The power of connections

Recently, I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about – or perhaps pondering over – what makes our industry so unique. Why does the fashion world often feel different to other industries? The answer came to me quicker than I thought: it’s because of the people. And also the relationships that we build and nurture. But then I started wondering if this was so unique to our sector after all. Is our network really that different to other industries? This might make me sound naive, but, yes, I’m a strong believer that it is.

And the more I think about it, the clearer it becomes in my mind: it’s the relationships based on friendship that define the way we interact with each other. The way we treat each other as equals. The way we’re on first-name terms from the outset. In our industry, hierarchies, which often form strict barriers in other sectors, become blurred and make room for genuine connections. It’s not just about what we can do for each other – not all the time, anyway. Of course there are also superficial, transactional relationships among fashion colleagues that are more of a means to an end, but they are inevitable in every sector.

Not that I want to provide a conclusive answer here, of course; instead I’d just prefer to share an idea with you. Because I believe that it’s this deeper kind of bond that sets our industry apart. This feeling of connectedness – whether with thousands of people or just with two or three close colleagues, that’s what drives us. And the magic here is that we are able to hold each other in such high regard, even though we often only know each other on a surface level. After all, what ultimately connects us all is the creative process that gives us the opportunity for self-fulfilment.

It might sound a bit sentimental, but in challenging times when everything around us is going crazy, it is precisely these relationships that keep us going. They are the ones that make us feel like it’s all worthwhile. It’s the energy that can be found in the small, yet powerful connections that keeps us going. The dynamic that not only lets us work but also be creative – in a billion-dollar creative industry that is constantly changing and yet, at its core, always stays the same.

And that is exactly why I’m dedicating this issue not only to the great visionaries and creative minds, but also to all of us – those who are working away in the background, pulling the strings, building bridges and keeping the dialogue going. To those who find strength and inspiration in the little moments, whether in a private chat at a trade fair, between the lines in an e-mail or in a passing conversation about the next big trend. To those who realise that, at the end of the day, it’s the people who make this sector so vibrant and so unique.

This magazine is for us – for all those who aren’t just pursuing a career in this industry but taking the time to build up genuine relationships. For those who know that it’s precisely those close ties and connections that make us all stronger.

Cheryll Mühlen & team