Fashion is a complicated and diverse subject. It can mean so many different things to different people, like a painting with a million mixtures of color. To get a better idea of what Fashion is, I asked some of our very own Mercyhurst alumni to answer the question: “What does fashion mean to you?”
When it comes to fashion, one thing that we can all agree on is that it’s always changing. The latest trends are just as likely to be the next big thing as they are to fade into obscurity. Likewise, styles that were once considered “in fashion” are also just as likely to reappear in a few years or decades.
The rapid pace of change in the fashion industry has also led to a lot of corners being cut in order to keep up with demand. Production runs are often shortened, and brands are forced to use less-than-reliable suppliers in order to stay competitive. This can lead to a lot of quality control issues. For example, some brands may be shipping out shirts that don’t have the right amount of buttons because they didn’t have enough time to make sure.
Aside from the obvious aesthetic aspects of fashion, it also communicates ideas about societal norms and movements. By using clothing to express their ideas, individuals can amplify their voices and drive positive change in society.