In recent years, there is a kind of fashion emerges and grows rapidly which is fast fashion. It can be traced back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. The retailers started to providing variable and fashionable clothing to their customers, thus it had added mid-season purchasing to their previous two-season calendars. (Tokatli, Wrigley and Kızılgün 2008) However, fast fashion cannot be viewed as a global phenomenon only, it also represents a few sociological perspectives for people to research and study. The most obvious prospect is that the “Sociological Imagination” which is released by the sociologist C. Wright Mills (2010). “Sociological Imagination” is an idea that connects the everyday life with the social network deeply. In other words, plenty of social issues are not only caused by individuals but also associated with the whole social structure and patterns. In this essay, the theory of Mills would be applied to display two different aspects that how fast fashion becomes a social issue. Firstly, fast fashion provides a great deal of job opportunities in developing countries and which leads to the awareness of workers’ rights in these countries. After this, clothing is always tied with social class and status, …show more content…
First of all, the production of a T-shirt can influence a variable of angle of environment. For instance, according to the investigation of the World Bank 17% to 20% of industrial water pollution is due to textile dyeing and treatment. Moreover, the production process of fast fashion can lead to air pollution because reusing cotton prevents the emission of more than 7 pounds of carbon dioxide. (Steinberger,2009) With more and more evidences proved that the production process of fast fashion, either governments or Non-Governmental Organization will devote more efforts to aware human beings the serious results and try to find a balance between economy and
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 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...
The textile manufacturing industry is one of the biggest industries in the world that is currently worth nearly three thousand trillion dollars. The industry is constantly growing with the wants from consumers around the world. In order to meet and satisfy these wants from customer, “Development in the textile and clothing industry has focused on technological and cost aspects. Emphasis has been placed on keeping the price of the final product low and increasing efficiency in production.” (Niinimaki & Hassi, 2010, p. 1876) At the same time, with this expansion of the textile manufacturing industry and its consumption, pollution, climate change, fossil fuel and raw material depletion, and water pollution and shortage are constantly occurring
Georg Simmel explores the impact societal differentiation played on the 20th century, in the article Fashion, published in 1957 in The American Journal of Sociology, Volume LXII, Number 6. In this text he defines his theory stating “The elite initiate a fashion and, when the mass imitates it in an effort to obliterate the external distinction of class, abandons it for a newer mode- a process that quickens with the increase of wealth” (Fashion, p.541). Fashion connects those of a higher social class and segregates them from others. Simmel believes that fashion evolves from class differentiation, as members of the elite class seek to set themselves apart from other classes, and in turn a revolving cycle begins (Blumer, p.277). Members from other lower classes copy the elite’s fashion and with this the elite must change...
Fast fashion is a term used by fashion retailers to express that designs move from runway quickly in order to capture current fashion trends. Fast fashion clothing collections are based on the most recent fashion trends from both fall and spring fashion week. This fast fashion strategy is currently used by well-known brands such as H&M, Zara, Top shop and many other brands. Fast fashion allows consumers to take advantage of current clothing styles at a lower price because fast fashion trends are designed and manufactured quickly and cheaply. However convenient aspect of fast fashion has been leading to promote consumerism since clothing had become unfashionable and not wearable quickly. Also a lot of these garments are made of unsustainable fabrics, which is a huge threat to our ecosystem. Solution for problems in fast fashion is needed.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American family spends $1,700 on clothes annually and “the average woman in England has 22 unworn items in her closet.”(Johnson) People buy a surplus of clothing, meaning factories make excess textile waste. While there have been many debates whether the clothing industry is the second most polluting industry of the world, second only to oil, there’s no doubt that the fashion industry has made an impact on the world, but not in a good
This article is about the overall impacts of fast fashion. The particular section referenced discusses possible solutions and alternatives to fast fashion. It talks about how it is possible to produce environmentally friendly clothing through the use of organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, and other fiber crops that require less pesticides, water, and other inputs. It goes on to share how certain brands are beginning to implement the model of sustainable clothing. The point of this article is to introduce readers to the topic of fast fashion, give background, and show readers what they
Fashion in the 21th 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).
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.
Fashion, psychology and the sociological perspective have long been perceived as mutually exclusive concepts. However, is there a possibility that a trinity exists in the former? To illustrate, it is evident that throughout history fashion has influenced society as a whole and has mirrored its aspects i.e. economical and sociological. Furthermore, this influence has developed to be perceived psychologically where individuals identify with fashion in the sense of translating visual information showing their personal views and attitudes. To that effect, what is fashion? Traditionally and in the literary sense, fashion is defined as ‘a popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior’ . However,
Fashion changes began to spread rapidly from the higher class to middle and working lower class. As communication improved fashion and style changes have influenced what people wear. Human beings have been using clothes throughout the history. Have we have seen, the garments worn in the past is totally different from present. Every change in the society, including differences between cultures and living styles is reflected in the way people dress and the types of accessories worn. It is believed that fashion changes as a response to the marketing strategy also influencing marketing the way in which fashion evolved in time.
In conclusion, fashion will speak out a person’s social signal, people dress on designs that blend with their social class. Just as population, social activities and fashion are changing with time. Fashion has made clothing to be convinient, everything needs to be done with the least effort and spend the least time.
That can lead to the water stress and pollution. Cotton is one of the common natural fibers and it is also a thirsty crop, to produce one cotton shirt it takes 2,700 liters of water which is enough amount of water for one person to drink 2 ½ years (3p Contributor., 2015). The chemical wastages from chemical dye and bleaches that produce from the factory, and carbon footprint such as polyester production which can lead to climate change. Given that amount of water wastage, I feel that people should opt for sustainable fashion clothes. Most people may be hesitant to try something so novel, so green. Therefore, I feel the fashion house should educate the public about the many benefits of sustainable fashion
One pays a large amount of money to buy clothes which sometimes does not suit her/him. It is claimed that clothes and accessories that are in trend are generally the most costly. Not to mention the fact that they go out of fashion very quickly. Furthermore, the current vogue for stylish objects has brought social discrimination, especially among the young generation. It is unfair to the poor, who cannot afford the latest products, being discriminated on the grounds of class or money.
Following fashion styles in order to be trendy and to look different and stylish in front of others by wearing different types of clothes and accessories. Fashion can be viewed in people’s style of outlook personality with clothing and hairstyle, style of living and behaving, along with the area of personal interest. Today’s youths are totally influenced by new fashion trends. Fashion brings an interesting twist in our boring life which makes us with feeling of confidence and up to date according to this changing environment. Youth generation is totally affected by this glamorous world of fashion. Their dressing style, hair style, accessories, language and personality all shows that how much they are influenced by fashion.