Fashion and Global Culture.
Nowadays, there is
much talk and discussion about cultural globalization, i.e., a common culture
is developing across the globe. When fashion industry is concerned, culture is
an integral part of it. Fashion and culture goes hand in hand. Our clothes are
a source of non-verbal communication which send messages about who we are,
where we come from, what we do and etc. Overall, fashion is a way of expressing
ourselves through our clothing and accessories. It is important to know the
influence of culture on fashion industry and to foresee cultural and social
movements in order to comprehend the fashion environment.
Fashion is not an isolated factor of clothing or
accessories but it is connected to our life in every aspect and among them
culture is the most significant. Fashion goes further than clothing and into
the manner we desire to live our lives. Meaning, fashion influences our lifestyle.
Fashion is influenced by cultural changes, such as modernization, art and even
technological innovation.
As fashion images in
magazines, music videos, films, the Internet and television speed their way
around the world, they create a "global style" across borders and
cultures. Blue jeans, T-shirts, athletic shoes and baseball caps adorn bodies
everywhere and Western fashion systems borrow style and textile elements from
each other. Like high-tech global bazaars, they cater to consumers of every
age, gender, ethnicity, profession, and subculture.
Fashion is present everyday in our lives. Fashion
became opened world, and because of cultural globalization, anyone can now
become a reference of trends and influence and inspire the creations of
designers. But to adapt to this constant flow of trends, and the
competitiveness of the participants of global market, the industry has
relocated their production to developing countries, where workers produce in
terrible conditions. So i think we should make an effort to stop the industries
take advantage of inequality and abuse of a part of the citizens of the world.
I really agree about your perception of global culture through fashion, I didn't think about it (yes, global culture is everywhere)! Actually, today, it very allows to know the culture of someone, like you said, as a "non-verbal communication" between other people. What I the most appreciate besides the fact that I love fashion, is to show some limits of global culture : yes that is good to unify people in a big and single culture, but sometimes we don't see at the forefront the excesses of this model. That is why you took the example of fashion industry in developed countries : "We don't die for fashion". Fashion is available and it is a way to be yourself, but not for everyone in an equitable manner. That is why we can discuss about it in class : in what kind of situations can we face of the limits of global culture ? Can we improve it ? How ?
ReplyDeleteI love fashion, I totally agree that it is a way of expressing ourselves and the fashion market is full of competition. Unfortunately, this competition between big brands make them go crazy about production methods and they tend to pay very cheap to the workers. It happens mostly In asian countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, China and so on. Numerous scandals have happened due to the bad working conditions in these factories, which happen to get the people’s attention but then are quickly forgotten when we are attracted by the cheap « ready to wear » brands.
ReplyDeleteThe workers in those sweatshops have often tried to send the world a message leaving some sort of notes inside the pockets of finished clothes.
Fashion trends are constantly changing, and this market is really a very important one in the world. We must be more conscient about our consuming acts, trying to buy less, or creating the habit of buying in vintage and second hand shops. Also, we should inform ourselves about each brand’s policies. Not always an expensive brand gives better conditions to its workers. Brands that care about the environnement, about the working conditions in its factories should be more known worldwide.
Firstly, I would like to support your point of view in this post.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, fashion transmit a lot of things like you said previously. People can reflect their personality, a way of life, our personality, but also an identification of it’s roots.
Nowadays with our technologies and progress, we share every thing around the world, religions, know how, politics , economy, and the most part of the world can access to all these with internet. And every person, from everywhere can dress as he wishes.
We can consider it is a great wealth to be able to benefit from the sharing of different cultures. However as you mentioned at the end of your article the trends can raise various problems.
I would like to emphasize another point of view of the impact of fashion and global culture.
Year after year, the cultural traditions are changing and are threaten to be lost .
Let’s take as an exemple the use of the « Kita » which spread around the wold and the symbolism of colors got lost.
The « Kita » is a fabric from the Akan people located in Cote D’ivoire and originally this « Kita » represents a royal fabric with a sacred character.
Although some persist to known the means of different colors and continued to choose their « Kita » according to the symbolic.
Most people which wear this don’t known her history but wear it for questions of trends and tastes.
The « Kita » becomes « an ordinary stuff »
We can ask ourselves if standardization of cultures will not jeopardize the history of tradition? Are we not losing the wealth of different cultures?