The fashion industry has always been present, at times evident, at times more concealed. Back in the 18th century, for example, the fashion industry concerned only the noble families, as it represented a social status. Nowadays, it plays an even greater role, as it’s not only valued by the richer people, but even by the middle and lower classes.
The fashion industry has always impacted people’s lives. Back in its historical roots, fashion has always been used to reflect cultural and political values. In the modern era, fashion became a tool to express oneself, to convey one’s personality, political view or subcultural affiliation, such as the hippie movement in the 1960s, where people rejected mainstream values to convey anti-war sentiments and the research of freedom.
The fashion industry employs millions of people all over the world, from the cotton farmers to the models and retail employees.
It aids the world economy greatly, as it encourages export in all kinds of countries, from Italy and France, known for their luxury brands like Gucci, to poorer countries like Bangladesh or china, known for their low-cost clothing
On the other hand, however, the fashion industry also has its cons.
A simple example can be fast-fashion. As much as the fashion industry aids the global economy, it also directly affects negatively many people lives. Fast fashion brands like Zara or H&M offer stylish clothes at low prices, at the cost of many industries located in less developed countries to exploit their workers, making them work from an incredibly young age for long hours without a break.
Other than this, the fashion industry has also had great social impact. Fashion can empower, but for many years it has pressured people to conform to incredibly unrealistic beauty standards. The brand who has the most set such standards is Victoria’s Secret, especially in the 2000s and 2010s, when they promoted the so called ‘Victoria’s angels’ who were models considered of utmost beauty. The dark side of this tradition is the fact that most of these models suffered from eating disorders and were considerably underweight, leading to many young girls to develop the same disorders.
Overall, the fashion industry has always been part of the human culture will likely continue to be. While it offers powerful means of self-expression, it’s fundamental not to let it define who we are.
Angelica Righetti 5C
