Fashion is defined as “the style or fashion of clothing worn by a group of people”. It is a socially constructed, culturally influenced, and personal practice. The Oxford English Dictionary defines fashion as “the action, form, or manner of displaying or behaving in a particular way.”
Fashion is a powerful medium that can shape society, change our world, and influence the lives of millions. However, it is also a hotbed of controversy. One feminist critic contends that fashion requires women to conform to unnatural standards of beauty. Another claims that it must be painful for women to participate in the fashion industry.
Frances Corner, head of the London College of Fashion and author of Why Fashion Matters, champions the use of fashion as a tool for positive change. Her research focuses on the role of clothing and the body in health and well-being. She is particularly interested in how fashion can be used as a tool for sustainability.
The fashion industry is a global enterprise that encompasses the production of apparel and apparel materials. Its components include retailers, designers, manufacturers, and contractors. A large proportion of the world’s economic output is made up of fashion. Some of the major sectors of the industry are design, marketing, and distribution.
In addition to the production and distribution of clothing, the fashion industry also includes the manufacturing of raw materials. For example, the Rana Plaza building, which killed and injured more than 2,500 people and produced clothing for global fashion brands, was a manufacturing facility for the fashion industry.
The fashion industry is a global multibillion dollar industry. As a result, it is important for the industry to be sustainable and profitable. This involves doing more to address issues such as health, diversity, and environmental damage.
To be truly relevant, the fashion industry must address issues such as health and safety. Researchers have found that the materials used to make clothing and apparel can restrict natural human movements. Also, the clothing industry often requires workers to be paid very low wages, leading to the deaths of a high number of garment workers.
A recent catalytic clothing project led by Professor Helen Storey MBE and Tony Ryan explores the use of textiles as catalytic surfaces. Catalytic surfaces are materials that break down air pollution through the use of light.
Clothing can also serve as a heat-control mechanism. The materials used to make clothes are not stretched or compressed flat. Instead, they are pleated to allow them to change with movement.
With a strong sense of style and identity, one can develop and maintain a personal wardrobe. If someone is athletic, for example, he or she may prefer sportswear. Similarly, a person who likes to dress elegantly will likely adopt a sophisticated and refined style.
Despite its controversies, fashion is a powerful and vital medium for spreading ideas. Not only can it be a medium for communication, but it can also be an instrument for changing the way we think about our bodies and our environment.