Fashion is a multifaceted industry that includes clothing, footwear, accessories and cosmetics. It describes the way that people choose to present themselves to others in terms of aesthetics and is often linked with cultural identity, social status and group belonging. Fashion is a cultural force that is constantly evolving, reflecting and responding to social, political and economic changes.
The fashion industry is a global one; garments are designed in one country, manufactured in another and sold in a third. Textile and apparel manufacturing is one of the largest industries in the world with millions of workers worldwide involved, directly or indirectly, in its production. Similarly, the design and sale of fashion is an enormous business with the main centres of fashion in cities such as Paris, New York and Milan, although designers also draw inspiration from the street style of their own cities and towns.
It is a highly influential and widely followed industry, with a remarkably short turnaround time between when a look is first seen on the catwalk or in celebrity media and when it becomes popular in shops. This has been helped by the internet and the rise of fast fashion retailers such as Zara and H&M, which can quickly produce and sell clothes based on the latest fashion trends.
As well as clothing for men, women and children, there is a large fashion industry that includes the design and manufacture of bags, purses and other leather goods. There is also a growing trend for sustainable fashion, with eco-friendly materials and production processes being used to reduce the environmental impact of the industry.
There is a strong link between personal style and fashion, with people often imitating the clothes that they see other people wearing. This is especially true of celebrities, who are able to inspire entire trends simply by what they wear. Other sources of fashion inspiration can include music, books and movies. For example, the oversized sleeves that are currently in fashion were inspired by the music video for the song “Sleevify” by Bastille.
Fashion is also a form of self-expression, with people choosing to dress in the way that they feel at any given moment. For example, some people will dress very casually in t-shirts and jeans while others may prefer to dress up for a special occasion. This is particularly true of teenagers, who are influenced by the way that their peers dress and often copy them. However, many teenagers will also develop their own distinctive style that is unique to them. For example, some teenagers will dress very eccentrically, with brightly coloured clothes or unusual accessories. This can help them to stand out from their peers and be recognised for what they wear. Other teenagers will be more reserved, choosing to dress in a more subtle way that is often referred to as “classic” or “conservative”. In addition, some people will have very specific styles that they wear only for particular occasions such as weddings or formal events.