What changes will the Fashion and Lifestyle Industry see after the Lockdown?

Amidst the global crisis of covid-19, many industries will be going through some major changes and one of those industries will be the Fashion and Lifestyle Industry. This change will be faced worldwide and may have an impact on various aspects including fashion, styling, lifestyle and overall ideology of people.
Where many believe that the bond between fashion and technology will get stronger and others believe that customers will be more inclined towards sustainable lifestyle, we set up various interviews with experienced members of the field to understand how exactly the industry will be impacted in India as well as worldwide and how we can accept the change.

Anita Mishra (Owner of Lakme Salons, Lucknow)
In an interview with Anita Mishra, she shared with us some insights into the beauty industry, what it is facing due to the sudden outbreak of covid-19 and the lockdown following the crisis, and where lies the future of beauty industry.

She informed us about the current scenario where brands are introducing high discounts on their products due to low sales and that is negatively impacting the workers. The salaries will definitely be cut short in the coming days due to low paying capacity and the people will have to struggle a lot.

“The Beauty industry was the first one to close and will be the last one to open.”

Emphasizing about the fact that social distancing will be a priority during this pandemic outbreak. As a result the beauty industry was the first one to close as one cannot follow social distancing in this field and the same will be the result after the lockdown has been removed as social distancing will still be a priority for a considerable amount of time.

The Future of the Beauty Industry
“Awareness among people will increase and hence the demand of hygiene will increase”
Anita Mishra shares that people will get more conscious about hygiene and sanitizations hence prioritizing cleanliness, disposables, sanitizers and masks.The brands may hold more responsibility upon their shoulders as people will expect a clean, hygienic and excellent service.

“People with personal connections and those who maintain the product quality and hygiene will survive better in the market. People might prefer brands over freelancers.”

As awareness among people will increase, they might prefer to move towards the brands that have been already maintaining hygiene as they hold a responsibility of the brand name while freelancers may have a difficult time struggling if they don’t have many personal contacts, shares Anita Mishra, the digital marketing might bloom.

Urvashi Ahuja (Stylist & Consultant | Owner Of U21)

Urvashi Ahuja is the owner of U21, a luxury fashion & lifestyle brand and is also into yoga fitness.Urvashi Ahuja says that things will change. Not for the better but neither for the worse. Things will fall in between.

“As the market is facing a downfall, we cannot curtail on daily needs like food therefore we must curtail on industries like the fashion industry.”

Urvashi Ahuja believes that people will choose options that will provide good quality products in minimum expense. Therefore the big brands of clothing industry that are already suffering might face a major drawback for a few months after lockdown. People might prefer economical fashion.

“Although there won’t be a tremendous change and taste of people will almost still stay the same but people’s choice might turn towards sober fashion.”

Urvashi Ahuja strongly believes that as people will slowly rise from this crisis, they would tend to dress up more soberly and less glamorously as a result of the aftermath of covid-19 outbreak and its psychological effects on people.

Chef Virendra Kaur (Chef of Munick Bistro & Bar, Lucknow)

In an interview with Chef Virendra Kaur we gained an insight into the condition of the world and probable future changes.

“Our lives will never stay the same once this crisis is over. Economists and social scientists share the same opinion, saying that all of us will see changes in our lives.”

Chef Virendra says that according to National Restaurant Association,  among the most affected industries from covid-19, one will be the food industry, that in India alone comprises of around 4,00,000 crore rupees and the jobs of around 7,00,000 people. She says that the restaurants and food market is struggling at this point and the struggle may go on for long.

 “The world, politically and economically, may lean towards more barriers or mutual cooperation, but when it comes to food in India, deep-seated cultural prejudices about dining with “others” are likely to become exacerbated. Restaurants may be forced to shut shop or clean up. In fact, this may be the shake-up waiting to happen in the Indian restaurant business.”

Afreen Khan (Mrs.India Face of South2018)

Afreen Khan talked about how this sudden break is forcing people to think more economically and sustainably.
“Fashion industry has taken a halt since social distancing is a priority right now. People enjoy fashion in feel good environments but for now when people are stocking up on medicines and food, fashion industry has taken a hit. May be fashion needed this change long back, because it stresses the significance of sustainable fashion that doesn’t age with seasons and trends and in fact gives a big No to fast fashion.”

On behalf of the information gathered from these interviews it is safe to conclude that changes will definitely be seen in the Fashion and Lifestyle industry. People will struggle and learn to cope up through the changes by using different innovative ideas because even in the darkest of times, the human spirit remains high.

Fashion is already seeing changes in many countries and surviving in this period by creating designer masks that definitely seems to become a new fashion trend we might see in the future.

Changes are definitely coming in this industry, for good or for bad? We cannot decide upon that yet, but one thing is for sure. No matter what happens, we will make it through. Together!

If you have any query from any of the above or would like to comment on their views, feel free to write to chiefeditor@fashionherald.in