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Home > News> Opinion > A note from the editor: Luxury fashion needs a runway

A note from the editor: Luxury fashion needs a runway

Our cover story this week examines what lies ahead for luxury fashion, disproportionately dependent on weddings to power sales, in a pandemic-hit world

Countless other businesses have struggled too but the world of haute couture is somewhat uniquely placed.
Countless other businesses have struggled too but the world of haute couture is somewhat uniquely placed.

One of the more challenging aspects of producing a paper like Lounge from home has been finding the right photographs at a time when we can’t send teams out on photo shoots or assignments. For the fashion world, which is so dependent on the coming together of designers, models, stylists, artisans, photographers to create a momentary image of beauty that sparks a yearning for luxury clothing, the pandemic has created a crisis. Countless other businesses have struggled too but the world of haute couture is somewhat uniquely placed—it’s disproportionately dependent on weddings to power sales, aspiration drives purchases, it’s still structured rather informally, and it’s often lost in the shadow of Bollywood, all of which makes it more fragile.

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Designers have tried to be more entrepreneurial over these past months by adopting all-digital formats, or launching affordable lines, but there are many who work in the sector who can’t pivot as easily—the hundreds of models, artisans, stylists and other professionals who contribute just as much to make garments shine. Our cover story this week examines what lies ahead for luxury fashion, while another report delves into the effect of the pandemic and celebrity culture on the ephemeral careers of models. This is, as many designers admit, a pivotal moment for the fashion world, which came into being about 30 years ago but is yet to find its feet.

If you want to put your feet up and unwind this weekend, we have lots of suggestions on what to read, watch, listen to and play—and a profile of sleep solutions startup Wakefit’s co-founder Chaitanya Ramalingegowda and his approach to mindful relaxing. If you are going to be cooking this weekend, you might enjoy the review of the exhibition Stories On A Banana Leaf, which spotlights not just art relating to food and ingredients but also history and recipes for dishes that you can actually try your hand at. But if you would prefer plain potatoes, we also have a piece that will help you turn out perfectly cooked spuds.

Write to the Lounge editor shalini.umachandran@htlive.com Twitter: @shalinimb

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