Why is Fashion so Flat Right Now?

HUR TABLE GUESTS

Sep 3

Why is Fashion so Flat Right Now?

with Juliana Salazar, Marjon Carlos, Alissa Zachary, Sarah de Mavaleix and Michelle Li

By HURS Team

It's hard to ignore the sameness that has crept into every corner of the fashion industry. Everywhere you look, the same trends, the same brands, and the same looks dominate. From the endless stream of identical products to the monotonous feed of luxury "starter packs" on social media, it feels like we’ve lost the very essence that made fashion so compelling. Individualism is fading, replaced by a pervasive culture of safety and conformity that has designers playing it safe and consumers dressing for approval rather than authenticity. How did we get here?

This uniformity isn’t just a passing phase. It’s a reflection of deeper insecurities, both personal and industry-wide. In an era where fashion has become entertainment, the pressure to perform and the fear of failure have stifled creativity. Designers and brands, driven by the relentless pursuit of growth, stick to what’s proven, producing collections that feel more like reruns than fresh takes instead of daring to innovate. This play-it-safe approach has turned luxury fashion into something that feels mass-produced and uninspired, more high street than haute couture. The values of craftsmanship, originality, and niche appeal that once defined luxury have been overshadowed by a focus on speed, scale, and replication.

In a world where buying has never been easier, we’ve overcomplicated what it means to get dressed. Clothing has morphed from a personal choice into a public statement, a signal of one's values and associations. But in chasing the "right" look, we’ve abandoned the joy of discovery and true self-expression. Fashion's current state is a mirror to our times—chaotic, distracted, and desperately seeking approval. Yet, within this monotony, is there potential for a reset, a chance to reclaim fashion's role as a space for creativity, exploration, and, most importantly, individuality?

JULIANA SALAZAR
Juliana Salazar is the woman behind all your favorite brands. Starting out working across wholesale, retail and buying teams at Saint Laurent, Intermix, and specialty retailer Hirshleifers, Salazar quickly gravitated towards creative projects, and with it developing a distinct point of view. Danish fashion brand Ganni recognized Salazar’s flair, and brought her on as Brand Manager to help break into the US market. Within 6 months, Salazar made Ganni one of the most sought after brands in fashion and cultivated a loyal cult following. Through her distinct point of view, Salazar knows how to connect to modern consumers and create cultural impact for brands. It’s no surprise they seek her out for advice on everything from product development to branding, styling to set design and creative direction, go to market and retail strategies. Over the years, Salazar has worked with leading brands including Aimé Leon Dore, Asics, Crown Affair, Ghia and Man Repeller to Nike, Stock X, and Tiffany's. Beyond her impeccable taste and reputation for being cool and kind, it’s her unique ability to seamlessly move between business, creative and culture that sets her apart.

MARJON CARLOS
Marjon Carlos is an in-demand journalist, podcast host, and brand consultant, living and working in New York. Carlos is the former Senior Fashion Writer at Vogue, Senior Style Editor at The RealReal and the Editorial Director at CUUP. Her passion for culture often puts her at the frontline of today’s biggest stories, interviewing some of the most prominent names within media, including Cardi B, FKA twigs, Doja Cat, Gigi Hadid and Megan Thee Stallion. Her writing has appeared on the cover and within the pages of Vogue, Vanity Fair, i-D, Essence and The Wall Street.In addition to her editorial work, Marjon regularly collaborates with venerated brands as a brand and marketing consultant. This past fall, she evolved her IGTV advice show,“Your Favorite Auntie Show,” into a weekly podcast powered by Cash App. She is currently working on her first book, and you can read her weekly musings in her newsletter, Notes From Auntie’s Desk.

MICHELLE LI
Michelle Li is a stylist and writer based in New York. She creates work that champions individuality and thoughtful consumption through a deep understanding of personal style. She’s passionate about telling meaningful stories about fashion and beyond.

ALISSA ZACHARY
Alissa Zachary is the founder and creative director of sought after brand High Sport. After cutting her teeth at Khaite and The Row, Zachary went out on her own when she couldn’t find wardrobe staples that looked as chic in the morning as they did after a busy day. Her thoughtfully crafted shine-free knit pieces have become a fast favorite amongst tastemakers globally. Through her distinct point of view and High Sports unique brand identity, Zachary has been able to create a brand that feels truly unique in a sea of sameness.

SARAH DE MAVALEIX
Sarah de Mavaleix is a stylist, art director, and the co-founder of Paris-based publication The Skirt Chronicles. The title explores literature, fashion, culture and beyond, granting equal importance to photography as to the written word. Since its inception in 2018, The Skirt Chronicles has become a favorite of industry tastemakers and has won the Editor of the Year prize at the Stack Awards in London. The publication is distributed in over one hundred points of sale globally.

We asked five experts for their take on the disappearance of personal style, starter pack culture, and why the most exciting things in fashion aren’t just about clothes.