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Clothes and society
Fashion trends and their impact on society
Effect of fashion on society
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The act of consumption has been the primary means through which individuals in society participate and transform culture. Culture is not something already made which we consume; culture is what society creates through practices of everyday life and consumption involves the making of culture. When attempting to understand certain acts of consumption it is necessary to observe the relations involved in production and consumption. Through technological innovation, the fashion industry has been expanded to play a prominent role in consumers’ purchasing decisions and styles are becoming less difficult to obtain. With the expansion of department stores and shopping being viewed as a leisurely activity, this has continued to transform the act of fashion consumerism. The functional interests feature a rational attachment to clothing items. Symbolic benefits involve status and prestige to fulfill the achievement for positive self-esteem. Further benefits include a provided experience for the individual consumer and the created use of imagery and desire used to enrich one’s life. Consumers today continue to be fascinated by personal appearance and fashion styles. Fashion, and the way we present ourselves through clothing …show more content…
This significance rests largely in their ability to carry and communicate cultural meaning. Modes of consumption become markers of social and cultural differences. Likewise, the frustrated experience of exclusions from consumption practices can be a politicizing process which forces people to confront the meaning of class, gender and race in one’s own private spheres. One’s emotional attitudes, style and cultural taste further defines one’s social identity. Emotions are the very things that drive and transform social interactions. Cultural capital is crucial as a status symbol and emotional style is crucial to how people acquire networks and social
According to Slater (1997:26), ‘consumer culture is, in principle, universal and impersonal’. The notion behind this is that consumer culture is believed to be something that is in general for everyone and not specifically personal to you. The variance between production and consumption is growing larger for the reason that, individuals would now rather consume an item that is already available to them instead of producing items themselves. People would now work in their jobs to earn money just so they can spend it on items that someone else has produced as their job. It is a process that goes round in a circle; work, leisure, work, leisure. Slater (1997:8) also mentions that, ‘consumption is always and everywhere a cultural process, but ‘consumer culture’—a culture of consumption—is unique and specific: it is the dominant mode of cultural reproduction developed in the west over the course of modernity’. This explains the concept of meaning and how there are meaning of things in the uses of consumption. Things involve meaning for the reason that consumption is cultural. Meaning is created through the cultural val...
The Trickle-down theory, a well-known theory in fashion industry, has significant meaning in 19th to 20th century Europe. The American economist and sociologist, Veblen, published The theory of the Leisure Class by 1899, in which he discussed the split between the leisure class and the industrial class in the US critically. He concluded that leisure class treats dress as a sign of their status and possessions, furthermore, ‘Dress must not only be conspicuously expensive and inconvenient; it must at the same time be up to date’(Veblen 1994), by saying that, he refers to upper class was tend to create new fashion trend which was the top of the trickle-down theory. In the 20th century, Simmel, the German sociologist and philosopher, developed this theory further from a more sympathetic perspective. He drew much attention to sameness and difference amongst both classes in his book Fashion (Simmel 1973). The upper class gets self-satisfied and the proof of its priority by distinguishing itself from others, and working class follows the fashion trend which led by upper class in order to feel like he or she is ‘belonging to’ higher class. These opinions which were discussed by Veblen and Simmel were coined by a journalist in the mid-20th century, as ‘Trickle- down Theory’. During mid-18th to early 20th century, the trickle-down theory described the process of how fashion flows, and explains that fashion is a cultural and sociological phenomenon which includes the discourse of identity and uniformity, agency and structuralism. This phenomenon was not limited by geography, at the same period, in the other side of the world, similar situation happened in China which is a typical East Asian country....
It is interesting to consider Veblen’s theory of conspicuous consumption as it pertains to the modern day fashion industry, specifically the luxury fashion sector. In The Theory of the Leisure Class, Veblen said “we all find a costly hand-wrought articles of apparel much preferable to a less expensive imitation of it;” however, at the beginning of the 20th century, couture clothing was exclusively available to those who were very wealthy, simply because of how much the garments cost. By the mid-1930’s, businesses were beginning to change their ways of thinking after seeing the enormous profit that the Walt Disney Company received once they licensed the making of Mickey Mouse novelty items. Christian Dior was the first of many fashion designers to foll...
