2021 JANUARY
iApparel Journal Quarterly Issue
From the Desk of Publisher
It has been the worst year ever since the end of the Second World War. The year will go down the history as the year of the global pandemic since it was first known in January as the epidemic.
I started to record the global cases since the beginning of March 17, and the total cases of the world was only 188,611 cases. Today the world’s daily new cases have reached 650,000 cases and there is no sight that this is weakening. Not only that the cases are uncontrollable, it has also encountered multiple surges. With the pandemic entering the winter season, although the vaccines are available in some countries, whether there can be some way of turning around this situation is yet to be seen. For someone like me who has been in the lockdown situation since January when I received people coming from Hong Kong, I am looking at the whole thing very pessimistic and I think that we will still have at least another six months before we can see the end of the tunnel so to speak.
The damage that this pandemic has brought to our society is something that we can never be able to fathom. From every direction we look, we can rewrite our plan for going forward as it won’t be able to become normalize. In another word that everything will have to have its new normal—the way we travel, the way we shop, the way we run our business, the way we work, study, entertain ourselves, social life—will need to rewritten. And when we are through with all these, we will find a new world ahead of us.
Hopefully, this pandemic will be able to bring us closer, we will set up the value again in something that can be more humane, more tolerable, and more patient.
We will take you through our preview of the articles that we are running in this January issue. We hope that you will like our features.
– Andrew Sia
Founder & Publisher
Preview all articles of this
quarterly issue !
Special Report
Global Fashion & Exhibition Calendar - January to December 2021
By Andrew Sia
I found that the Eurovet is perhaps the most realistic exhibition organizer to tell us that because of the Covid everything is going digital.
I suggest you to visit the sites of the organizers toout if the shows that you have planned to go will still be held live. There is nothing to lose if we go online and perhaps this is the way to continue for 2021.
We will keep track of the shows and if we find anything interesting we will try to feature those shows.
What this Fall and Winter Will Look Like
By Andrew Sia
I featured two paintings I found from the New York Times. I found that most of us are under the stress and anxiety and this winter is going to be a real challenge although they told us that vaccines have been shipped and the people are getting the injections.
Coronavirus Regional Report, October to December 2020
By Andrew Sia
Our report is becoming more informative as we have gained the experience in reporting it. As already said that finally we have seen vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and many others soon to follow. It will be interesting to see how effective they are in the first quarter of 2021. We will continue to follow them closely.
Coronavirus Report on Europe - October 15, 2020
By Andrew Sia
Europe has called for my attention and I am really sad to find that their numbers have increased since the fourth quarter of 2020. At this writing we have seen the numbers in Europe are still alarmingly high, we included
Russia, although it lies from Europe to Asia, it is number four on the list with the most cases.
The other European countries that fall in places are:
#5 France
#6 United Kingdom
#8 Italy
#9 Spain
#10 Germany
#14 Poland#
19 The Netherlands
How Algorithms Can Influence Our Kids
By Andrew Sia
This has its pros and cons like everything else. But children today are already being drawn into computer games and apps, especially during this period of the pandemic, we should not be worried by their lack of exposure to algorithm and artificial intelligence.
A Year For The History Book
By Caroline Kopas
Caroline Kopas contributed this article and she walked us through the twelve months of 2020. It is a recording for what we, adults and children, went through in this horrible 2020. Caroline left the article with the question of how has 2020 changed us. That puts every one of us in deep thoughts.
Economists Perspective At The Impact Of The Coronavirus
By Andrew Sia
The discovery of the new strain of the Covid-19 from the UK in mid-December, triggered the panic around the globe as it was supposed to be 70% more transmissible than what was already established.
Europe has already been found that the cases have increased and resulted for more shutdowns in the major cities.
We have to pay attention to the development of this pandemic in this cold season.
Market Intelligence
Market Intelligence Report - Short Read Part 1 & Part 2
By Andrew Sia
We reported the deal between LVMH and Tiffany & Co. and at this writing they are ready to seal the deal finally. In fact under the pandemic many deals went astray and the lack of market confidence is evidently the case. The longer this pandemic is dragging on, the more destructive effect it is going to cause on the brands and retailers. We can see the casualties in the shopping malls across the world.
In this holiday season with the new surge and the new coronavirus new variant is causing lockdowns across the European cities. We will report the retail business in the coming issue.
