Is The Credit Crunch Affecting Fashion?

Seeing as were knee deep in the recession with many businesses going under, how has it effected the world of fashion? Some designers have been using high grade materials that have a huge price tag, are attempting to use cheaper materials to achieve the same result. Some designers have thrived under the pressure, using it as a inspriation to create unique and unusual designer clothes. Where there was money used to solve a problem before is now being solved with creative solutions, which gives them some inspired works. The designers that tapped into the spirit of the times and choose alternative means to the catwalk to demonstrate their lines. Designers are having private meetings with fashion editors and buyers or doing smaller functions to show off their collections -getting rid of all glamour. Desginers are either targetting the general public with smaller price tags on their wares, or the rich, who can afford to continue their big spending.

Shops like Debenhams has reported that their designer ranges have actually seen a boost in sales with womens and mens fashion. The beauty market has also seen rises with brands like dermalogica and Eve Lom making profits. Where shoppers are actually thinking wisely about their purchases and buying clothing that is high end in everything expect the price tag. The retail chain reported a double digit sales growth in the run up to christmas while seeing sales and profit increase while reducing its debt.

Demand in America and Europe has dropped but the middle east is showng more growth and is steadily rising. So focus has began moving to the Middle East as designers focus more on that market and try to gain back some of the revenue thats disapeared from America and Europe.

So while people arent spending the huge amounts on clothing as they once used to, they are still spending- just wisely. The fashion market and other marketsfor example the skincare market is still shifting products off the shelves. The deisngers are using the credit crunch as a challenge to create great clothes rather than letting it stifile their creativity.