Cheque out Spring 2025’s Economic Resurgence Because You Can Actually Afford It

This week's groceries or a new Fendi bag?

Coach's ready to wear line shows us that maybe we can still afford fashion. September 9 2024. (Photos from Coach)

Food and housing aren't affordable, but maybe you can wear Coach’s new line. While normally we watch fashion week with envy, this season may be a turn around. Designers recognize the economy and strive to be accessible. 

The industry needs to be held accountable for diversity, whether it be race, body shape, or gender. But what about financial diversity? In the current economic crisis, it’s worth critiquing designers on what they give us, and at what cost.

“When I first moved to New York and I was totally broke, sometimes 

I would buy Vogue instead of dinner. I felt it fed me 

more.” -Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and The City

It seems as if we’re living in Carrie Bradshaw's reality; except maybe we’re making more responsible decisions, choosing fashion over food. 

New York Fashion Week (Sept 6-11)

Coach's ready to wear line. (Photos from Coach)

Fashion week opens in New York City at the beginning of September, the most important month in the industry. 

While the fashion industry is seeing a difficult time with sales, Coach seems to be doing just fine. But why? Because creative director, Stuart Vevers, pushes for age diversity, targeting a younger generation. To market to youth, a less financially stable group, you have to offer a diverse range of prices. 

Typically, fashion weeks are only reachable to those who are financially stable; buyers who are inevitably older. Brands exclude Gen Z and Millennials due to financial status. Though, these generations are the ones creating trends and giving brands the most media coverage. To discriminate against them in terms of financial availability, removes the diversity of buyers. That's where Coach is smart, they are actually profiting off of their affordability. 

London Fashion Week (Sept 12-17)

But wait, can all designers cut down costs? A week in London shows just that. Yes, we applaud brands who prioritize pricing, but not all can afford that. Brands need to be established prior to the current economy to do so.

This is hurting young designers. Based on higher brands cutting costs, we can afford Coach but not designers like Pauline Dujancourt. This removers younger buyers from purchasing and discovering new designers, which is a shame for the industry.            

Pauline Dujancourt’s Spring 2025 Ready To Wear Line. (Photos from Vogue)

Milan Fashion Week (Sept 17-23)

The transition between London and Milan is quick, and so is Fendi to make a statement on the economy. The roaring 20’s but make it the 2020’s. The lack of colour in Fendis new line shows the depressive episode we are in globally, just like last century's Great Depression.

While Fendi is luxury, and can’t lower prices, to keep their exclusivity, the representation of the economy is here. The closest they can go to recognize us is this. Is it enough?

                         Fendi reveals their colour lacking line in relations to the economy. (Photos from Fendi)

Paris Fashion Week (Sept 23-Oct 1)

With Paris closing out the season, we see even less affordability. Paris showcases an influx of luxury. And no, there is no market for affordable luxury. Like mentioned in Milan, luxury can’t dip to be affordable, or it wouldn't be luxury. 

Gigi Hadid Walking Rabanne. (Photos from Rabanne)

So Can We Afford It?

As fashion weeks flew by, viewers saw less and less to buy. New York designers set the precedent of affordable designs, though Europe didn’t keep it up. The diversity of pricing within the four

locations is not there. It’s more so one extreme or the other. For that, I say while some designers are recognizing the economic status, we need more diversity within the fashion economy.