2018 was a watershed year for fashion. The veil was pulled off its ugly side by Dolce & Gabbana founder, Stefano Gabbana’s racist rants, Me Too’s outing of fashion photography legends, Mario Testino and Bruce Weber, for sexual misconduct, and public outcry about its disregard for ethical and sustainable production practices. According to global fashion search platform, Lyst, searches for ethical fashion surged by 47% in 2018. Fashion’s recent struggles are no more apparent than in Australia. Famous labels, Collette Dinnigan, Wayne Cooper, Alannah Hill, Jayson Brunsdon, Sass & Bide, Ksubi, Morrissey Edmiston, Charlie Brown, and Lisa Ho, have died.
How fashion is seen, advertised, and bought has also changed. For younger generations, digital comes first. Fashion accounts for 27% of online purchasing globally, according to a 2018 Forrester report.…