5 Ugly Truths of the Fashion Industry and What To Do About Them
Every industry has its pros and cons and fashion is no different. I don't make these real talk videos to discourage you from a career in fashion, I make them to help you overcome these challenges! That's why I'm not talking smack about fashion, I'm presenting possible solutions.
MENTIONED/RELATED VIDEOS:
All fashion industry real talk videos: • Talking About the Fash...
15 Ways to Be a More Sustainable Fashion Designer: • 15 Ways to Be a Sustai...
Fashion Design Process playlist:
• Fashion Design Process
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You forgot to mention that fashion brands who employ you in the first place ,use your designs and then throw you away like unnecessary garbage.
The 1 dislike is the fashion industry getting exposed
I wish you had more subscribers, as a 15 y/o who aspires to be successful in this industry, I cannot tell you how many unanswered questions I've had about this industry until I found your channel. You're really underappreciated, I just love your videos.
@Aj-ze6ds
5 жыл бұрын
I couldn't agree more...I'm also 15 yo
@fatimaluz440
5 жыл бұрын
I'm also 15 years old! And an aspiring fashion designer!
@FASHIONINSIDERSCO
5 жыл бұрын
All the best for your fashion business ventures!
@vargasfrancinenicholeg.4886
5 жыл бұрын
Im also 15 yrs old hiiii👋👋👋
@crayola7232
4 жыл бұрын
Im 13 y/o ! Im from luxembourg and in luxembourg you have to start ur portofolio when you are 14 years old. This channel helps me a lot too :)
Designers! Remember we are all customers, we can make a change for a more sustainable fashion!
As Gabrielle Chanel once said "If you want to be great, be ready to get copied"
Ugly truth #6 Do NOT go into fashion to make money. 😂😂 Fashion companies are like super rich one day and dead broke the next day (but the show must go on so they don't ever let on).
@benjaminwu5465
2 жыл бұрын
Exactly.
My first lecturer had a saying, “imitation is the best compliment” the other thing he used to say was, “any publicity is good publicity”
@vinodkumarkhandelwal9176
4 жыл бұрын
Good one
Great explanation.. I like how she thinks with the 5 ugly truths. I am deaf and have a degree in fashion design.. I want to reveal the world that deaf can do it in fashion.. Thanks for show your educational inspirational video.. I love the word sustainable, we need to do with them to save the planet and animals.
@mts554
5 жыл бұрын
Michael Fehdrau hi there I couldn’t ignore your message. And I wanted to say that talent comes in many forms, recently I met a lady who lost her harm when she was 10 years old and she’s an amazing and skilful seamstress. There are no limitations in this universe. If you believe in something you should start, opportunities are around you all the time the question is what do you want? One other question is do you want to be famous or a fashion designer? Fame not necessarily brings all that you wish for, the “ugly” truth is that many well stabling designers not always have the cash, most of them endorse celebrities meaning these celebrities get the clothes for free, in return they expect the publicity to work their way. If you wish to become a designer that will use the fashion as powerful message than you will have success! God luck on your journey! X
@machiirose
5 жыл бұрын
I hope you can be sucessful in your goals and your love and happiness grows along your journey 🙏🏾
@xxpaige8943
4 жыл бұрын
Wow! That so amazing 💕🎀🌷
@charlesdunne8055
3 жыл бұрын
If your deaf then how can you hear her? If I’m mistaken sorry.
@teshin6333
3 жыл бұрын
@@charlesdunne8055 there's this thing called subtitles
Hey hey party people.l love it when she says that!!
I’m 11 and you are the reason I will be able to eat and shower when I’m older 🎀💕
I wish you were around when I turned my back on the fashion industry after a horrific internship at a fashion house. I had so many questions- so much frustration -so much anger. Your insight would have been SO helpful. Well I'm glad you're here to help others. Keep up your amazing work. Thanks
I love sewing, and I adore vintage and lolita fashion. Some day I hope to make dresses myself and get a cert III in fashion design and tech here in Aus
You are a good fashion official and leader. You have the human element and empathy.
First of all... you're not ugly. we are all beautiful amazing powerful beings, create your power look
I’ve worked in the fashion industry for almost a decade now, since I was 22. (Oh and I am 29 now) it’s so different here in the Philippines, as a fashion designer it is so hard to work with the stylists here. They never return our garments on time ( worst case) they never return our garment forever. People use you, and yes Crabmentality is popular here in the Philippines. They don’t give you credit for your work.
