Yahoo Finance Karen Millen: Race for fast fashion has forced greed to the industry’s forefront
“With the decline of the high street over the years it helps me accept that, whatever happens to Karen Millen, sadly the high street fashion industry itself has slipped into a pile of rags and for that reason I am relieved to be out of it.
KM was once a premium brand. A brand that prided itself on delivering high-end fashion with attention to detail. Using the best fabrics and trims but keeping our prices affordable.
It saddens me to see where it has been taken and how it has lost its way, but I have to accept that once you let go of something you have no control in where it’s future lies.
Greed has forced its way to the forefront. Creatives have been pushed to the back whilst business people surge forward unethically to service a young market that quite frankly astonishes me.
On one hand our young generation appear to be far more aware of our environment and the damage that’s been caused over the years but then in the other hand there is a large percentage that seem to think that this disposable fashion is OK and in fact the norm .
Are they so out of touch with reality and ignorant enough to think that clothes can be bought for a few pounds? How on earth do they believe that what they are buying can ethically be made for such a price without some kind of sacrifice somewhere?
The consumer has become so demanding but that’s because we have allowed them to be, by giving them so much, so instantly and at a cost that makes it disposable and in turn that has cost the environment and forced reputable businesses to possibly try to compete or go out of business. We have allowed the consumer to demand this because the greed has made this possible
What has happened to the pleasure and excitement that we once had when shopping our stores. Sure the convenience of online shopping has been revolutionary and welcomed by many, but for some shopping was something to look forward to, part of social time enjoyed meandering through shops excited to see what was on offer.
To be greeted in a way that you felt you belonged and were part of some sort of special club. You would take home your purchases, wear them with great eagerness, look after them and in years to come, reminisce on some of the memories that wearing them would take you back to, each piece holding a story or two.
Shopping was an art to be enjoyed and now we seem to have lost that experience but I do believe now is a good time to reset our future and make amends to an industry that has sadly gotten out of control.”
Karen Millen is founder of her eponymous label and now runs homewares retailer Homemonger
