Fashion is a term used to generally describe a current popular practice or style. It refers specifically to clothes, accessories, and foot wears. Some people use fashion to express themselves while some to blend in society. The fashion industry is one of the prestigious industries in the globe. The irony in fashion is that while it covers unbounded time, it is dynamic and sometimes it changes with the season. What’s hip and in today might not be so in the next season.
The fashion industry has been produced by the modern ages. In the earlier times, before the 19th century, most of the clothing that people wear is customized. They are handmade by tailors and dressmaker for individuals. With the advancement of technology during the 20th century, mass production of clothing came into being. This was a result of the rising of capitalism in a global scale, invention of sewing machine, development of factories for manufacturing, and the increase of retail stores. After sizes were standardized and prices were fixed, mass produced clothes are shipped to retail stores to be sold.
There are four levels in the fashion industry. The first is raw material production. This includes fibers, textiles, leather, and fur. The next is fashion goods production by manufacturers, designers, and contractors. After that there are the retail sales. The last level is the promotion and advertising part. This could be in print or visual ads.
Over the years, people have witnessed how fashion has changed. In the 70s there was the disco and retro fashion. There was the mini dress, maxi, and hot pants. And who could ever forget the platform soled shoes? The 80s was a time referred to as “the time that fashion forgot” because of the eccentric style. The fashion checklist during this time includes shellsuits, acid wash jeans, leggings, poodle perms, Flintstone jeans, high top sneakers, neon-colored pointy-toed stilettos, and jelly shoes. The 90s was a time when “anything goes”. The trend revolved around casual style – shirt and blue jeans. The millennium brought in variety in fashion. As the years passed, some of the past trends are making their way back to popularity. The others, as many would agree, are better off forgotten.