Fashion, before and after Globalization

Fashion is something to which we deal every day, the way we dress, the way we talk, scream, smile. Fashion is about how we present ourselves to the world. Fashion is revealing, it tells a story of a person, it is a state of mind that is truly about being comfortable with the way you are. Fashion not only is about oneself, but it is also about celebrating the diversity of the cultures across the world which familiarises people with each other. It also acts as a mirror for the psychology of society. Fashion is fun, don’t take it too seriously otherwise, you will lose the real essence of it. Let us read about how Globalization changed Fashion.

The foot of the Fashion Industry before Globalization:

Fashion was always with humans, even the folks of the 17th century used to look for fashion magazines for their styles. People were always influenced by this world trade name “Fashion”.The story of fashion and its industry has been written over the years and this story has become more exciting with every chapter. Before globalization fashion used to pass on from the upper classes down to lower classes. 

Fashion was more about craftsmanship and quality which used to result in high prices. Common people were not the ones who can desire to buy fresh new material, they had to wait for the upper-class people to give away their clothing after enjoying wearing it.

The fashion industry contained fashion houses in it, which were the companies that were specialized for designing the clothing and accessories. But do you know, these were highly expensive because they were made up of high-quality materials and were sewn by expert sewers.

Clothing and accessories were not designed in bulks, they were designed only when orders were received from the client’s end and each dress was specially designed according to the fit and desire of the clients. You know just like today’s ramp-walk tradition earlier also there was a tradition where small teams of fashion houses were dedicated to designing few samples for two seasons and these collections were put on displays in affluent cities. 

Why Fashion Uplifted after Globalization:

People were enjoying fashion but some were enjoying by wearing and owning the clothes and accessories and the majority was enjoying just by having a look at the people who use to flaunt their richness by wearing them.

Designing used to take a long time because firstly they were designed after getting an order from the client for a specified size and secondly designs were done by expert sewers by their hands without any technical help.

Designs were exclusive but were very expensive, only a few could afford it. The exchange of designs was not possible across the world because of their time taking nature and affordability issues.

These are a few loopholes that have been filled in the fashion industry after globalization and filling these loopholes has given a very strong drift to the fashion in every individual’s life.

Heights of Fashion Industries after Globalization:

No longer manufactures were expert sewers, they are replaced by sewing machines. Now, products are not and designed manufactured by the companies themselves, they are now designed and manufactured by contractors who employ low wages workers.

The word “fashion” has become an endorsement for the global market. We constantly get familiar with the new fashion updates from music albums, movies, social media, magazines. Fashion is a familiar word not only for those who reside in cities but also to the people residing in the villages, it is possible only because of the internet.

One dress has many different designs like one blue jean can be seen in many different styles some cut-fit, some loose, some below the waist, upper waist, and many more different designs. Marketing is encouraged to design materials in a way that shows power, personality, creativity, and which takes care of personal fulfillment. 

Products are produced in bulk with millions of fashionable clothing and accessories and the most important thing is the prices are very minimal which gives common people the reach of buying and wearing fashionable clothing.

Fashion is no more about the upper class, it is about the perception of individuals. Sometimes fashion is just for getting a change over for feeling different in oneself. For some fashion could be being simple and shower and for some, it could be loud and luxurious. 

Impact of Fashion to Environment:

Fashion industries are reaching the heights by fulfilling the demands of billions of consumers but for reaching the demands, the focus is on mass production and keeping low prices which have led to a decrease in quality.

The fast-growing business of fashion is fully dependent on the consumer’s desire, the more the demand, the more will the business grow. For getting more demands clothing is made cheaply and haphazardly which gets torn apart after a few months of use.

Mass production needs machinery and for producing millions of different fashionable clothes chemicals like dyes are used which are harmful to our atmosphere. The low-quality clothes can’t be recycled so they are just dumped as it is which leads to barren soil.

Conclusion:

Over the last thirty years, the boundaries of fashion have increased rapidly covering the whole global market crazily. It has covered a long journey from expert sewers to low-wage laborers working on types of machinery. 

Today, fashion is shifted towards more consumption and production from the limited consumption of only upper-class people. With more production, quality has also drastically decreased.

Fashion has also become the main factor in upgrading a country’s economy. Reach of fashionable clothing is extended from only upper-class people to every individual residing in any corner of the world with the help of the internet and also at affordable prices.

The concept of upper-class and low-class in the name of fashion is reduced to an extent but it has not vanished fully, even today we have some brands (like Gucci, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Armani, etc.) which are still maintaining this custom of upper-class.