Refreshing to hear such blatant honesty about an often glamourised industry! Would love to hear more about how you feel the rise of social media is possibly changing the fashion industry - it seems that online fashion critics and commentators such as yourself are gathering a lot more influence and able to produce unbiased and analytical content such as this without worrying about maintaining relationships with certain brands and companies etc.
@zoehongteaches
5 жыл бұрын
Always follow the money. Who is paying whom. When someone is paid by X Company, you can't expect them to be 100% truthful about X Company. People are seeing this more and more and now looking to people independent of X Company's money and so forth. People love the transparency, that's why blogs were so captivating for a while and changed the journalism landscape for many industries. People watch me because I get paid as a teacher and not as a rep of any one company. I think we might actually get into more and more paid subscription services of all platforms--if someone is being paid by their content subscribers, they will be more loyal to their subscribers than outside influences.
@ScottOrmston
5 жыл бұрын
@@zoehongteaches Thank you for taking the time to reply! That is truly exciting to hear as not only is the transparency and insight brought by yourself and other fashion commentators so enlightening, but I feel it helps empower wider audiences to be more critical and analytical when it comes to digesting fashion and discussing the industry's progression!
@zoehongteaches
5 жыл бұрын
@@ScottOrmston It is a goal of mine to get people to think more critically about fashion, fashion's influence on the world, and make better choices as fashion consumers. I'm hoping moving away from fashion dictatorships like magazines and couture houses having the prominent/sole influence will help.
@ScottOrmston
5 жыл бұрын
@@zoehongteaches I definitely think that diffusion of influence is very noticeable and refreshing! As someone who has learnt a majority of my fashion knowledge and analytical thinking through online creators such as yourself, it is a really valuable platform! So excited to see you continue to grow and have such a positive impact on the wider industry!
Omg I had to giggle at "his whole karl lagerfeldness" comment 🤣🤣🤣 you're too funny zoe.
Love your videos! I'm in my 30s and finally taking a chance in fashion design after putting it off for years cause I was scared. I like that your honest and straight forward.
@pascalinetanji1582
2 жыл бұрын
Am also in my 30s and equally taking a chance in fashion and design. Can we connect and find a way to help each other get there in the shortest time possible given our ages .?
Love your channel and I'm not even anything related to the fashion industry (stem). You really make it easy for non fashion people to understand what goes into fashion and I learn so much from your channel!
Soo true!! Getting copied sucks, but it obviously means you’re doing something right if people are copying you!😅
@LaurenLesley
5 жыл бұрын
@@beepbopboop7727 exactly! That's so true.
I've been feeling really disillusioned with the fashion industry lately. I'm in the process of finding an internship for next semester right now, and it's been nearly impossible to find an internship that doesn't violate labor laws or my rights. All the internship jobs I find are either doing the work of an actual employee for no pay, or doing menial labor that won't give me any experience (also for no pay!). The industry is built on exploitation, and I had hoped I wouldn't get thrown into it like this. I wanted to be one of the people going up against this kind of thing. I feel like I'm selling out! Anyone else had to suffer an internship you didn't agree with or want to do? Did it change your view of the industry? And are you glad you stuck with it?
@hnshlm789hh8
5 жыл бұрын
Shannon Funk I'm searching for an internship too and 100% agree with you. Here in France we have labor protection laws for interns, but as a result, few people accept interns and I can't graduate without an internship...
@mioangel1227
3 жыл бұрын
Shannon, your are right! That's another ugly true. I have seen how they disrespect the interim. it's awful. But anyways follow your passion!
@Relesy
2 жыл бұрын
This is why I gave up fashion. It seems so hard to break into and after getting constantly rejected for jobs and unpaid internships. I wasn’t sure what to do. I tried making my own brand and no one bought anything. :/ Tough industry.
@JefferLin
2 жыл бұрын
I have to say, get over it. If you can get an opportunity to learn, grab it and work for free if you must. Interns usually are a burden on operations. In the old days, apprentices work for free for years. With your attitude, no team can afford to have you, intern or not.
