In this article, you will learn about the social context of fashion. In addition, you will learn about the effects of fast fashion and high fashion on personal style. Finally, you will discover the characteristics of both types of fashion and how you can distinguish them. After you have a clear understanding of these aspects of fashion, you will be able to understand what influences your personal style.
Social context of fashion
The social context of fashion has evolved in the post-industrial world. The focus on fashion has shifted from psychological to consumer behavior, and its role in changing consumer behaviour has become increasingly complex. Herbert Blumer’s work, for example, suggested that designers’ roles were primarily to identify collective tastes and to create new products that appeal to these tastes. Others, like Kawamura, have advocated the role of fashion as a catalyst for change in society.
Georg Simmel, who wrote an important essay on the social context of fashion a century ago, argued that fashion is not just about clothes but about the social action behind it. Simmel saw fashion as the arena in which individual interests collide with collective interests and social customs, thereby challenging the stability of traditional values.
Influences of fast fashion on fashion
While fast fashion has made it easier than ever for people to buy new clothes, it also comes at a high price: the environment. The fashion industry produces 10% of the world’s carbon emissions and is the second largest consumer of water. It also pollutes our oceans with microplastics. While other aspects of modern life are well known to be environmentally harmful, such as flying across the globe or using disposable plastic, the effects of fast fashion are less obvious.
Consumers who are concerned about their environmental impact are looking for ways to reduce their consumption of fast fashion. As a result, key players in the clothing industry are starting to address these concerns in an effort to meet the increasing demand of conscious consumers. However, it is not enough to simply reduce consumption; consumers must also consider the environmental effects of their actions.
Influences of high fashion on personal style
While high fashion is a way for people to express themselves, it is not the only way to do so. Style is a combination of one’s life experiences and ideas. The most important elements of personal style are the items that one wears and the ideas that one embodies. These styles can be anything and should reflect the person’s individual identity.