Old timers - tell me about fashun before the internet

[robin]

For you old timers on the board, I have many questions for you. Some might be dumb.

Were there always lots of designers and clothing lines before 1998, the way it seems now? Or was clothing largely dominated by a few big players in New York and Europe?

Were there many clothing boutiques?

Before the internet, how did you learn about various lines, or discover new designers?

Do you think the internet has made any impact on the industry over the years? Has the culture around clothing changed?

 

[makushin]

Al Gore invented style.

 

[whodini]

Thanks, robin. Now when a patient asks for a low-cost alternative to Ambien I'll prescribe them this thread STAT.

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by whodini

Thanks, robin. Now when a patient asks for a low-cost alternative to Ambien I'll prescribe them this thread STAT.
These questions have kept me up for days just thinking about them.

 

[LA Guy]

My observations are for the North American market, and to a lesser extent, for the European.

I think that there are now more boutiques and brands that cater to the "men's contemporary" market exclusively. I think that this has little, if anything, to do with the internet. Rather, I think that is has to do with the explosion of "premium" denim lines starting from about 2000. This market created a demand for fashionable clothing priced lower than European designer lines. Also, it has become increasingly acceptable for men to be "into" fashion. This started well before 1998, but I feel that the "premium" denim phenomenon really catalyzed what was already underway. There were actually plenty of European brands available, but there was less of the cottage industry phenomenon that we now in the USA.

The one big difference that the internet has made is that there is a lot less regional variation in styles, as previously isolated style tribes are now teleconnected. You can go into a boutique in Seattle, in LA, in Chicago, in Toronto, in New York, and the brand mixes are very similar. Part of this, imo, is that showrooms and tradeshows have become very adept in the last decade or so in producing specific "looks". If you want a cool, niche market boutique, there are specific brands you want. If you want a boutique catering to college age women, same. The internet's contribution is that it allows people in Boise to see what exactly people in NYC are wearing, or even how the boutique look. So the demand has become more and more homogenized.

 

[SoCal2NYC]

It's just become much more visible and accessible.

 

[Egdon Heath]

Originally Posted by robin

For you old timers on the board, I have many questions. Were there always lots of designers and clothing lines before 1998, the way it seems now? Or was clothing largely dominated by a few big players in New York and Europe. Were there many clothing boutiques? Before the internet, how did you learn about various lines, or discover new designers?

What's your definition of an old-timer? If it's me, then the answer to your first three questions are no, no and no. As for the internet questions, before the internet we discovered new designers by popping the trunk on some dood's car in the Sears parking lot and rifling through the shopping bags. Of course this was before Chess King.​

 

[XenoX101]

I really hate how you margin yourself like that, do you really think your text is of such importance that it needs to be separately indented, or are you simply OCD over aesthetics.

 

[2sweet]

Some clothes were made outside of China...

 

[chronoaug]

Originally Posted by XenoX101

I really hate how you margin yourself like that, do you really think your text is of such importance that it needs to be separately indented, or are you simply OCD over aesthetics.
why does merker .. why does kitonbrioni post the same list on a time schedule why does conne like 80 year old women why does vaclava use commas why does anything anything?

 

[jet]

Cue stfu xeno sparkly banner.

 

[XenoX101]

Nobody else was thinking it? Oh well, carry on.

 

[unjung]

I bet National Geographic was a key source.​

 

[Brian SD]

Originally Posted by XenoX101

Nobody else was thinking it? Oh well, carry on.

We all notice it, it's annoying as hell but the dude types like he's high 100% of his life so it flies without a lot of questions.

 

[PG2G]

Originally Posted by XenoX101

Nobody else was thinking it? Oh well, carry on.

Don't worry, it actually is pretty annoying.