Is it possible that the only place we will see mannequins in the future will be in museums?
There are so many retail clothing stores of all sizes closing or downsizing — sending their mannequins to recycling companies such as ours or, unfortunately, to landfills where they won’t break down ecologically. Further, the stores that do remain have drastically reduced the amount of mannequins they have on display.
My second largest supplier of mannequin products that were imported from China is closing shop this summer. And, although I have a bumper crop of used mannequins on their way from the recent closure of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores, my pipeline for future used mannequins has been shrinking.
Mannequins with realistic features (as in the photo below) have been replaced with egghead, headless or abstract mannequins – or simple dress forms.
I am beginning to wonder if I am in an industry that is on its last legs (yes, pun intended.)
How I mostly see mannequins used now are for craft projects – turning them into lamps, tables, mosaic art, etc. That is why I created a separate Facebook page – Crafty Fun With Mannequins – to showcase those ideas.
For those who have been in the retail industry longer than I have (20+ years), what do you think about the future of mannequins? Like dinosaurs, will they become extinct?
Visit our website to shop for mannequins and dress forms, rent display pieces, or recycle your old mannequins.
