wide frenzy and even leading typically polite and rule-abiding Japanese people to go all out. This just goes to show the immense appeal of these collaborations.
As for the beginning of the new year, Gucci released a blockbuster collaboration with The North Face. Alessandro Michele has incorporated his expertise in retro aesthetics into The North Face’s functional clothing, and has also revamped the Gucci Art Wall and opened a limited-time store to create a buzz. It is definitely the “highlight of the year” without a doubt!
// LVMH 收購 Tiffany & Co. 風波 //
The acquisition this time can be described as full of twists and turns, making a lot of noise. It started with a century-old acquisition agreement reached for $16.2 billion, then later due to the epidemic and social unrest, LVMH hoped to lower the price; in a turn of events, they announced the abandonment of the acquisition, even causing a legal dispute at one point; and finally, a 180-degree turnaround, restarting negotiation talks, and ultimately successfully acquiring at a reduced price of about $15.8 billion. The plot really unfolds like a dramatic series!
// Black Lives Matter 對時尚產業的深遠影響 //
George Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white police officer, sparking a huge wave of protests and giving rise to the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Despite many brands’ stores being looted during the protests, they still expressed support for the movement and made commitments to focus more on racial diversity in their future developments. In the fashion industry, the prominent figure Anna Wintour unexpectedly became a target in this movement, facing criticism for lacking awareness of racial diversity. However, despite this, she recently received an unprecedented promotion to become the global “Chief Content Officer” of her publishing group.
// 永續時尚成時尚界大趨勢 //
Apart from the epidemic, environmental protection and sustainable fashion are also important topics in the fashion industry this year. Various parties in the fashion industry are working together in different ways to mitigate the serious issue of climate change, while also dispelling the stigma of “fashion equals waste.” For example, Chanel has a new climate change strategy, Burberry and Alexander McQueen donate old fabrics to fashion school students, Miu Miu and Marni transform old collections into upcycled collections, showcasing that fashion and sustainability can coexist in diverse forms. In addition, Emma Watson, who is dedicated to promoting environmental protection, has joined the board of directors of the Kering Group as the chair of the sustainability committee, leading its brands towards eco-friendly fashion.
// 2020 年大勢時尚人物：BLACKPINK //
Fashion brands enlisting celebrities as brand ambassadors or ambassadors is nothing new, but when it comes to the faces that have been frequently appearing in various fashion campaigns and advertisements in 2020, BLACKPINK is dominating the screen! With BLACKPINK’s significantly increased exposure this year, their popularity has skyrocketed, and brands have recognized their influence, eagerly inviting them to become brand ambassadors or shoot image advertisements. For example, Lisa and Rosé, close friends of the CELINE and Saint Laurent brands respectively, were officially promoted to brand ambassadors this year, with Lisa even becoming the global ambassador for Bvlgari; as for Jisoo, she has appeared multiple times in Dior’s advertising campaigns, and Jennie has also been favored by Chanel, demonstrating that BLACKPINK has become a prominent figure in the fashion world.
