An Exclusive Interview: Voices From the Fashion Industry

 

In this unprecedented time, COVID-19 has placed the whole world on lockdown and has changed the daily lives of millions of people around the world.

Some people see this epidemic crisis as a wake-up call from God, while others see it as an opportunity to radically rethink the supply chain of the whole global manufacturing industry.

Either way, during the months of lockdown, many luxury brands in the fashion and beauty industry immediately converted their production lines into mask and sanitizer production lines to help with the shortages of medical supplies. However, the delays in the supply chains for spring and summer apparel lines along with stagnant sales have had a catastrophic impact on fashion retail stores and even the global economy.

Many of us may have asked ourselves, “How are others dealing with this difficult time?” or “How will the post-COVID-19 era change our lives and how we shop?”

With all these questions in mind, our team had the pleasure of interviewing some people who are deeply involved with the international fashion industry. One is the co-owner of a well-known talent agency for the industry, and another is a famous Hollywood hair stylist. The next is a well-known fashion photographer, while another is a rising star in the international modeling world.

Their answers have made me rethink what “fashion” really is. Is it just something fashion designers tell us to wear? Or some new trend from a fashion magazine every season? Maybe we should look at it more deeply.

 

Gunita Stobe

 

 

Bio:

Meet Gunita Stobe, who is now the co-owner and director of a leading talent agency in India, Anima Creative Management. She has had decades of experience in the fashion industry, and her agency represents Indian and international models, photographers, hair stylists, and makeup artists in the film, fashion, and advertising industries.

 

ELITE:  What is the biggest challenge you have faced during the pandemic? What do you do to overcome it?

Gunita Stobe: There’s so much conflicting media coverage about the pandemic and so many contradicting statements by government and medical officials that it’s hard to tell fact from fiction.

There seems to be a lot of fear mongering around the world throughout the media, and it also feels like politics are hijacking genuine efforts to go about getting the right information to the people, and for governments to implement the right policies in place to deal with things in an appropriate manner.

So I try my best not to go overboard with looking at social media every minute. And during this lockdown I’ve had plenty of time to reconnect with myself, try to follow the course of nature, and to generally be positive and learn about myself. I practice meditation, which helps keep my mind balanced and at peace. 

ELITE: In your opinion, what will be the biggest change in the post-COVID-19 era? 

Ms. Stobe: Humankind has gone through many pandemics in the past, and history has shown us that society, despite being affected by these events, keeps moving forward, regardless of the damage caused, so I’m very sure things will normalize in time. 

The economy is driven by human beings’ dreams and desires; it is driven by human beings’ nature to adorn, to validate themselves through clothing or through things they own, and the desire to show these things off in public.

Perhaps the next stage in our fashion industry will be to take a “less is more” approach and also begin to bring at least some manufacturing back home and not to extensively rely on supply chains from abroad, which has brought many businesses to a standstill during this epidemic. 

As consumers today become more concerned with the social and environmental issues linked to their purchases, I feel they will adapt an even more responsible approach.

ELITE:  Will the pandemic change the way people value fashion and beauty?

Ms. Stobe:  In the last few years, I feel that we have had an overload of new things entering the fashion market every few months, and designers [have] been delivering up to six collections in the year in some cases. I’ve been asking myself during this time: “Do we need that many new bags, shoes, denims, etc., to be acquired every two to three months?”

For me, quality has always come before quantity. I still have some garments from fifteen years ago which haven’t expired and which I still actively wear. 

ELITE:  Do you think the virtual fashion show and digital clothing will be the new trend?

Ms. Stobe: To be honest, I don’t feel that it will be the case. Perhaps in the interim, the industry may take this approach until the situation passes. Virtual shows cannot replace the real shows, since they do not carry the same experience. Designers put a lot of energy and effort into creating their collections, and a huge part of their process is the lived experience and excitement which having a live show will bring, as well as the interaction of the buyers and the crowd.

ELITE:  Do you think the way everyone dresses will be changed post-pandemic? 

Ms. Stobe: No, I don’t think so, since as I mentioned above I think that human beings’ nature is to express themselves through clothing, accessories, etc. People won’t stay in pajamas or yoga wear for long.

ELITE:  Do you have any special message for our readers?

Ms. Stobe: I feel that in the last few months the universe has slowed us down on purpose in order for us to look within and reflect. I feel that there is a reason for everything even if we can’t understand it at first.

 

Gabriel Georgiou

 

Bio:

Australian born but of Greek heritage, Gabriel Georgiou’s talents have opened many doors. A graduate of the famous Toni & Guy Academy of Hair in London, he soon fast-tracked into styling for some of the most elite names in Hollywood; the list includes stars like Robert Downey Jr., Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett, and Keanu Reeves to name just a few.

He was awarded the Vogue India Hair Stylist of the Year award in July 2014 at the Vogue Beauty Awards, and Best Hair Expert in October 2018 at the Elle Beauty Awards. 

His work is very versatile, and whether it is simple or avant-garde, what is important to him is that it is beautiful and harmonious.

 

ELITE:  What is the biggest challenge you have faced during the pandemic? What do you do to overcome it? 

Gabriel Georgiou: For me, it was a life of go go go work. So having all that stop all of a sudden was quite a challenge. 

Not being able to go anywhere. I didn’t know what to do with myself. It was bizarre not being able to go to the gym or to the park and being stuck at home with only being permitted to go to the pharmacy and supermarket. So the challenge was to keep busy in a confined space but to also be calm and positive through the time periods where I wasn’t doing much or didn’t have anything to do. It’s very easy to feel bored or restless or let worry and negative thoughts come in. 

