The Fashion Industry

History of Fashion

Fashion started with the birth of civilization. Originally, clothes were made from plants, animal skins, and bone.  Clothing was usually patterned, sewn, and made within the household. However, during the last three decades, fashion has evolved a great deal. As culture changes, fashion changes with it, looking at clothes as recently as 20 years ago to the tremendous change of fashion during our daily lives. In the beginning era of fashion, it was simple since it was more about practical function than the way it looked. In the 15th and 16th centuries, fashion was influenced by high class society and the European kings and queens (Wikipedia).

The new industry focuses on businesses or fashion houses owned by independent designers. The first man to have a mark sewn into his clothes was Charles Frederick Worth in the 19th century (Wikipedia). Today, social media has had a substantial impact on fashion and how we view it. It provides a platform for fashion-related businesses to create an image for themselves and connect better with their consumers. As social media evolves, so does fashion and the industry.

The Advantages and Disadvantages

There are many advantages and disadvantages to fashion. For example, some of the disadvantages of fashion and the industry are that many people develop poor body image and bad self-esteem, believing they should dress or look a certain way. More disadvantages of fashion include the environmental perspective. In other words, the fashion industry is one of the major polluting industries in the world. Many landfills all over the world are overflooded with supplies the designers did not use. A few ways fashion is an advantage is that it has the potential to bring different people together to celebrate their own individuality. The best way to enjoy fashion is to wear what you love and be yourself. Fashion, a way to express yourself through clothing, was created a long time ago. Fashion enhances human life because not only does it allow you to dress fashionably, but it also gives an opportunity to be independent in your thinking. These are just a few examples of how fashion has many advantages and disadvantages.

How to Learn More

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City hosts an annual fashion show. This year's show is entitled About Time: Fashion and Duration, presenting a timeline of different fashion styles, the exhibit highlights the past, present, and future of the fashion industry. Displaying designers such as Alexander McQueen, Gabrielle Chanel, and Christian Dior, the exhibit truly emphasizes the comparison of fashion styles over the last centuries. However, the exhibition closes on February 7th, 2021, and one does need timed tickets for entry due to social distancing guidelines.