The Design Heist: Brands Are Reclaiming the Value of Design
The Design Heist: Brands Are Reclaiming the Value of Design
By Emma Williams - November 24, 2025
Now more than ever, consumers are faced with a choice: buy clothes based on convenience or invest in styles that will stand the test of time.
Numerous fast-fashion powerhouses produce over 450 million items per year, making them available to purchase worldwide or to rent at low prices. As styles are mass-produced, the quality and rarity of the designs begin to diminish, breeding complacency amongst buyers and diluting the value of design. However, this year, the fashion industry is working to take a different turn.
In July 2025, we saw a jump in consumers’ appreciation of original designs when Sotheby’s auctioned off the first Birkin bag created by Hermès for 8.2 million dollars, according to CNN. This was an echo of an already changing tide within the fashion industry: recognizing fashion as a form of art once more.
“Fashion is the most radical art form of our time,” Creative Director Alessandro Michele, formerly of Gucci and currently at Valentino, said to Vogue.
With this year’s renewed regard for value, designers are reclaiming the affluence of their designs and reflecting it through their price tags. Ralph Lauren, named as American Wear Designer of the Year, increased their prices this year, as shown in a study by TheStreet. The world-renowned designer has always maintained the attitude of a true artist in regards to his work.
As Lauren famously said: “I don't design clothes. I design dreams.”
Furthermore, art and fashion are becoming increasingly intertwined. This September, the Brera Art Gallery in Milan held an exhibition that showcased Giorgio Armani’s designs from the 1980s to highlight his transformative influence on fashion and recognize his works as true artistry.
Every great work of art gains appreciation over time and is revered according to how much the beholder is willing to pay for it. The fashion industry is not any different. Designs are becoming pricier as a result of consumers recognizing fashion as valuable works. This goes to show that mass consumption cannot take away the age-old beauty and genius of design.
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