Working for Abraham Harrison, I have become increasingly aware of the variety of information one can obtain through social media networks and other platforms throughout the web. All sorts of industries are paying more and more attention to the advantage of these readily available and are giving people what they want: a slice of the pie. Information is at the palm of our hands and anyone can have a voice nowadays. Not to mention that, with a bit of hard work and determination, they can actually make their voice count.
Rewind 20 years ago, or not even, just go back 10 years ago when social media networks had not revolutionized the world. Who got the spots at the Givenchy, Dior or Dolce & Gabbanna shows? (Not me, that’s for sure!) Being a part of the small circle of Fashion influentials, designers, editors, journalists and the likes was no easy task and unless you were a model, filthy rich, famous or a backstage helper, guaranteeing a space for yourself at the iconic Mercedes Benz tents was almost impossible. For ordinary folks like myself, all you could do was wait for the media’s summarized version of the shows, some short clips and the best images to make some sense of what was coming next season.
But not anymore! Behold… technology– or the Internet to be more specific. The last seasons, Fashion industry experts have truly utilized the social media platform to extend their coverage and, as Mashable states, “reach audiences far larger than those present at shows.” Now we all get a piece of the pie, and even if it’s just a sliver, it’s a heck of a lot better than waiting for the chewed-up version. We are all invited to be part of this event and it is clear that times have indeed changed.
Keeping up with this coverage can definitely be overwhelming. Just try following the #NYFW hashtag on twitter and you can immediately see what I mean. But thanks to Lauren Indvik from Mashable, there’s a list of the best Twitter accounts, Fashion news sites, Tumblr accounts and Instagram profiles to follow as the weekend unfolds. In addition, you can simply tune in to the Live Runway channel on Youtube (via your computer or on your mobile) for a live stream of the most popular shows in Fashion Week (there’s also a detailed schedule so you don’t have to do the research either).
The Fashion Week coverage extravaganza is just a small part of what technology has done to the industry. Now, with Fashion GPS,you can keep track of trends that are being set, as they are being set, something I bet many folks never expected 10 years ago. We also have bloggers influencing the purchases of people all over the world, setting trends, and being consulted on collections. It no longer takes a yearly subscription to Vogue to know what are the latest trends or how to best style your newest leopard blazer. Just create an account at Bloglovin’ or Chictopia, do a quick search of the most popular bloggers & trendsetters and you are good to go.
In the September edition of Harper’s Bazaar, Ashton Kutcher made a bold statement. The comedic star had found the “new black.” Maybe more life changing for fashion junkies such as myself, but it’s an interesting comparison to the role of social media in the fashion world. Is technology really the new black? Will it be the go-to resource for Fashion designers and editors? Will it become a ‘classic’ in the Fashion industry? I won’t be as bold as to agree with the Kutcher but at least when it comes to social media and the Internet, I have to say that this might be a close race. Come to think of it, maybe no one will ever dethrone Black as the “King of Fashion” but maybe, just maybe, technology can be the Queen it has always been missing.