The future will be ‘comfortable clothes’
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is an increasingly common problem triggered by binge eating. Experts discuss ways to curb this tendency
Coronavirus changed the world — and with it the clothes we wear. While we wait for life to go back to normal, fashion won’t be the same ever again, says trend analyst Carl Tillessen. The heyday of high heels — and perhaps even suits — is now over
It’s probably good that Karl Lagerfeld wasn’t around for the coronavirus pandemic: The French fashion icon who died in 2019 famously said that wearing sweatpants is a sign you’ve lost control of your life.
But with everyone stuck at home, the one-time style sin is now a fashion favourite — and will likely remain one for a while.
Carl Tillessen is a trends analyst from the German Fashion Institute. In an interview with us, he explains how sweatpants have enjoyed such a 180-degree turn in popularity and how the pandemic has fundamentally altered the way we all will dress going forward.
What will be the big fashion trends this year?
TILLESSEN: Generally speaking, the entire spectrum from homewear to true sports gear, and everything in between. That’s to say, pretty much anything that you can wear between the sofa and the yoga mat.
Athleisure is still the big thing, and it perfectly fits our lives — there’s the tendency to be as comfortable as possible at home.
Will this also be the street style?
reflected
in
TILLESSEN: Absolutely. Maybe not exactly pyjamas or homewear, but history teaches us that people don’t give up a comfort once they have it. And we’ve become accustomed to this new comfort — for a year, we’ve worn the most comfortable and easy to care for clothing available at stores, and we’re not about to give that up again.
Even if every fashion designer in the world decided to try to bring back the high heel at the same time, consumers would refuse. That’s because they’ve come to appreciate the comfort of trainers, flip-flops, etc, and this is the case in many areas
of fashion.
Which part of the fashion industry suffers most from these changes?
TILLESSEN: Our casual wear has changed far less than what we wear for work, especially for office work. That’s been very, very drastic. In just one year, we have moved away from the classic business look — suit, shirt, tie, or suit and blouse. Simply because there’s no need for such clothing when working from home. And I think that, as I said, it will not return in this form. We will remain with this new comfort. ‘Casual Friday’ has now spread to include the entire week.
And in contrast, which part has profited most from the change?
TILLESSEN: Homewear manufacturers, obviously. But also real sports clothes brands like Nike and Adidas, as these clothes are no longer worn just for sport, but also while working at home. And that’s also what people need in their free time: They simply want to feel good.
Fashion is becoming comfortable. Does that hold for accessories?
more also
TILLESSEN: My impression is that wearing a mask basically takes attention away from the face, which is covered, and turns it downwards. That means shoes will receive more attention than earlier; the shoe has become the most important fashion statement of all.
What role does the mask play as an accessory?
TILLESSEN: In the beginning, people tried to have a little fun with the masks. But now the issue isn’t as important, because people are taking the threat (of the coronavirus) much more seriously. Many now prefer to wear a medical mask rather than a silly cloth mask.
That said, the glove is experiencing a comeback at the moment. For a long time gloves were considered uncool and old-fashioned, but
against the backdrop of the pandemic, which has made us more aware of all the invisible viruses lurking around, we prefer to open the door with a glove on. They have a dual function: To warm and to protect.
Unthinkable a few
years ago But trendsetters have come to appreciate the convenience of slippers. Many trendy brands now also rely on them, as seen at Emu
Australia.
No trendsetter can ignore the appeal of a chic pair of tracksuit bottoms right now, like this Aniston by Baur
pair.
Despite our best intentions to eat with restraint, the need to unbuckle our belts at the end of a big meal becomes too pressing. That’s a remedy that is instinctive, because binge eating or continuous mindless munching can increase acidity and reflux esophagitis.
Acid reflux and an aching stomach are only too familiar to those who overeat. Food dumped needlessly into the stomach becomes difficult to digest. As the stomach strains to process the food, acid reflux is the assured by-product.
WHAT IS BINGE EATING?
“Binging on food is characterised by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often eaten very quickly and to the point of discomfort); there is a feeling of loss of control during the binge; shame and guilt are often experienced afterwards,” says Dr Ujwal Gajula, Senior Consultant, Medical Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospitals.
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux, is the backflow of acid from the stomach into the oesophagus. “This refluxed liquid contains stomach acids along with pepsin and bile, the acid being the most injurious component. Occasional episodes of reflux are normal, but when they occur regularly, they can have serious consequences and are known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is related to lifestyle changes and can be accurately diagnosed by endoscopy and manometry,” says Dr. D. Nageshwara Reddy, gastroenterologist and Chairman of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology.
WHY DOES GERD HAPPEN?
Acid reflux occurs when the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) doesn’t close correctly. “The LES can be described as a ring of muscles between the stomach and the oesophagus. During the normal digestion process, it opens up to let food pass into the stomach, and closes to keep stomach acid out of the oesophagus. If the LES is weak or relaxed, acid can flow back into the oesophagus, causing irritation. When acid makes its way into the oesophagus, the lining of the oesophagus becomes irritated and pains,” says Dr
Ujwal.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The symptoms of acid reflux are: heartburn, abdominal pain, sore throat, bloating, upset stomach, nausea, difficulty in swallowing, and an acidic taste at the back of the throat.
“The refluxed liquid contains stomach acids along with pepsin and bile, the acid being the most injurious component. Occasional episodes of reflux are normal, but when they occur regularly, they can have serious consequences and are known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is related to lifestyle changes and can be accurately diagnosed by endoscopy and manometry,”
— Dr D. Nageshwara Reddy, gastroenterologist and Chairman of the
Asian Institute of Gastroenterology.
The symptoms of acid reflux are: heartburn, abdominal pain, sore throat, bloating, upset stomach, nausea, difficulty in swallowing, and an acidic taste at the back of the throat. “For people with GERD, a switch to a healthier lifestyle could offer real relief from symptoms”
—DR RUCHIT PATEL, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Wockhardt Hospital.
“Binging on food is
characterised by recurrent episodes
of eating large quantities of food (often eaten quickly and to the point
of discomfort); there is a
feeling of loss of control during the binge; shame and guilt are often experienced afterwards”
— DR UJWAL GAJULA, Senior Consultant,
Medical Gastroenterologist,
Apollo Hospitals