What is Fashion?

Fashion is a term used interchangeably to describe the creation of clothing, footwear, accessories, cosmetics, and jewelry of different cultural aesthetics and their mix and match into outfits that depict distinctive ways of dressing (styles and trends) as signifiers of social status and group belonging.

[caption id="attachment_71460" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Fashion in different contexts - industry, design, runway, shop, and celebrities.[/caption]

The term 'fashion' originates from the Latin word 'Facere,' which means 'to make,' and describes the manufacturing, mixing, and wearing of outfits adorned with specific cultural aesthetics, patterns, motifs, shapes, and cuts, allowing people to showcase their group belonging, values, beliefs, and ways of life.

The Multiple Facets of Fashion

Often used as a concurrent term to style, trend, and aesthetic concerning the look of people or objects (stylish, trendy, fashionable), the word fashion has a multifaceted, complex meaning.

[caption id="attachment_71466" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Different facets of fashion.[/caption]

In this section, we'll show the multiple facets of fashion (as a term) and its association with styles, aesthetics, and trends.

Fashion as an Industry

The fashion industry encapsulates fashion design, manufacturing, advertising, and retail.

Earlies forms of 'fashioning' people emerged in medieval times through custom-made clothing by dressmakers and tailors.

At the start of the 20th century, the process of making fashion (clothes and accessories) was accelerated by technological advancements and the rise in global trade.

[caption id="attachment_71467" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Fashion as an industry[/caption]

Mass producers and retailers of clothes and accessories formed what we now call the fashion industry, one of the world's largest employers with a significant share of world economic output.

The fashion industry comprises international manufacturers (fiber, textiles, leather, rubber, fur, etc.), fashion designers, transport and packaging contractors, fashion advertisers, and retailers.

Clothing is designed in one country, manufactured in another, and sold worldwide; raw materials from China, stitched in India and Vietnam, accessorized, labeled, and packaged in Italy and France, and sold worldwide from the United States.

Fashion Week is an event comprised of multiple fashion shows where fashion designers send models on stage to showcase their upcoming season's clothing and accessories to media, influencers, and customers.

The world's most influential Fashion Weeks are held bi-annually in New York City, Paris, Milan, and London, also known as the Big Four Fashion Week cities.

What is the Origin of Fashion Week?

Before Fashion Week, fashion designers showcased their creations at clients' homes via small fashion parades (défilés de mode' in French).

Over time, these home-based fashion shows evolved into weekend-long social events that powerful and influential people attended.

[caption id="attachment_71401" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Home-based and Department Store Fashion Shows[/caption]

The concept of weekend-long fashion shows reached the United States, and in 1903, Ehrich Brothers, a Manhattan clothing shop, organized the country's first fashion event dedicated to middle-class women.

The shows were hugely popular, leading to the launch of the world's first Fashion Week in New York City on July 19, 1943.

What Are the Biggest Fashion Weeks?

Paris, London, New York City, and Milan organize the world's most famous fashion weeks (known as the "Big Four" Fashion Weeks) with shows that impact upcoming fashion trends.

The Big Four fashion weeks benefit from excellent funding, infrastructure, media coverage, top fashion critics, celebrities support, awards, and the shows of the most famous fashion designers of modern times.

New York Fashion Week

The world's first 'Fashion Week' event occurred in New York City on July 19, 1943, in continuation to Eleanor Lambert's work, who set up the New York Dress Institute in 1941 and the Press Week in 1943.

The purpose of New York Fashion Week was to provide fashion buyers with alternatives to French fashion during World War II, when workers in the fashion industry could not travel to Paris.

The 1990s yielded plenty of memorable moments, from Marc Jacobs's infamous, grunge-inspired spring 1993 Perry Ellis show to Kate Moss strolling down the catwalk at Calvin Klein.

What is Fashion Design?

Fashion Design is the creative process of assembling clothing and accessories by cutting, sewing, and adorning materials like textiles and leather with aesthetic elements like patterns, motifs, shapes, cuts, and color characteristics to various cultures.

