FASHION

How Fashion Shapes Social Identities

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How Fashion Shapes Social Identities

Fashion is a general word used throughout the world currently for popular style of practice. Fashion is defined as anything that is the current trend or look in clothing and accessories. However, in broader terms it relates to some degree in all walks of life including science, and engineering. Nevertheless, it is used mainly for dress in lay man terms. It was used in this sense after the social transformation of the late 18th century and was more closely related to women than men. The reason why fashion associates with dress and personal accessories is because it outlines what we see and how we behave in response to others, and it describes what we are and from where we belong. Fashion is also considered a means of communication; however, it is not an equivalent to language. Moreover, fashion is considered as a product of western civilization, which is also thriving in other more traditional societies. In today's capitalistic world, fashion has created its own space and has divided people around the world in class's i.e. high class, middle class, and the lower class. Fashion is the reason behind all kinds of stereotyping, because it is thought that fashion creates identity and tells others about who we are.

In the past, fashion was only restricted to the elites, the aristocratic and the princely class. The finest fabrics and the latest designs were only worn by the high society of that time; they were the marketers and the market of that time. France was considered as the place where fashion was born, and Paris was the capital of fashion. The masses could only see in awe the most delicate of fabrics and the most wonderful embezzlements on dresses of that time (Davis, F. 1989, pp.337). However, after the industrial revolution, capitalization, and globalization, fashion is for everyone. Nevertheless, it has not able to bridge the gaps between the masses and the elites. There is still much segregation in the fashion industry. Where the high end designers and brands are still working for the elite class, so that the clothes one wears continues to communicate their identity. It is just a matter of brand now.

Fashion industry like every other industry is based on the concept of capitalism. It has no means of making a person look better rather its sheer basis is towards profit maximization, and the growing wave of consumerism has done nothing except worked as fuel to the fire. Globalization is another key factor which has helped fashion industry like any other industry. Through globalization fashion industry has reached even the most traditional parts of the world for e.g. China, India, and the Middle East, which were once considered as conservative states.

Moreover, fashion has also given birth to a very pertinent issue i.e. stereotyping, particularly among teens and students as they are the ones that are most vulnerable to fashion, and are in a state on identity conflict. The main issue ...