THE ACCURACY!!! Especially the part about waste; it was really a huge eye opener to be in lectures about this at college (humble brag, but LCF is really out there with sustainability. I love my college.) , and it really has drastically changed the way I design. So, thank you Zoe for using your platform to spread that message!! As always, I really enjoyed this video, and it made me realize I do need to start making changes to ensure I don't fade into the background. Networking is something I struggle with, but I will definitely try a lot harder to push myself!
Sensei Zoe, this is why I love this channel. Educational, with a big reality check. I didn’t even consider these aspects of the industry.
Zoe as usual, you're right on point! I Love the way you shot down the myths that so many people have about designing , your upfront and frank frank discussions are vital for anyone who's thinking about a career in a tough industry.
I ❤️u Zoey ! 👏 I hate the Ugly Truth #4: CONNECTIONS! 😡 So many great talents/designers are stepping back only because of not having “The Right Connection “ . and unfortunately many struggling designers just can’t afford to connect because it’s expensive. ☹️
Zoe, thank you for being here and helping us all understand the fashion world better! 😊
You really make EVERY video I want to see related to fashion and I know many people here feel this way. Thank you so much Zoe. :)
Thank you Zoe for these truths. Also, if any designer wants to just jump right into sustainable fabrics, they could. My Bay Area sustainable sportswear brand serves as a hemp advocacy. My #hempInEveryCloset mission is my passion. There's so much education to do in sustainable fashion, that you must be passionate about it. I appreciate your videos.
Zoey, I really needed to hear this. Thank you!
My teachers say basically the same as you but it's really great to see your point of view in all of this! And it just goes to show how everyone involved enough in fashion is aware of those ugly truths. I only found out about some of them after entering college, and I was so grateful for the awareness around fast fashion. Thank you so much for your videos! I'm watching you from Brazil :)
I'm not in the fashion industry but i've been a subscriber for some time because of videos like this. I always learn things and wisdoms that I can apply in my personal life and work (though not fashion related). Thank you, Zoe.
It is so nice to have somebody like you on this platform who has a open outlook on the fashion industry, I’m not sure what I’m pursuing but the fashion industry is definitely something I love and would love to look into more. I’m just beginning to create pieces and it definitely helps out the new artists to look to you.
Omg ! I just found your channel and love it ! Just subscribed!! So informative and educational. Luv ya
Ethical manufacturing should be a must and a brand should deal with manufacturers who imply with regulations uplifting labour situations located anywhere. The bulk of clothing manufacturing takes place in under-developed countries, and we should make sure the conditions of the factory are well enough and min wage requirements are being adhered to.
Zoe, I'm so glad you mentioned the sustainability aspect! In one of my fabric classes I learn some of the big businesses decided to go green or just do better. They learned there was a bonus in for them. They SAVED money! It's actually LESS expensive, for example, to use LESS water and energy in the processing of fabrics (Go figure). I'm telling my age but when I was growing up there was a commercial where someone through their fast food garbage out the car window. It landed on the feet of a Native American with tears running down his face. That image had a huge impact on my life. Since then I'm all about everything I can do to protect the planet, resources, and environment we live in. I love making something new out of clothing from beautiful fabric I don't necessarily want to wear or my kids grow out of or someone gave me.
Thank you for this video Zoe! This answered questions that basically gave me closure. The way you broke it down especially about the copying, humbled me 😂 in the name of fashion, as long as I get to do what I love, that’s all that matters 🤷🏽♀️
thanks Zoe for this! Its so insightful for an aspiring designer like me to learn things about the industry
Argh. "Being visible" ... so true. So delicate endeavour. Great video Zoe!
I'm so glad KZread recommended you, great content - Thank you x
Thank you for bringing these things up! :) Loved tip number 5.
You help me so much! Thank you for existing!!
This video was great. An honest account of what obstacles one can encounter! Thank you, Zoe!
You cracked me up with your realistic attitude towards this industry. Your delivery is entertaining but have useful contents. You're like the sister I wished I have to get advises from. Love your contents, please please keep going and create more of these videos.
This is my favorite channel! I love, love love your tutorials, I have an AAS and a BS in Fashion Merchandising and Design. I learn so much from your tutorials. I can't get enough
@zoehongteaches
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
love all your vids Zoe. very nice and informative. Many thanks
Zeo first off thank you for making this video. The topic alone had me having to subscribe to your channel. Second for some reason what you were talking about had me thinking about some clothing design ideas that I have had over the years. Don't fully know why just that it happened. Too bad I can draw them up or make them. Not good with pen and paper and lack the level of skill to sew them my self. Still going down that memory lane was fun so thank you for that. What I do know is that your step by step is true on all levels when it comes to doing something. So I am going to keep trying to find a way to get my ideas out of my head and onto paper so that others can see them.