[caption id="attachment_71320" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Fashion Design - Source: The VOU[/caption]

Fashion design is the craft of fashion designers who draw inspiration from various subcultural aesthetics, worldwide fashion styles, and contemporary fashion trends.

Compared to artistic design, Fashion Design directs designers to create aesthetically pleasing but also functional clothes and accessories.

The History of Fashion Design

Pre-1850, clothing creation is described as costume design.

Fashion design started in 1858 with Charles Frederick Worth - an English fashion designer and the father of haute couture - when he introduced design practices like sewing his name into his creations.

[caption id="attachment_71351" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Charles Frederick Worth fashion design by House of Worth (France, 1858 – 1956) - Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.[/caption]

Compared to the garments made by anonymous seamstresses, Worth's fashion designs resembled popular high fashion worn at royal courts and reached massive success with the general public.

In the 19th century, fashion design houses hired artists to sketch garments and accessories.

[caption id="attachment_71352" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Fashion sketch 90th Century - Source: Victoria and Albert Museum[/caption]

Rather than going straight into manufacturing, the images were shown to clients to gain approval, saving the designer time and money.

If the client liked the fashion design, the patrons would commission the designer to produce the client's garment in the fashion house.

Modern Fashion Design

Modern fashion design can start as drawings on paper or a computer, followed by draping fabric onto a mannequin.

The design process comprises various steps and procedures and is unique to each designer.

When the designer is satisfied with the fit of the toile (or muslin), a professional pattern maker will make the finished, working version of the pattern out of card or via a computer program.

A fashion show (in French défilé de mode) is an event where fashion designers showcase clothes, shoes, and accessories for the upcoming seasons of spring/summer and fall/winter to the media and the general public.

The bulk of a fashion show consists of models walking on narrow platforms, also known as catwalks or runways, dressed in the designer's latest collection, presenting them to fashion critics, influencers, buyers, and media.

Fashion shows can be organized indoors or outdoors, usually accompanied by music, lights, visuals, colors, holograms, and video backdrops.

There are also static and theatrical fashion show installations, with models standing or walking silently or immersed in special effects.

What is the Point of Fashion Shows?

The role of a fashion show is to deliver the designer's vision and stylistic direction for the new collection.

Fashion shows allow designers to showcase their work to fashion critics and potential buyers.

Fashion shows also serve as networking events, where designers, buyers, retailers, and critics get together.

What is a Fashion Week?

Fashion Week is a yearly event organized in capital cities worldwide.

The Fashion Weeks organized in Paris, London, New York, and Milan (the Big 4 Fashion capital cities) are the largest and most important regarding fashion designers, media coverage, and sales.

As the ideal way for fashion designers to present and promote their latest creations, fashion shows are the foundation of Fashion Weeks.

The Origin of Fashion Shows

The first records of fashion shows appeared in the early 1800s as small private events assorted with canapés and tea where clothing designers displayed their creations.

Mostly home-bound parties, these minishows aimed to present and market the couturier’s latest creations to a handful of wealthy clients.

The audience paid little attention to the surrounding settings and more to the glamorous and extravagant garments.

Over time, these home-based exhibitions evolved into 'fashion parades' organized periodically in Paris and London's couture salons.

What is Punk?

Punk is more than just a genre of music or fashion statement but a complex term that describes a lifestyle and forms of music, fashion styles, art, and even politics.

Punk emerged in the mid-1970s as a response to societal norms, in a profound statement of defiance, individuality, and a yearning for authenticity in an ever-conforming world.

Initially, the term 'punk' was used in a derogatory way - a criminal or troublemaker - and was later repurposed to convey a 'counter' subculture that reveled in its outsider status.

[caption id="attachment_71124" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Punk Subculture in the 70s[/caption]

The Origin and Evolution of Punk

The origin of Punk is deeply rooted in the 1960s societal turmoil and growing dissatisfaction with mainstream music, perceived as overly polished and detached from youth's daily life and experiences.

