While creating the potential for lessened morale and quality of the products produce by the industry, these technological advancements also allow designers and manufacturers to reach much broader consumer bases than was previously possible, expanding market reach and enabling both ore fine-tuned marketing techniques as well as more consumer-influenced design processes (Arthur 2010). This industry shift has also created room for niche markets that have purposefully reverted back to older methods of conducting business, with an almost artificially slowed pace of production and availability creating a great deal of anticipation for quality clothing without a hint of consumer-collaborative design (Foley 2010).
Threats:
Designers have commented on the fashion immediacy created by new technologies "dangerous," seeing these technologies as a threat to the apparel industry as a whole (Foley 2010). The visions for a world where the industry itself seeks to matter except as a manufacturing sector for consumer designers...
Environmental and ethical issues with labor placement and treatment, raw materials and shipping also remain issues threatening the industry.
References
Arthur, R. (2010). "Social media in 2010: Steering the dialogue." WGSN.
Corcoran, C. & Lockwood, L. (2010). "Fashion world adapts to consumer immediacy." WWD 15 September 2010. Accessed 28 September 2010. http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-world-adapts-to-consumer-immediacy-3272543
Foley, B. (2010). "Tom Ford disses fashion world's cult of immediacy (Interview: Tom Ford)." WWD 14 September 2010. Accessed 28 September 2010. http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/tom-ford-disses-fashion-worlds-cult-of-immediacy-3267063?browsets=1285776793302