We also pointed out that the brands should be more creative and we have seen a few of them have exceled themselves in this adverse circumstance. But we must admit that the new ideas would be hard to come by.
In this issue we reported that Moncler tying the knots with Stone Island.
I have always a saying that you can only be “as good as your customers” as after all they are the only who will choose your products and you are using their platform to sell.
Sustainable Fashion Or Is It Only Lip Service?
By Andrew Sia
I always said that “talk is cheap”. And I would like to become the advocate against the fast fashion. At those symposiums and forums, you can also spot those known faces talking about their perspectives about the sustainable fashion and their company’s aim about sustainability.
With this pandemic that caught the world by surprise, it would be interesting to know how H&M is going to resolve their problem about those unsold goods that are sitting around their warehouses.
Honestly, I have no solution except to recommend to produce less and only produce for better goods. I hate to use the pandemic again as the excuse as people would have less or scarcely available disposable income, they would cut back their buying of clothing.
I like to see more specialty fashion boutiques, those with a story to tell, and those are honest with their mission, to serve the market. But they can be rare to come by.
Please share or comment about this article.
What Will Retail Look Like Post-Covid?
By Terri Fisher
It is an article written by Terri Fisher and it is asking a very acute question. It is scary but on the other hand good to know that half of the customers are looking for independently-owned businesses for the support of entrepreneurship, experience good customer service, and more important to buy unique products.
One thing that we know is that the retail will be forever changed after this pandemic. Again, coming back to what we have been saying that “previously it would take five years to change, now it will only be matter of months”. It is simply that if we don’t change, we won’t be able to survive.
Fashion & Design
2022 Spring/Summer Color Trends & Direction
Planned | STEAMDesign
This is by InDigest Team and it walks us through the six colors themes that it identified. You will be amazed by their perspectives.
I would like those students who are studying design to follow their articles. They are regularly posting their article every week through WeChat.
Lingerie Combination of Romance With Sexiness & Fashion
Planned | STEAMDesign
This is InDigest’s second article that we have selected. I like the first quote that they used, “For women, lingerie and fashion are indispensable for each other. Outside is a soft armor, but inside is a warm heart”.
I found that their report is always very inspiring and cannot be taken lightly. I have always given them the thumb up and I hope that you will be doing the same.
Autumn/Winter 2021 Trends Report
By Genevieve Redding
These two articles are contributed by Genevieve Redding. As always, the pictures and the sketches she used are impeccable. I would like you to enjoy her selections. And it is quite true that after being lockdown and work from home, people would need some more fashionable work-from-home attire. Life is already boring enough for 2020.
Quarantine Fashion Report 2
By Genevieve Redding
At the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, people started to wear leggings, T-shirts and comfortable homewear. But after so many months, people started dressing up. Psychiatrist began to tell us that clothing can shape your mental state and productivity. Even working home virtually can help you to set the tone for what you are doing.
Business suit is also known as the power suit and wearing casual clothes can make people more energetic. People are no longer interested in wearing loungewear but go for more formal attire even if it is going on a Zoom meeting. For a change, we will need to have our mindset turnaround and forget that we are in the lockdown situation.
This was how workleisure came into our idea.
FASHION QUOTE - PAUL POIRET
By Andrew Sia
I used his quote: “The ultimate trick is to appear natural. But sublimely natural”, but when I was going through his life story I found that it was fascinating to know also his quote of, “I freed the bust and I shackled the legs”.
And again, it was sad to read that his popularity waned in the 1920s especially after he joined the French army in the World War One. But it was warm to hear that Elsa Schiaparelli spent for his funeral and it is the second time that I came across her name and obviously she must be a very warm person.
Paying Our Homage to Pierre Cardin
By Andrew Sia
I woke up on the morning of December 29 and read that Pierre Cardin passed away at the age of 98. I included this article in our January issue as after all he was probably the only haute couture who brought the fashion to the more affordable consumers. He mentioned that fashion was not only for the well to do but to the common people.
He also expanded the horizon of fashion to buildings, cinema, restaurant, and to multiple layers of products.
In his business span of more than 60 years, he drew scorns and admirations. He was the pioneer to sell fashion collections to department stores and began the licensing arrangements for perfumes, accessories and even food.
RIP, Pierre as you had done every possible thing in your lifetime.
Market Report
Market Report Short Read - Part 1 to Part 3
By Andrew Sia
You will find short read about the report of coronavirus but also some other more interesting articles. We talked about the hydrogen fuel cell and this led us to ammonia as the clean energy that can avoid the carbon emission.