The Punk movement can be traced back to the 1960s garage rock scene, where music bands striving for a raw and simplified sound laid the groundwork for what would become punk rock.

Musicians like The Stooges and The Kinks, through tracks like 'Love Me' by The Phantom and 'I Hate You' by The Monks, hinted at the emergence of a defiant musical genre.

[caption id="attachment_71128" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Origin of Punk in the 60s - The Kinks and The Stooges.[/caption]

By the mid-1970s, the Punk subculture began to gain an identity as expressed through music, a unique aesthetic, and a rebellious fashion style.

Bands like The Clash and the Sex Pistols in the UK stood out from the rock bands of those times with stripped-down sounds and lyrics around insurgency, anarchy, societal critique, and resistance against societal norms and political structures.

The gritty, raw, and unrefined sounds of Punk bands resonated with British youth disillusioned by the rising socio-political issues, unemployment, and economic downturns.

Slowly turning into a cultural movement, the Punk's ethos embodied a spirit of independence and self-reliance showcased in homemade records, clothes, and concert flyers.

What is Y2K?

The Y2K is a techno-optimist and utopian movement characterized by a distinct aesthetic, fashion, lifestyle, music, and art prevalent from 1997 to 2004.

Y2K is an acronym for "year 2000" ("Y" = "year," "K" = "kilo" = "thousand"), referring to a cultural movement revolving around the excitement and anticipation of a new technologically advanced millennium.

The Y2K term is also used to describe a computer error in formatting and storing calendar data after 2000, known as the "Y2K computer bug."

What is the Origin of Y2K?

The Y2K movement originated in the 90s dot-com bubble and increased innovations, leading to public excitement and anticipation of a highly technological millennium.

However, as the millennium was getting closer, the mood shifted towards gloomy views, culminating with predictions that the world might end because of a computer error, the Y2K bug.

The Y2K bug was caused by computer programmers who, in the 70s, in their quest for speed and efficiency, used a simplified 6-digit technique for encoding time.

Massachusetts-based programmer David Eddy coined the acronym "Y2K" in an e-mail sent on 12 June 1995 to describe the potential computer error:

What is the Y2K Problem?

Y2K Problem (aka Y2K Bug, Millennium Bug, Y2K Glitch, and Y2K Error) refers to a programming error where computers input the year 2000 as year 00.

As such, when shifting from 1999 to 2000, computers worldwide would record the time as 00, causing electricity grids to collapse, water plants to stop, total financial systems to collapse, and even airplanes to fall from the sky.

What is the Y2K Fear (Y2K Scare)?

The Y2K Fear (Y2K Scare or Y2K Anxiety) was the societal fear of the world ending because of the Y2K bug and total computer failure.

In the years leading up to the turn of the century (millennium), the public became aware of the Y2K problem.

Despite releasing software to prevent the Y2K problem, the 'Millenium Bug' became a source of fascination among the public, fuelling the collective imagination and spawning a survivalist movement.

What is Boho Fashion Style

Boho fashion style - Boho is short for Bohemian - depicts a diverse way of dressing inspired by the free-spirited beatnik and hippie movements of the 1960s and the romantic aesthetics of the Victorian era.

Comprised of distressed patterns and mute colors that make the attire stand out from the general norm, the Boho fashion style embodies artistic creativity and non-conformity.

The Boho style incorporates layers of clothing, jewelry, and accessories made from recycled, handmade, or vintage materials.

Textured materials such as fringes, crochet, and lace are common in this fashion style.

In the early 2000s, celebrities like Sienna Miller, Kate Moss, and the Olsen twins were instrumental in popularizing the modern boho-chic look.

The Origin of Boho Fashion Style

The boho fashion style originated from the bohemian culture of the 19th century.

This counter-cultural movement, adopted by artists, writers, and intellectuals, valued creativity and rejected bourgeois values, even at the cost of voluntary poverty.

The Bohemians rebelled against the rigid societal norms of the Victorian era and expressed non-conformity through clothing.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the hippie movement revitalized this style by incorporating ethnic prints, beads, sandals, and headbands.

