Last time, for the OCA4, you read through the State of Fashion 2020 Covid update file and submitted a summary of the whole research paper.

There were five themes presented in the paper: (1) Survival Instincts, (2) Discount mindset, (3) Digital Escalation, (4) Darwinian Shakeout, and (5) Innovation Imperative.

1. Among these five themes, please select one theme that you strongly agree with, in terms of forecasting the state of the fashion industry post-COVID 19.

2.Explain what the theme means. (1/6 to 1/5 a page)

3. Provide a specific hypothetical example. In other words, please forecast what will happen in the industry, using the theme that you selected among the five. In providing a hypothetical example, please include at least one citation from other sources than the research paper itself. I highly recommend you using one of the library databases, such as Business Source Complete, ABI/Inform, WWD, or WGSN. (4/5 to 5/6 a page)

The length requirement: 1 full page, excluding the References.

The references need to be included in the APA format (6th or 7th edition).

An exampleof an answer would be:

If you had chosen the theme of "Darwinian Shakeout", you can explain what this means in the fashion industry. For example, you can say that there will be shakeout as a result of the "survival of the fittest". For example, among all the department stores, including high-end and low-end ones, JCPenney will file bankruptcy and will be acquired by (say) Kohl's, as a result of the Darwinian Shakeout. Another example would be such as, Gap Inc. closing unprofitable business units, such as Hill City.You will need a citation on why Hill City has not been performing well.

You can provide examples for all five themes.

You can discuss how thesurvival instinctswill play out among the fashion supply chain members. In order to survive, what type of strategies would fashion companies implement?

You can discuss how retailers will absorb the shock of heavy discounts to unload overstock, in giving hypothetical situations involving theDiscount Mindset.

Forthe Digital Escalation, what would it mean by utilizing digital resources post-COVID19? How would fashion consumers respond to online/mobile shopping as well as brick and mortar shopping? What would they expect from non-traditional way of shopping apparel products?

Forthe Innovation Imperative, what are some areas along the apparel supply chain that desperately need innovation, in order to increase productivity or effectiveness? Why is this important for the fashion industry, assuming the consumer behavior shifts after the lockdown?