Under the current capitalism society and material culture, people tend to form their identities through consumption, this means more than to consume products which are needed to survive, consumption can also link to self-identity formation and expression. People are imperceptibly influenced by the mass media that self-identity can be shaped and formed through consuming specific products. Therefore it can be said, fashion is an important element of identity formation. Young people are commonly feared of being seen as outdated and seek for acceptance from the peers and the society. According to Erikson’s theory of personal social and personal development adolescences and young adults see peers as a critical influence, acceptance of peers can lead to security of identity and self-esteem. This essay is going to examine how young people shape or form their identities through the consumption of fashion. Youths tend to shape their identity through different styles or ways of dressing, differentiate themselves from others and express their feeling or identity through fashion.
Fashion in the 21st century is a big business, as its production employs millions of people and generates billions of dollars in revenue. Fashion has for the past century been, and is still today, used as an indicator of social change and progress, as it changes with the social norms of the society and the political changes of the world (Finkelstein 3). Works Cited Finkelstein, Joanne. A.S.A. & Co. Fashion: An Introduction to Fashion. New York: New York University Press, 1998.
According to many such as Reed-Danahay, Pierre Bourdieu, a French sociologist of the 20th century is recognized as being among the most instrumental sociologists of our epoch. According to Bourdieu, one’s existence is not merely to exist but in reality is to find existence within a social context in order to find recognition. According to Bourdieu, individuals strengthen and reproduce their social status within a specific class through the use of cultural and social capital. Social capital is defined as one’s association with important connections or involvement within society whereas cultural capital is outlined as an individual’s level of knowledge, experiences and education. He argues that social capital and cultural capital is equally essential to that of economic capital which can be used to separate themselves from certain castes. Bourdieu uses the notion of habitus, a system of flexible behaviors which are rooted within individuals through their socialization which has the ability to influence ones decision making. These concepts bring us to Bourdieu’s theory of ‘fields’ which are the several spaces where levels of social status are organized and reproduced through different forms of capital. One’s level of status within a field is dependent upon the amount of capital they own. Bourdieu’s theories exist in various societies and have become essential in exposing once social status within the world of fashion.
Thompson, C., and Haytko, D.L. (1997) "Consumer’s use of Fashion Discourses and the Appropriation of Coutervailing Cultural Meanings" Journal of Consumer Research, 24 (1) pp15-42
It is necessary to identify fashion and explain the systems apparel industry uses before I start explore the essentiality of fast fashion. According to Dictionary.com, fashion is defined as the prevailing style or custom that is in a current mode and used to express oneself. It can be clothing, accessories, hair, etc. Why certain people like to frequently shop in malls and keep updating apparels in their closets every season? Form psychological perspective, people usually consider clothing as a symbol to show their values, personality and lifestyles to others. Critically, a rapid imaginative change and symbolic expression supports a sense people have about fashion. People believe that an ideal self-identity can be communicated to others through clothing, so figuring out how people make decision when they perceive clothing among different brands and understanding their needs and desires can help apparel industries expending and maintaining market s...
