Fashion is a style of clothing, footwear or accessories that identify a person, group or culture. It can also indicate social status, especially in cultures with a complex class system. In other cases, clothing is used for functional purposes, such as a judge’s robe or a uniform of the military or police. It can also be used as an expression of individuality or to promote a particular ideology, such as peace or patriotism.
Fashion trends come and go and many people experience a change in their style at different points in their life. This is often seen during the adolescent period as the individual tries to figure out who they are. It can also be a result of the ever changing culture and society around us. Fashion also survives on the clearly intrinsic human need for shallow novelty and the need to be noticed by others.
Fashion is an international business. The industry employs millions of workers worldwide to design, sew, glue, dye and transport clothing from manufacturers to stores. There is no doubt that fashion plays a significant role in the world economy and globalization. As western companies continue to dominate the world’s markets, traditional clothing styles from around the world are being absorbed into global culture at an increasing rate. In addition, people from developing countries are able to purchase inexpensive western clothing. This has led to a blurring of the line between what is considered fashionable and what is considered anti-fashion.