The fashion cycle can greatly assist young fashion designers—or a huge distraction. Here are a few ways you may enhance your design process by utilizing your understanding of the fashion cycle:

Focus on meeting needs rather than following trends.

Burnout can result from spending too much time and creative energy trying to predict the next big thing. Fashion changes frequently. In rare circumstances, a particular fashion trend may emerge and fall in popularity in fewer than two years. Think of “filling needs” rather than worrying about trends; for example, if oversized coats are trendy, there might be a need for cozy, slim-fitting jackets. Similarly, consider your fashion requirements and how you might use your ideas to satisfy them. Instead of creating a fashion line only affected by trends, be true to yourself when creating your ideas.

Keep in mind that change is expected.

Even if one of your ideas becomes a significant trend, it will eventually lose popularity due to its natural decline once it reaches its peak. It’s crucial to remember that all directions, not just yours, go through this point of the cycle when your design becomes obsolete. The fashion industry is constantly changing; therefore, throughout your career, both you and your plans will develop and change.

Utilize your gut feeling.

You might want to drop a particular style from your clothing line when it starts to look dated, but you might not have to. Consider keeping a unique silhouette or design in your range rather than getting rid of it to follow the latest fashion if it is approaching obsolescence. If your goal as a designer is to make a timeless item that people enjoy, you must trust your instincts rather than the fads of the fashion cycle. The iconic wrap dress by Diane von Furstenberg is an excellent illustration of how staying true to your designs and avoiding the trend cycle can lead to long-term success. Years after the silhouette was created by designer Charles James in the 1930s, the designer’s iconic wrap dress was unveiled in the early 1970s to rave reviews. Furstenberg gave the dress her unique twist by lengthening the sleeves and adding a collar to produce a modern, adaptable form appropriate for a date or the workplace. Furstenberg made the dress a constant component of her design; decades later, the classic shape is still a dependable piece of clothing.