Does the future of fashion design lie in the hands of women? Apparently so according to today's WWD which explores the current changes in the industry where women are taking on the top jobs.
"It is partly a result of the fact that in many fields now, women are being recognized as being up to the top jobs. In fashion, specifically, I think it points to an understanding that women are instinctively in tune with the female customer" said Donatella Versace.
With two of Italy's biggest fashion houses recently recruiting females in their head roles - Alessandra Facchinetti at Valentino and Christina Ortiz at Salvatore Ferragamo - observers are asking the question - does this mark a new age for fashion design?
It seems rather interesting that before World War II, women seemed to dominate the fashion world from Paris with the likes of Coco Chanel, Madeleine Vionnet and Jeanne Lanvin. Up until recently, only a handful of women including Stella McCartney for Gucci seem to be heading up the big fashion houses.
Some point to the differences between Italy (where more women appear to dominate) and France. "When seeing the Milan fashion shows and then immediately going to Paris, one sometimes has the sense of going from real clothes to fantasy-made-for-the-catwalk clothes," said Mary Gallagher, a Europe-based associate at Martens & Heads, a New York executive search firm.
So would having a woman in charge, someone who would presumably better understand the needs and wants of other women, equal more wearable clothes? Would this mean more designs for realistic body proportions?
Tell us what you think by leaving your comment below.
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