In a highly competitive market that works without patents, the fight to secure a dwindling customer base is heating up, and design itself looks like the determining factor.

On the more personal end, there will likely be a shift from quantity to quality among consumers, though right now it's too soon to tell. Until the current market and production cycle starts turning out sales, it's difficult to determine exactly what the industry might face in the next few years. Still, we can imagine the possibilities: When you decide to invest in one new seasonal piece, instead of say, four, odds are you’re looking for something that’s going to make a statement. So not only has the artistry of dressmaking begun to change, but a shift toward more adventurous style trends may be on the horizon as well. And like any industry in an uncertain economy, the chances are good that larger, more stable companies will weed out less popular options, so some labels might actually experience a boost in business.

Upon closer inspection, there might be reason to believe that the economic downturn will result in a return to a higher-quality marketplace ... or will it? Unfortunately, the original problem rears its ugly head in every equation: How much of a risk is any one designer willing to take?

With the cultural code of conspicuous spending being supplanted by a push to be patriotically frugal, it’s hard to tell which way designers will lean. Inevitably, there will be compromises, but we can only hope that less will mean more for the future of fashion.