Naturally, we reported about the defunct of the Ant’s IPO which was the hottest topic. And also China’s warrior diplomacy is not winning him too many allies especially that Xi has signed the RCEF.
China the Giant Juggernaut - Part 5
By Andrew Sia
We found that under this title we can combine many things that have taken place in China and it is almost like a potpourri as I like to call for things that have a lot of interesting points.
While during this time all the countries are suffering a negative growth of their gross domestic product, China still manage to have a growth of 3%. We found that their export has not been slowing down and the domestic market is still vibrant comparing to the western world.
US RETAIL BUSINESS CATASTROPHIC SITUATION
By Andrew Sia
The challenges that this Covid-19 has brought to the bricks-and-mortar retailers are disastrous. Now we have to find out how we can make use of those empty spaces and turn them into another facility for the betterment of our lifestyle.
Something must change and let’s hope that it can change for better.
New Energy Can Become the New Global Order
By Andrew Sia
Renewable energy is definitely the hottest thing now but for the humans to kick their addictions to the fossil fuel is going to take a longer journey. China is still depending on coal-fired electricity generation and it is also the largest exporter of the coal-fired technology to the poorer countries.
We have to wait for things to happen, such as the Paris Climate Pact to take a stronger stance, especially with the US now that Trump will be gone and hopefully that Biden will embrace more the solutions to solve the climate change.
Exploring the London Garment Districts
By Angie Lee
It is a knowledgeable article about what a design and garment student can source for the materials in the heart of the City of London.
This is a report done by Angie Lee and I am sure that you will know where to reach her.
Environment & Sustainability
It’s the End of the World as We Know It
By Caroline Kopas
It is the second article that Caroline contributed to the journal. For a young teenager like Caroline to tell to a bunch of adults like us, it is shocking. I don’t think that you and I would just sit back and pretend that it was not our fault and negligence that have brought us to what is today.
The journal will still dedicate writings in this area as I believe that we have enough coverage. But it is important to bring this out for the practice and the journal has set the direction to become more effective for our going forward.
One day we will recall that it was a young girl of sixteen who told us to put our acts together. Thank you Caroline.
Progress Report on the Paris Climate Agreement - Part 10
By Andrew Sia
We have noticed that we have been publishing this since January 2018. I hope that in your company you would have the staff taking up the role responsible for environmental and sustainability. In the internal memo, you are welcome to make use of the contacts we have listed and continuous training and issuing the initiatives can build the awareness of your company. We went through the nine parts and hope that they can be easy for you to get organized.
We would want to turn a new page in 2021 and start to become more focus about this very hot topic. I think that the awareness is already there, now it is to put in to actual practice and to measure its outcome.
I can’t help to show again the chart from International Energy Agency for our energy demand from 1900 to 2020, we can observe that in this span of 120 years we are winding down nicely.
SUPPLY CHAIN
A Roadmap of United Kingdom
By Andrew Sia
We have used the same format that we used for the “Country Report”, as well as the follow up for updates for the country and labeled it as “Road Map”, but we have been focusing only on countries along the supply chain. In another word, that they have all been production oriented.
This is the first time we prepared something about the developed country – the United Kingdom. We have used the same format and if you are familiar with our country report, you will find every information that you will need to know about the United Kingdom.
It was since June 23, 2016 the UK citizen voted for Brexit and now I think that everyone should be satisfied with the outcome as officially a free trade agreement for most goods including the fishing rights have been agreed upon. I think that the world should be happy with this outcome.
We have to hope now that the new variant of the coronavirus can be controlled and the country can be allowed to go back to its normal life.
The United Kingdom is our favorite destination and I am referring to our compatriots from Hong Kong. I am sure that there will be many opportunities waiting for us. And the UK will remain also the jumping plank for Europe.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & BUSINESS
Franchising - Starting Your Own Business
By Andrew Sia
I am trying to promote this as a business model at this moment when the world is taking its new order after the pandemic. I have listed the opportunities in different countries: the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
I’ll be report more in this area.
Coming soon!
BOOK REPORT
Fabric for Fashion - The Swatch Book by Clive Hallett
By Andrew Sia
It is a very useful book for learning and for reference. For anyone who is interesting in textiles and fashion should find this book to be extremely handy.
All the fabric swatches are making this book so special and precious.