Why Fashion Is Always Changing
Fashion will never remain rancid or stale for anyone because, as the cliché goes, change is the only constant thing in life.
Culturally, Fashion as the Ever-Changing Dress Code
Fashion is a vibrant and continuously developing sector in the global social context. For many, keeping up with the latest trends can feel like a relentless pursuit, leading to the question: Why is there such a need for change and evolution in fashion? To understand the changes occurring in the industry and why these shifts are so persistent, it can give a meaningful knowledge concerning to fashion field and consumer’s choices. In this particular blog, the author will write about the topics including what makes fashion changed for the better, continuously, by citing some facts and figures as well as real life experiences.
Seek Common Ground is a song of the successful maintaining of a relationship but since people are now more consumed with trends and advancements this can easily frustrate the other.
Imagine this scenario:
You spend so much money on acquiring brand new outfit that is trend today. But when one wears them in a year, one frowns and considers the outfit out of fashion, all thanks to fashion trends. Such a cycle often proves to be revengeful for one or both partners, as well as financially disadvantageous. In addition to the tediousness, there are various consequences that may affect not only oneself but others too like the detrimental effects from fast fashion apparels or the social pressuring towards constantly changing norms. For a clearer understanding of why there is constant change in fashion, then it will be necessary to look at some of the main factors that are contributing to this.
Historical Influence
Thus, fashion, being an eternal part of the society, is a mirror of the society as well. Fashion history has also pointed out on how the events and cultural changes have termed the evolution of fashions. For instance, the flapper dresses worn in the 1920s were an outcome of post-World War I society and symbolized the emerging freedom of women. On the other hand, with fabric rationing that originated in the 1940s though due to the Second World War, fashion turned somewhat practical.
Technological Advancements
Fashion is heavily influenced by technology, mainly because technology determines the trends to follow. The industrial revolution in the Nineties made fashionable apparels available for the commoners due to the implementation of standardization principle. The technology advances to remain relevant to fashion in the 21st century include: 3D printing clothing, wearable technology, and e-commerce. Other platforms such as Instagram and recently TikTok have also contributed significantly in the going viral of new trends since this can go round the world in a very short time.
Economic Factors
Every economy has a clear influence over fashion trends. Consumer preferences during economic welfaring or prosperity are often inclined towards luxury and designer brands. On the other hand, different trends appear during recession times where people opt for products that are inexpensive to cater for basic needs. For example, the global financial crisis of 2008 that gave birth to fast fashion companies such as Zara and H&M selling adjacent stylish wears at cheaper prices.
Cultural and Social Dynamics
This shows that cultural and social factors as major contributors are perhaps the most influential when it comes to fashion change. Fashion is a tool through which people can make a statement as they pose and it is therefore evident that when social roles change then fashion too will change. It should be noted that change in women’s fashion was initiated by the feminist movement that was prominent in the 1960 s and1970 s where miniskirts and pants suits became prominent statement pieces of female liberation. Nowadays, such principles as diversity and inclusion can be seen in samples of the dress and beauty standards that reflects the fashion industry’s acceptance of people of different size, color, and gender.
Environmental Concerns
More so, the fashion industry has in the recent past come under increased scrutiny due to the environmental effects it presents. Fashion is one of the major culprits of pollution as it is contributing to the polluting of water, emitting carbon and discharging textile waste. It has resulted in the concept of sustainable fashion, where consumers and designers look for leather-like options that are environmentally resistant and safe for use. Some of the firms that are embracing this issue include Patagonia and Stella McCartney since they provide leadership on sustainable fashion.
Identifying Factors That Contribute to the Implementation of Change in the Fashion Industry
As the current environment of fashion continues to evolve, one has to identify driving forces that cause such changes. This way, the consumers are able to get better value and maybe even predict future trends in the market. Altogether, it is crucial to focus on each of these factors as drivers for change with real-life examples and statistics.
Another definition is less general and explains the specifics of the work of designers and influencers.
They are important stakeholders since fashion designers and celebrities often determine the future trends in fashion. Fashion giants such as Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander McQueen, and Virgil Abloh are some of the figureheads that played a great role in the acceleration of change in the fashion industry. Their collections define the directional themes for seasons, everything from luxury ready to wear to the most populist casual basics.