So what helped me the most was doing my Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) exercises every day and reading the teachings of the practice every day. Not that I wasn’t doing that before the pandemic, but I wasn’t diligent as it wasn’t on an everyday basis. So I see it for me as a blessing in disguise as I feel terrific, full of peaceful energy, which is hard to explain unless someone experiences it themselves, a positive feeling through it all. At the same time, it has given me the opportunity to work on projects that were kind of pushed aside due to the busy work schedule. So the key factor was having that Trust in knowing that all is OK and going through every day in peace and harmony not just knowing it but actually feeling it as well. 

ELITE: In your opinion, what will be the biggest change in the post-COVID-19 era?

Mr. Georgiou:  I don’t know what the biggest change will be, but fashion and beauty have always existed throughout history. It has just been in different formats, and every civilization has been different; it is not something new. Things change, things evolve, everything moves. Even if the economy changes, people will still want to look good. There will always be creativity and beauty created in fashion, hair, architecture, etc. Good aesthetics are important to humanity.  

ELITE: Will the pandemic change people’s values in  fashion and beauty?

Mr. Georgiou: Maybe to a certain extent, and we can only hope that it does change for the better. Maybe all this is a catalyst for change. There is a lot of ugliness in the fashion industry, and the real change will happen when people start working on their inner selves. That’s when the true shift will happen. When that shift happens, then things will get classier and more elegant, as that will be a reflection of the inner self no matter whether a look is simple or more couture.   

ELITE: Do you have any special message for our readers?

Mr. Georgiou: I would just like to say that yes, it may be tough times for everyone, but there is a reason for everything. I truly believe that nothing happens by chance. I do believe there is a bigger plan. We may not understand it as we are immersed in difficulties, but we have to see it as a positive shift in so many ways. 

 

Adhiraj Chakrabarti

Bio:

Adhiraj Chakrabarti caught the attention of the fashion industry after he participated in the national beauty pageant for Mister India back in 2007 as one of the finalists. Soon after that, the famous modeling agency Elite Model Management signed an exclusive contract with him.

From the first time he appeared on the runway of Wills India Fashion Week, he became the favorite of many world-renowned fashion designers’ runways. 

However, he didn’t stop there. He soon became a successful fashion photographer who is loved by top fashion magazines. He found that through the camera lens he could express and enrich lives. This allowed him to express himself in his understanding of life and the world more accurately. 

 

ELITE:  In your opinion, what will be the biggest change in the post-COVID-19 era?

Adhiraj Chakrabarti: The biggest change that I expect to happen in this world is that the Chinese Communist Party will be held accountable for creating this current scenario of  havoc. I think if they had been honest and informed other countries to take necessary precautions, the world wouldn’t be in such a turmoil . Many nations throughout the world are becoming aware of the CCP’s human rights abuses. This should definitely be addressed and it must be resolved!

Post-COVID-19 era … The world should come together and improve fundamentally. The fashion industry should focus more on the finer details of traditional craftsmanship by using more traditional fabrics and using proper measures to counter waste products.

On the personal front, I also feel that family bonds will become stronger as many people can choose to work from home. Many of us saw the return of wildlife that hadn’t been seen for long periods, skies have never been so clear …  so definitely a rise in the concern for a cleaner and greener environment! 

ELITE: Will the fashion industry be rebuilt and be sustainable?

Mr. Chakrabarti: The only thing I draw from this is that the mindset is shifting toward a more humanitarian approach … the value of lives above anything else! It feels great to see luxury brands stepping up to donate and help out in such a global scenario. We clearly see that the heart for a better world has awakened all the more!

ELITE:  Do you have any special message for our readers?

Mr. Chakrabarti: Every situation in our lives is a learning lesson, and we should strive to grow and better ourselves. This lockdown period was utilized well …  most of it was by learning and improving my technical skills as a photographer. But other than this, my growth has mostly been through spiritually and morally uplifting myself … Being regular with my Falun Dafa exercises and meditation, I feel a deep and profound change in me! 

Lastly, sometimes we seek externally for answers, but most of the time the answer  lies within … we just have to look deeper!  

 

Monica Tomas

 

Bio:

Monica Tomas is a successful international fashion model from the hill town of Coonoor, in Tamil Nadu, India. She started her modeling career in Mumbai. Presently based in New York, Monica has carved a name for herself on the global fashion platform by walking for famous brands such as Zac Posen, Delpozo, and Ralph & Russo. Other brands include Mac, Sephora, and Estée Lauder. 

 

ELITE: What is the biggest challenge you have faced during the pandemic? What do you do to overcome it?

Monica Tomas: Something I felt challenging was not being around family during this time. Eventually as how things always progress for the better or worse, I used this time, occupying myself and catching up with reading, meditation, and also trying my hand in cooking recipes shared by my mother that I never got to try earlier. 

I understood that it was more important to connect with myself first and see things for what they are, and make those changes within to overcome this situation. 

ELITE:  In your opinion, what will be the biggest change in the post-COVID-19 era?

Ms. Tomas: I think this situation has led everyone to take  time, reflect on things, and come together in a way that makes one want to change their old ways. I always believe that during the toughest of times is when we progress the best, and learn the value of our priorities and grow through putting them positively into action.

ELITE:  Will the fashion industry be rebuilt and be sustainable?

Ms. Tomas: I think time will tell us what will happen in the near future.  At the moment, it’s more important to maintain what we need to do now, focusing on the present to make a better future … gradually things will start taking shape. Maybe something that’s better is waiting for us, and it could be in a different form. Not necessarily the way things functioned in the past. 

ELITE: Do you have any special message for our readers?

Ms. Tomas: These moments have made me more aware of how everything is very fragile. I learned how to make the most of every moment we get, in a positive and uplifting way!

 

Each of the interviewees have answered differently, but it seems like they’re all echoing what Coco Chanel used to say:

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

— Coco Chanel