As a result, the modern boho style evolved, blending a free-spirited aesthetic with an appreciation for diverse and unconventional details.

The Evolution of Boho Fashion Style

Bohemian fashion has evolved from its roots in the 19th century to encompass several substyles, cultural influences, and sub-genres.

Originating as a counter-cultural movement, it has become a mainstream fashion trend, maintaining its allure and impact across generations.

The fluidity of the Boho dressing style allows it to evolve, merging with the dominant fashion currents of each era yet preserving its unique essence: freedom, artistic expression, and a connection with nature and other subcultures.

What is the Goth Fashion Style?

The Goth fashion style is a distinctive and mysterious way of dressing with aesthetic roots in the ornaments of gothic architecture and literature, the Victorian, Elizabethan, and Medieval eras, and the post-punk subculture.

The Goth fashion style blends corsets, lace, velvet gowns, sturdy combat boots, leather pants, silver jewelry embellished with macabre symbols, dark lipstick and black eyeliners on pale foundation, black nails, and voluminous dyed black hair to confer an occult, ghostlike appearance.

What is the Origin of Goth Fashion Style?

The UK's post-punk music scene of the late '70s and early '80s, characterized by a dark, undead, androgynous aesthetic, is credited with the origins of the Goth Fashion style.

During those decades, the gothic dressing style was influenced and shaped by Punk's rebellious edge in combat boots, spiked wristbands, and chokers, Glam rock's voluminous and exotic hairstyles, and the New Romantic heavy makeup.

Although there's no specific moment recognized as the inception of Goth fashion style, the 1979 single "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by the band Bauhaus is cited as a catalyst.

The Goth fashion style also takes significant inspiration from the Victorian era of the 19th century and the dark, brooding imagery found in fiction books of the same period.

Victorians' fascination with death and supernatural events, as reflected in their mourning customs and specific attire, contributes to the format of Goth fashion style.

For example, a typical Victorian mourning attire for women consisted of a tight black bodice over a corset and a black frilled full skirt.

For men, black gloves, a dark suit, and a hat adorned with a black band, both outfits resembling the classic Goth fashion style.

Goth Fashion Style in the 80s

In the 80s, the Batcave club, an important gathering place for the Goth subculture in London's Soho district, was pivotal in popularizing the Gohtic fashion style.

Who Are the Bohemians?

While Bohemianism has its roots in 19th-century France, individuals who identify as Bohemians and live according to the subculture's values live worldwide.

As a group, Bohemians are defined by their shared ethos for an artistic, simple life rather than demographic characteristics like location, sex, or age.

What is Goth?

Goth is a music-based subculture that began in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s.

It was developed by fans of gothic rock or Goth-rock, an offshoot of the post-punk music genre.

The subculture has associated tastes in music, aesthetics, and fashion.

Its imagery and cultural proclivities indicate influences from 19th-century Gothic fiction and from horror films, as well as elements of Romanticism, Medieval times, and Edwardian and Victorian styles of art of the middle ages.

The scene is centered on music festivals, nightclubs, and organized meetings, especially in Western Europe.

However, nowadays, the Goth subculture is not easily defined or categorized because it now spans several continents and has evolved to include a wide range of musical and clothing styles.

What is the Origin of Goth?

The term "Gothic" was first coined in the Renaissance period (late 15th to early 17th century) by Italian writers, mainly to describe a particular type of architecture and art that appeared in the early 12th century.

Since this type of art was denounced as unrefined and ugly at the time, Gothic was used in a derogatory way as a synonym of 'barbaric', referring to the Goths - Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and its classical culture and the emergence of medieval Europe in the 4th and the 5th centuries AD.

This Gothic style (also known as French Work) of art and architecture was characterized by its pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, as well as its ornate decoration and the use of light and shadow to create a sense of grandeur and mystery.

Later in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the term morphed into the literature to describe a type of fiction that involved the supernatural (or the promise of the supernatural) and the discovery of mysterious elements of antiquity that usually take its main character into strange or frightening old buildings.