Bartenders remain influential in shaping trends, especially on social media, alongside other key gatekeepers such as fashion bloggers. Indeed, there are always betting on this industry as Business Insider says it will reach $15 billion by 2022. Celebrities that include Kim Kardashian, Chiara Ferragni and Kylie Jenner have millions of their fans who rely on samples set by these celebrities for them to dress appropriately.
The Impact of Globalization
The world today is more connected than before, and this has pressed the boundaries of fashion trends to run in a circular motion. This has brought about intermingling of different cultural trends hence enhancing a variety on what is trending in the fashion world. For instance, A Bathing Ape (BAPE) and Comme des Garçons are now fashionable fixtures on the streets of Tokyo and many others cities around the world have been engulfed by this so called street west.
The Fast Fashion Phenomenon
This Madison Avenue has dramatically altered the manner in which people do consume fashion. Zara, H&M of Sweden, and FDI can faster design new clothes and bring them to the market within weeks. This explains why the consumers can easily acquire the latest trends whenever it is available or within the shortest time possible, and at an affordable price. But this has a downside, fast fashion has been a topic of controversy in most areas due to its negative effects on the environment and exploitative labour.
Fashion has the second largest contribution to pollution with the industry generating 92million tonnes of waste every single year and uses 93 billion cubic metres of water annually. This has led to people calling for change and using sustainable concept on fashion, some companies have embraced circular economy and recycling or up-cycling models.
The Impact of Art and Entertainment
Both in the past and today, art and entertainment played a tremendous role in inspiring fashion. Celebrities have also played a major role in determining trends by how they dress; music legends like Audrey Hepburn, David Bowie, and Madonna are famous for putting fashion trends into frames. Television and films are also partly responsible in spreading a certain hairstyle. For instance, the craze that trailed Television series such as “Mad Men” that aired in the early 2010s brought back fashion trends from the 1960s such as fitted suits and retro styled dresses.
Psychological Factors
Fashion is an important concept and speaking of the vital role of the garment, it defines a unique way of the people’s self-identifying. Clothing stated in the study in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology was also said to impact a person’s thinking and actions in the world: the “enclothed cognition”. Thus, what is worn does impact the attitude and consequently – the style.
It seems fitting to end this discussion on a focal point of gender norms: sex and consent.
Currently, things in the fashion industry are slowly changing where cases of cross dressing or gender sensitive clothes or even androgynous fashion is more acceptable in the market. Alessandro Michele from Gucci, and other clothing labels like Telfar, provide what is needed for the future, which is clothes for people with any amount of gender identification. Such a change also alters the societal trends and elements that have fueled the understanding of other gender orientations.
Case Study:
Sustainable fashion can be defined as the process of designing and production of garments while taking in consideration the environmental impact of this process and the social effects.
There is also, without a doubt, the notorious trend of sustainability that has become prominent in recent years. More attention is paid to the effects of clothing on the environment, hence the emerging need to be conscious of ethical fashion consumption. Corporate Governance Today surveyed 5,800 consumers, of which 67% said that the use of sustainable material is a relevant factor in their shopping choices, as stated in a McKinsey & Company report.
Companies such as Patagonia and Stella McCartney have been leading in the effective campaigns for sustainable fashion. Many brands today have become environmentally friendly, and one such major brand is Patagonia which majors in outdoor wear. The company has a policy of reusing the old clothing that they are selling by repairing it and sourcing its materials from recycled products. In 2011, Patagonia introduced “Worn Wear” campaign, which promotes the purchase of second-hand Patagonia clothing items and provides repair services to customer to maximize the usage of its apparel.
Another example is Stella McCartney, the fashion brand which has chosen luxury as its niche, that makes sustainable development one of its key values. It employs humane material such as the vegetarian leather and nylon is recycled and the product is made by adherence to ethical standards. The same year, Stella McCartney collaborated with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation on the Circular Fibres Initiative, a plan with the idea of making the fashion industry circular – that is, to use clothes that will never end up as waste.
Conclusion
Fashion is a dynamic concept and can be influenced by heritage, shift in technologies, economy, culture, and the environment. It is, therefore, always a tough task to keep track of the current trends but on the other, it can be useful to explores what the underlying forces behind such trends could be; this would help consumers make better decisions.
