Fashion is a term used to describe the style of dress or clothing that is prevailing at a given time. It can also refer to a manner of speaking or behavior that is considered to be fashionable in a particular society or culture.
Fashion has a history that goes back to the earliest days of civilization. Early people focused on how clothes would keep them warm and dry, but later people started to use them as a form of art and expression.
In medieval times, strict laws governed the kinds of clothes that ordinary people could wear. The clothing they wore told others about their social status and occupation. Religious leaders and others who engaged in a certain profession also wore specific types of clothes.
Today, modern Westerners have many different styles to choose from and can choose a style that best reflects their personality. Trends are popularized through media and advertising, such as magazines, television, and online.
Historically, clothes were worn to communicate emotion or show solidarity with other people. Often, styles in clothes are rooted in the social or political environment, with some people being proud of their own culturally-inspired styles and others trying to copy them.
Today, the fashion industry is a multibillion-dollar global enterprise devoted to making and selling clothes. It is divided into four levels: the production of raw materials, principally fibres and textiles but also leather and fur; the production of fashion goods by designers, manufacturers, contractors, and other suppliers; retail sales; and various forms of advertising and promotion.