& Forever 21's demise >» The end of fast fashion? Michele Provenzano Staff Writer n Sunday, September 29, fast fashion behemoth Forever 21 announced that they have filed for bankruptcy. The Los Angeles headquartered chain will shut down all 44 of its Canadian locations. Additionally, up to 178 of 534 stores in the United States will be closed. Forever 21 is known for its low prices and its ability to quickly churn out trendy items inspired by runway styles and celebrity culture. As the name suggests, its target demographic is young adults and teenagers. According to Forbes, Forever 21's sales are estimated to have dropped by 20 to 25 percent in 2018. In Canada, Europe, and Asia, the company is losing $10 million a month, according to an article in Bloomberg. Forever 21’s debt stands at $500 million, as reported by market research firm Mintel. Due to this, continuing to operate in Canada is “no longer economically viable” according to a statement made by Forever 21's chief financial officer Bradley Sell. Vancouver has already witnessed the first hints of Forever 21's collapse. In early 2018, the company closed its Robson Street flagship store. A multitude of factors have contributed to the downfall of the once- beloved brand. Fast fashion may finally Lip colours to define » From erotic to intimidating Tania Arora Staff Writer uys might be thinking that maybe my mood swings happen only during my period, and they might think that I dress up only because I want to look hot and steal the limelight. Well, yes, that’s all true, but there’s more to it than that. When I walk into a room full of people, I love to play with their minds. I love to take control of their impression of me; I want them to perceive the impression J want. Can you relate to this, girl? Out of 10,000 plus looks and lip shades, it isn’t easy to decide on the one that ] want to wear any given day. It all depends on my mood. Let me break down my moods, and the lip colours that match. Erotic On date night, when I know the night doesn't end after the meal, I go for nothing lighter than blood red. To me, a bold red is like a green traffic light signal, used to pass on the message: go! You know what I mean. Intimidation When my inner soul is loudly shouting out “be cautious of me, I will eat you alive,” that is when I wear the darkest of my shades. Ranging from grey, blue, coffee brown, and black—Ill smudge it all. be falling out of favour, especially with millennials and gen z. More individuals are realizing the detrimental effects of fast fashion on the environment; the clothing and footwear industries account for eight percent of global climate impacts according to a Quantis report. As the products of fast fashion retailers are often poor quality, many of these items end up in the trash after a few wears. Also, the low prices of stores like Forever 21 can only be achieved if someone in the production process goes underpaid; exploitation of workers is inherently necessary for fast fashion brands to make profits. Many young people are turning to sustainable options, such as purchasing Rosy and pretty On the days when the goddess in me is blooming and feeling pretty, I'll wear shades of pink. Pink represents beauty to me and has been historically (maybe incorrectly) associated with women. So, why not use pink to beautify these lips. your mood. r re Have an idea for a story? Mlifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca ack Illustration by Morgan Hannah clothing second hand. Thrift stores, consignment stores, as well as clothing buy-and-sell apps such as Poshmark and thredUP, have seen a surge in popularity. However, these options are not the singular cause of Forever 21's failure. Stores with a near-identical fast- fashion model like H&M and Zara are still going strong. Affordability will always be a priority for many. But affordable clothing can be found elsewhere these days, with most of it online—but additionally at stores like Target, whose clothing brands target young people. With the popularity of cheap fast fashion sites such as Fashion Nova, ROMWE, and YesStyle—which produce on-trend items just as quickly as or even One of those rowdy days Smoky eyes are the most bomb trend in the makeup world. On one of those days, when the brunette in me is two shots of tequila down and screaming at me to put on my best show, I'll go for smoky eyes and pair them up witha lip shade no darker than nude. That is my look for cocktails, parties, and sometimes date nights too. Who doesn't love experimenting? life & style // no. 9 ¢ What’s happening this week ¢ The perks of having a twin brother ¢ A fabulous fish recipe ..and more quicker than Forever 21—there seems to be no room for the brand. Forever 21 is turning customers off—either with fast fashion and its unappealing consequences, or by not being as speedy as online competitors. Forever 21s fall is an example of a larger issue of brick-and-mortar stores falling out of popularity as online shopping continues to grow. According to CouponFollow’s Millennial Shopping Report, millennials, Forever 21’s primary customer base, do 60 percent of their shopping online. Malls are simply getting less traffic these days, and Forever 21 has suffered because of it. Making things worse for the company, Forever 21 has become known fora few unfavourable things. Stores are known for often being messy and littered with garbage, as well as for lacking adequate customer service. Employees are rarely seen on the sales floor. Additionally, Forever 21 has become a meme for one of their distinguishing traits—the internet is full of customers sharing the common experience of picking up a seemingly basic piece of clothing only to realize it has a childish, ridiculous, or simply odd phrase on it. Time will tell if Forever 21's downfall is a sign of unsustainable fast fashion practices dwindling out. Locations will remain open during liquidation. Canadian customers will also be able to shop from the company’s US website. & a ¥ a a ¥Y = 2 9 £ 9 no QO No mood There are days when I am in no mood at all, and on those days glossy lips are at my rescue. Often, I’m too tired to decide my actual mood—therefore, I am in no mood. But I still want you to look at my lips. Who cares Lip balm or no colour is for when I’m feeling like I don't care if you look at me or not—or, if as usual, I am late for my class.