Michelle Obama will soon be the nation’s first lady and mom in chief, but others are expecting even grander things from her, like saving the fashion industry.

Michelle Obama: first lady, mom-in-chief, savior of the fashion industry? The folks who work in fashion are hoping that the stylish future first lady inspires women to keep on buying, even as consumer spending shrinks. (Getty Images/AP Photo/Reuters)
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The flagging fashion industry, for one, is hoping that the future first lady will inspire women to keep on buying despite the dour economy.

“We’re all obviously trying to look at the silver lining,” designer Norma Kamali told ABCNews.com. “Where do we look for hope, an opportunity to create good feelings for the customer? There is real hope with Michelle Obama. I think she can keep women interested in purchasing.”

Obama’s name surfaced at a recent meeting of The Fashion Group International, a professional organization for members of the fashion industry. The topic of discussion was the economy, and one member wondered aloud whether Obama could bolster the industry during the current economic downturn.

ABC NEWS