www.italoamericano.org
8
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020
L'Italo-Americano
E
x c e s s i v e c o n -
s u m e r i s m
blinded us with
"needed" mate-
rial abundance
until the COVID-19 pan-
demic broke the spell. Liv-
ing in a consumerist cul-
t u r e , w e w e r e l i k e l y
unaware of all we have in
our wardrobes at home. I
came to understand this
during the lockdown, a time
when I only shopped my
closet, picking solely sweat-
pants, leggings, and other
loungewear. And I was not
alone in that.
The simple taste in dress
was restful in a time we
were feeling the worrisome
atmosphere of a war.
As Italy emerges from the
lockdown, I realize that I
h a v e t o o m u c h s t u f f . S o
maybe I won't be buying
more as I start to see the
value in the clothing I
already own.
This weekend I am going
t o s p r i n g c l e a n m y
wardrobe. I will take an
inventory of the garments I
have. It will help me create
a fresh, new, upcycled look.
And even though boutiques
and the department stores
have reopened, I am certain
I will find how little I need
to buy. I have no immediate
desire to shop, but I know I
will long for that again.
For a while, I will contin-
ue to wear what I discov-
ered: casual clothing. I like
it a lot and comfort is king.
D u r i n g t h e l o c k d o w n ,
brands and social channels
t h a t d r e w a t t e n t i o n t o
loungewear could get a nat-
ural boost from the trend.
But the time will come
w h e n I g e t d r e s s e d u p
again, though it may on a
slightly more economical
scale than usual, given the
current difficult economic
situation. The pandemic
a f f e c t s o u r p u r c h a s i n g
power.
As well, the pandemic
disrupted businesses. The
lockdown has left clothes
stores with weeks of unsold
goods on their hands and
now is the time for the fash-
ion industry to rethink how
it can become more sus-
tainable.
The fashion industry will
The pandemic changed our lives, and also the way we relate to fashion. The image here, by artist Beppe Conti, is entitled " Hope:" a nurse carrying light and
leading us towards the end of this tunnel (Artwork by Beppe Conti)
The pandemic broke fashion's
spell: less is now more
MARIELLA RADAELLI
Continued to page 10
LIFE
PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE
