Creativity Defies Recession In Fashion

Betty Jackson and Paul Smith, two British designers who have survived Britain's recession in the early 80s, believe that creativity can withstand the fashion crisis.

Let's hear it from the two well-established fashion designers of today:


Betty Jackson tells Reuters, "In times like this you have to focus on what you do well and do it better and really try and not be too much affected by it.

"Of course you have to respond to it but you also have to concentrate on what you do and actually deliver what you do better.

"We're in a credit crunch not a creative crunch, so I think in fact what everybody's going to do is work harder and that will be quite exciting."


In the same way, Paul Smith believes that the key to retaining sales is sticking to classics.

"It's very important to get the balance right between the commerciality of a collection of clothes and the clothes that are going to look good in magazines and newspapers.

"If you haven't got so much money to spend, then buying things that are slightly more timeless is more important.

"People who suddenly think you should go lower in price or be more commercial, in my opinion that's the wrong way.

"Don't really compromise, don't really react to much in terms of creativity or price to the recession. Stick to your guns."


Basically, the “creativity” in fashion that these two designers advice is sticking to what you do well and making the best out of it. And considering that they have gone through previous economic storms and survived to become top players in their craft, they should know better.