I'm am binging your channel and love it!! Thank you Zoe....
Brilliant video Zoe! Many thanks!
Thank you legend for this video and all your videos. You are freaking amazing and I love you and your videos and I wish you the best in all your endeavors.
Thank you Zoe for those great advices. The first advice apply to me I m afraid to put my designs online media because I’m afraid that they will steal my ideas, but now you gave me another view. Everything you explain is true. I want to be known in the world and start network.
Thank you Zoe, that was great information. I enjoy your videos.
Thank you so much, teacher. These facts really help me out and make my thoughts more open.
I love how real you are
More and more I love this channel ❤
Yeee! Shout out to the Bay! Thanks for the video. Fashion isn’t the only industry that has some dirty secrets. With how available information is today, we can’t continue to claim ignorance as an excuse to not make changes.
Thank you so much for this Zoe! Your videos are the absolute best! I want to study fashion design, and I often think about these "ugly truths" which make me sad about the industry I want to work in. But this motivates me to create my own sustainable, innovative and ethical fashion brand! ❤ Thank you again for your very "real" videos. Greetings from Mexico! 🇲🇽
@zoehongteaches
5 жыл бұрын
You're welcome and good luck!
Love your videos 💕 I’m learning a lot Keep it up 👍🏽
Hello Zoe, I love your videos. I have been working as a graphic designer and visual artist for past 4 years. I had an opportunity to work for a fashion designer for 6 months and i absolutely fell in love with fashion. I will try to learn more about fashion this year. Your channel helps me alot. Thank you
Brilliant and informative video as always. 👌🏻👌🏻
What an important video! Thank you for being real. The copying thing is painful lol. We did a project in collab with a company that designs for other brands (some well known ones even!) and they told us to make a benchmark and look at well selling garments and then (gasp!) copy them and change a bit :/ and apparently that's what most well-known medium and lower priced brands do
@zoehongteaches
5 жыл бұрын
Yes, lots of brands who don't have the budget for a lot of design development do this.
your videos are so informative and I love the ground perspective that you share. I always find myself coming back to this channel for advice and I think it's because you strike an excellent balance between being encouraging but not dreamily optimistic, and being critical but not elitist.
@zoehongteaches
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
This is great! "If you're doing anything cool, there will always be people trying to steal your thunder." So true.
You are fantastic love your videos!!!
I appreciate you Zoe ❤❤
Good Morning Zoe ~ An excellent project to put out ! ~ ! ~ Thank you ~ Jennie ~ My thoughts ~ Live by your own motto and agenda, not to seek the approval of others, they might stifle our creativity !
@jennief2108
5 жыл бұрын
Happy Week !
Thank you for this video Zoe! This answered questions that basically gave me closure. The way you broke it down especially about the copying, humbled me in the name of fashion, as long as I get to do what I love, that’s all that matters ️
I really like this video ~even if I already noticed ugly truth number 1 to 4 , it's still interesting and inspiring to know your opinions. and number 5 is really resonate with me. I have work in the textile-related company in Taiwan for long time and I totally know how the environment being harm because of the waste caused on the process of producing fabrics and garments. but I'm also happy to notice that there're some people and company still try their best to find some thing new ( new material which can biodegraed ...etc) try to make this industry better.
This is really really really helpful for me, thank you so much!💗
oof Zoe I love your perspective!! I'm a few years into sewing clothes and really crave this type of knowledge. I so appreciate it!!
Zoe, thank you As always, super interesting video
❤❤ I love how open, honest, and educational all your videos are!!! Keep up the amazing work!! ❤👗🎨
@terrigelbaum8066
5 жыл бұрын
I know! She hits the nail on the head. No time wasted, always on topic.
Hey Zoe thank you for sharing your knowledge and being so honest. It is very appreciated. Have a wonderful day! (:
I just love to watch you and your videos !! you are so funny and so kind and so talented and gorgeous !!!! thank you for everything you are doing :)
Hey Zoe, I am glad you mentioned what creativity truly is in designing. It reemphasized my utility outlook on fashion. Whenever I make something I have this natural tendency of thinking- but does it really have a purpose. This is a good video! :)
@zoehongteaches
5 жыл бұрын
>>does it really have a purpose This is an absolutely fantastic approach to design. Good on you!
