The Fashion Fix – 22nd December 2018

As we are nearing the end of 2018 let’s take a little time out to reflect on the most fundamental fashion moments that have defined the year.

The industry has witnessed an array of momentous times throughout the last twelve months, from the grand royal wedding and Meghan’s fabulous Givenchy gown to HM The Queen attending London Fashion Week.

Elsewhere, we acknowledge 2018 as the year that embraced more diversity on the catwalks; influential fashion houses abolishing fur from their collections and designers making major house transitions. It’s been a hell of a year…!

Royals Making Their Mark on The Fashion Industry

One of London’s emerging designers was awarded quite possibly the greatest accolade any influencer’s lifetime in fashion – Her Majesty the Queen sitting front row at their show. Richard Quinn, now a household name, had the unheard of honour of Queen Elisabeth II admiring his collection from a few feet away, who additionally presented the designer with the inaugural QEII award for British design. Throughout Quinn’s catwalk presentation, t-shirts emblazoned with ‘God Save The Quinn’ and homages to her Balmoral headscarves served as the collections key features that also served as amusement to the Queen!

There was also the small matter of a very big wedding, one which captured the world’s interest, courtesy of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Duchess of Sussex made an unpredictable yet astounding choice in Givenchy Haute Couture – and it was a real-life fairy tale moment!

(Images from top to bottom: HM The Queen at the Richard Quinn show in February, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wedding, animal rights protesters at London Fashion Week in February, model Adut Akech for Versace and Virgil Abloh.)

Diversity on the Catwalks

Well, it was about time and the Spring/Summer 2019 catwalks emerged as the most diverse we’ve yet to witness. Diversity amongst racial ethnicities reached an all-time high – 36.1 per cent to be exact of all castings spreading over an array of cities favoured models of colour. Such faces included Adut Akech, Sara Choi, He Cong and Ji Shin. Prada embraced this movement by using Anok Yai, the Sudan-born model to open Miuccia‘s collection since Naomi Campbell’s appearance in 1991.

Black models arose on the catwalk of Comme des Garçons for the first since the late 90s, additionally with eight emerging Jamaican faces from mother agency Saint International being cast at Balenciaga. Also coming into effect – body and gender diversity, which too reached an all-time high.

Fur No More

Fur was officially out of fashion in 2018. An amalgam of top influential fashion houses made the ethical decision to stop using real fur in their collections, names including Versace, Gucci, Michael Kors, Chanel and Burberry (who were caught out for burning almost £30 million worth of stock.)

This long and overdue cause of action raised the fundamental question as to whether all labels should abolish animal fur – or if faux fur is essentially an environmentally-unfriendly substitute. The deliberation resumes.

Virgil’s Move To Vuitton

There was an incredible response to the news of Virgil Abloh being appointed artistic director of Louis Vuitton this year. Admirers of his ostensibly limitless collaborations and Off-White streetwear styles celebrated, and for people of colour, the reappointment was too a moment to rejoice, as a black man was awarded the recognition and responsibility for LVMH’s leading brand.

An emotional moment was captured between Virgil and his friend Kanye West at the end of his debut show, titled ‘The Vocabulary’ back in June – ultimately illustrating ethnic inclusion within the fashion industry.

Check in next week for the last Fashion Fix of 2018! – xoxo, Katie.

By Katie Farley