Will Hollywood Strike Be a Boom or Bust for Fashion? – WWD

The spotlight is on Hollywood as production in the world of film and television comes to a standstill. Industry workers are out of work and studio lots are deserted, leaving many wondering what the future of entertainment, and fashion, holds. The fashion industry, which is particularly intertwined with the entertainment industry, is deeply affected. Will the upcoming Hollywood strike be a boon or a bust for fashion?

1. Impact of the Hollywood Strike on Fashion

The Hollywood strike of 2007 brought with it considerable changes within the film industry, and its impact on the fashion industry became increasingly clear throughout this period. Many aspiring fashion designers, photographers and stylists saw a reduction in work from the entertainment sector, despite the high volume of productions still taking place.

The strike had a huge impact, as the money spent on expensive, luxurious fashion items for films vanished. Instead, we saw the introduction of budget pieces, as well as many items being borrowed and recycled from previous productions. High street names became commonplace and fashion became more accessible, with a focus on affordability. This shift had an impact not just on the shows, but also within the everyday lives of many, with fast fashion quickly becoming the norm.

• Television Production. A noted effect of the strike, was the large-scale reduction of television production.
• High-end Fashion. Expensive fashion pieces no longer appeared as frequently on the red carpet or within film sets.
• Focus on High Street. With money being saved, shopping at high street stores became the new go-to for many and budget fashion became popular.
• Fast Fashion. Fashion became more accessible, and every day people had access to and purchased the same trends as seen on the screen.

2. Fearing the Worst: What’s at Stake for the Fashion Industry?

Fashion is an industry based on trends and consumer demands, which makes it particularly vulnerable to economic downturns – particularly during a pandemic. In recent weeks, experts have warned that the fashion industry could be facing the worst downturn since the Great Depression of 1929.

The stakes are high: fashion retail has already taken a hit, with department stores closing their doors and luxury brands losing billions of dollars in market value. And the impact will ripple out to other businesses in the industry, from fabric suppliers to designers to models and garment workers. These people are at risk of layoffs, furloughs, and reduced hours. Meanwhile, garment manufacturing has become drastically slower, and manufacturers are struggling to pay workers while dealing with supply chain disruptions.

• Retail stores closing
• Luxury brands losing billions in market value
• Risk of layoffs, furloughs, and reduced hours for garment workers
• Slowed garment manufacturing
• Disruption to supply chain

3. From Disaster to Success: Could the Hollywood Strike be a Blessing in Disguise?

The recent Hollywood writers’ strike of 2007-2008 left fear and uncertainty in its wake. Concerns regarding how the industry would recover ran rampant. In the end, it turns out that the strike – rather than devastating the industry – provided a new opportunity for growth.

From the vantage point of 2020, it’s easy to see how the effects of the strike went beyond the individual writers’ pay disputes. It spurred a renaissance of creativity and intrapreneurship. With traditional income streams disrupted, up-and-coming creatives stepped up and released content on platforms like YouTube, promoting their own careers.

• Writers took control of their material, capitalizing on the power of online streaming to reach more viewers.
• Networks identified new revenue streams, away from commercials and towards subscription-based models.
• Content production increased, pushing diversity and inclusivity to the forefront of media consumption.

The writers’ strike effectively provided the industry with a much needed shake-up, giving creatives the chance to redefine the industry they worked in and make it their own. Without the strike of 2007-2008, the industry of 2020 could have been far weaker. It could have also be less diverse and lacking in the innovative approaches to content production that gave viewers the options they now have.

4. The Bottom Line: Will the Hollywood Strike be a Boom or Bust for Fashion?

With all of the attention paid to the stoppage of dynamic movie-making, fashion industry insiders are wondering if the work stoppage will have a positive or negative effect on their business. Here are some pros and cons

• Pro: Extending visibility – The strike has put stars back out on the red carpet, and increased the value of seeing them in a beautiful outfit.
• Con: Smaller budgets – With smaller budgets, designers may be going for more subtle designs as a way to stay in budget.
• Pro: Increased interest – People are being exposed to more fashion trends than ever before due to all of the red-carpet coverage.
• Con: Short-lived trends – Without new movies and TV shows to showcase styles, trends could become short-lived.

The bottom line is that only time will tell how the Hollywood strike will affect fashion. But it’s clear that fashion will be affected in some way. With stars still making their way to the red carpet, at least for now, there is definitely the potential for new trends and increased visibility. Ultimately, that could be the real winner in the end.

As Hollywood continues to grapple with the consequences of the looming strike, only time will tell whether fashion will see a boom or a bust. But no matter what the outcome, with performers and designers alike coming together, we can be sure that there will be plenty of creative forces at work to help shape the industry’s future.