So, Can Fashion Be Fixed?

What do you do when expectations are too high and reality too disappointing? With Henrik Vibskov, Francesca Burns, Giulia Mensitieri and more…

WORKING IN FASHION IS A DREAM….

Then why do so many of us feel disappointed and frustrated? What is holding fashion employees back from having a fulfilling career? And how can we work together to make the fashion industry a wholesome and stimulating field to work in?

Welcome to Can Fashion Be Fixed?, 1 Granary’s investigative newsletter series diving deep into the root causes of fashion discontent. In each chapter, we will tackle the industry’s issues, analyse the core problems behind them, and propose tangible solutions with the help of experts.

This week, we’re looking at the lack of transparency around the reality of working in fashion and the disappointment young people experience when they enter the industry with high expectations.

EXPECTATIONS ARE TOO HIGH, REALITY TOO DISAPPOINTING

I think expectations are too high at the minute, to have the ideal job or to work in the ideal company. And that is not the reality of this industry. I’ve worked at universities and taught younger designers, and I noticed that impatience. It’s unrealistic on so many levels.

Those roles do exist, where you’re laughing and dancing with the creative director, but there are only a few people lucky enough to do that, and they have worked their way up. Young people hurt themselves. If you have an idea in your head of where you want to be, but then you’re not achieving that… It's a massive dent to your ego. And ego is an important element of your creativity – you need to be able to believe in your ideas. But you have to be mindful to not let your ego cause you problems.

-Quote by a Consultant Design Director who wished to remain anonymous, 1 Granary issue 7

IT’S YOUR JOB TO SELL A DREAM, NOT TO LIVE ONE.

But what happens when we start to believe the illusions we create?