Hey!! Till now i found your channel is the best regarding content, creativity and most importantly knowledge of fashion designing thank you for such good content ♥️
After watching two of your videos, you have so much of my respect!! You have the right mindset on how to navigate not just the fashion industry but any industry in general! I’d love to be mentored by you lololol
I knew some of these facts... but you really open my eyes so some other that I had no idea.. thank you. Love your contents
Loved your thoughts (and no doubt, hard won advise ) on the fashion industry. Thank you :)
A very interesting and important facts here thanks 🙏🏾 queen Zoe 😃
thank you for this, it was so helpful!
I've just discovered your channel, and thank gawd, you're very cool!
you are such an interesting person to listen to and watch !
Thanks Zoe for sharing your honest view points ...I am a new member in fashion world I wish to learn about it..my passion I discovered that my heart and soul is creative and I tired to pushed it away initially in my life beginning due to family demands but recently after much much years pass by and with so much collection of mine in sketching, writings, art work, roaming throughout many countries bi realised I can contribute to fashion and also to my heart who is crying from years to be part of this world..
OMG... internet and its rabbit holes... the story of how I ended up here... I was thinking about replicating a business idea I saw on the news a while ago about a collaborative capsule closet which keeps getting key pieces being added and where people can not only rent more casual clothes, but also "subscribe" for weekly/monthly plans. It would serve in theory individuals who like trying out new clothes and also people who are maybe trying to find their style - people who feel they are not confident/creative enough to play around with fashion ideas and end up wearing the same thing. It would be a space for people and maybe professionals like personal stylists to bring clients... anyway... just thinking and researching and then one thing leads to another and youtube suggested me your video. I was very happy. At first I started with the capsule wardrobe term search and somehow I ended up here. You just got a new subcsriber. Amazing content. Thank you for sharing.
I will continue to watch your videos and plan on ordering many items from your shop this week your my Guru 🙇♂️
This video made me energetic and motivated. Thank you so much. May God Bless You.
Zoe, you are so right... I've been slogging it as a designer for over 15 years, and as a bridal designer for 10 years... It's bloody hard work with sometimes no reward.
I just wish I've watched your videos when In started my degree 8 years ago. Your videos are so helpful and I love how realistic advice you give
You’re such a Realist! 🔥 lol Let’s go have drinks
I have come across your channel recently and I am so grateful. I am 57 and I want to learn to sew and create clothes for me and your videos are so helpful. Thank you.
Wow! Super smart advice. Very intelligent. Humor and truth as well as logical real-ness. Love your channel. I'm a new faithful subscriber.
@zoehongteaches
5 жыл бұрын
Welcome to the channel!
what a super video, as a fashiondesigner with my own label for more then 11 Years now I just can agree 1000% to you Videos. Btw your Videos are a big big big rolemodel for me thank you so much!
quite insightful, thanks a lot. my main takeaway is to focus on wearable everyday clothes. nice one
SO SO happy you mentioned waste production as one of the ugly truths!! Thank you for being real!!!
I’ve always been a fashionista since i popped out of my mother’s womb! I refused to let anyone dress me even as a young child. I’ve always wanted to have my own clothing line & it’s so easy for me to get overwhelmed, i won’t even like looking at my graph paper or have a relationship with my sewing machine. I’ll just spend hours at the fabric store drooling over fabric. You really help fashion/sewing mountains look more like speed bumps! & take the anxiety out of the not so glamorous side of it. Thank you so much!!!
Hi Zoe - Appreciate your candor.
Omg Ms Zoe; coulda' been a totally depressing video given the subject matter, and you made it a laugh while still educational. Love you and your humor!
Love you !!!!
I love this video. Somehow your video, How to Become a Fashion Designer, ended up on my video list and I instantly clicked on it. Working on my second life and I want to learn the basics of designing clothes. You said a couple of things that I wholeheartedly agree with: fashion, to me is more about a look than someone looking pretty/beautiful. I'm always drawn to a person's look rather than their physical features. And for runways, again, to me, the runways aren't for the regular joes, well if the regular job is rich, then maybe, but they are more for the celebrities. I want to be more adventurous in designing clothes and creating a look for myself and go from there.
Zoe u're really the best