Many theorists suggest that consumption is correlated to the identity of an individual, that by purchasing goods from the mass market, it enables us to visibly establish our position within society. This differs from previous times in which a range of factors such as family histories, character and personal achievements played a significant role (Gabriel and Lang, 2006). Instead, there is the idea that the consumer has the ability to gain pleasure over objects, not just solely by the manipulation of objects, but through the degree of control over their meaning. The degree of control is developed and achieved through imagination and provides greater possibilities of pleasure experiences. This suggests that modern consumption can be seen as device that enables individuals to ‘dream’ about the desires they wish to fulfill. (Campbell, 1989: 79) (Cited in Gabirel & Lang, 2006)
In the early 1800s, France was the sole fashion capital of the world; everyone who was anyone looked towards Paris for inspiration (DeJean, 35). French fashion authority was not disputed until the late twentieth century when Italy emerged as a major fashion hub (DeJean, 80). During the nineteenth century, mass produced clothing was beginning to be marketed and the appearance of department stores was on the rise (Stearns, 211). High fashion looks were being adapted and sold into “midlevel stores” so that the greater public could have what was once only available to the social elite (DeJean, 38). People were obsessed with expensive fashions; wealthy parents were advised not the let their children run around in expensive clothing. People would wait for children dressed in expensive clothing to walk by and then they would kidnap them and steal their clothes to sell for money (DeJean, 39). Accessories were another obsession of France‘s fashion; they felt no outfit was complete without something like jewelry or a shrug to finish off the look and make it all around polished (DeJean, 61). As designers put lines together, marketing began to become important to fashion in the nineteenth century; fashion plates came into use as a way to show off fashion l...
The historical exploration of material culture includes examining modes of consumption, the meaning and life of objects, as well as actively “reading” material objects as historical texts. Alternative to the “simple maxim that supply creates its own demand,” historians have examined the way consumption is generated, motivations for different objects’ mobility within social hierarchies and cultures, ideas of fashion and fashionability, and definitions and limits of consumption (Vickery, 274-75). Mary Douglas, in “The Uses of Goods,” discusses consumption and the way in which objects reflect the culture and context of their production but also are subject to change. Douglas’ redefining of consumption, consumption being a sort of universal frame
With globalisation increasing and multiculturalism becoming the accepted view in society, consumer culture allows for individuals to purchase goods and services which allow for their cultural traditions to continue. Consumer culture theory has found that ethnic identities have become reconstructed in the late-modern life as consumerism allows for the assertion of identity in the fluid social setting (cct). Consumerism for ethnic minority allows for individuals to continue traditions through material possessions such as clothing, food and music (cct). Therefore, in an age whereby fluid societies are becoming more apparent consumer culture allows for subcultures and identities to thrive. As identity constructs for minorities become less structured due to the nature of globalisation consumerism continues to allow for individualism and diversity to thrive (ethnicity). Ultimately this progression of ethnic cutures has led to shopping centres filled with symbolic resources which allows for cultural beliefs to continue to be structured (ethnicity). Companies have tailed an industry to continue to allow ethnic minorities to continue traditions and create a sense of belonging through materialistic goods (ethnicity). Therefore, in the late-modern life with globalisation at the forefront consumer culture allows for ethnic cultures to
To begin with, I shall look at what fashion is; it is a currently popular style or practice involving clothing, footwear or accessories. It mostly refers to the current trends in looks and dressing style of a person (Cumming 234). In most cases, fashion is confusedly related to costumes; when a person talks of fashion they are seen to mean fashion in terms of textile. Fashion is seen to originate from the Western world and it is copied by other places. In this paper, we shall look at how fashion affects lifestyles and the group of people who are affected most. The paper further investigates how media is used to transmit fashion from one region to the other. Although it has been seen to affect people’s lives many people have different perspectives on fashion and dressing.
The following essay should outline what is conspicuous consumption, why consumers like to engage in conspicuous consumption and finally exploit the implications for marketing. The implications for marketing refer to modified marketing implementations, regarding branding and positioning. Thus, models and techniques should be presented, on how to track contemporary conspicuous consumers and then to target on them. In order to describe the reasons and the motives behind conspicuous consumption, it is necessary to present common psychological arguments. Therefore, evidence and arguments will be based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and also on different perspectives. Then, based on “The Theory of the Leisure Class” by the economist and sociologist
Islam is the religion of purity and honesty and there are no mistakes in this religion. It is the religion for Muslims .It covers every aspect of life including fashion (dressing) , cleanliness ,our basic beliefs and duties and each and every order which is necessary for the Muslim to perform .So let us find the detail of fashion and clothing according to our religion which is Islam.