What do the ancient Egyptians and the most modern millennials have in common? No one escapes from fashion, not in ancient times and even less now. Fashion design may seem a superficial or banal topic but for centuries it has been an important part of our society and has had a great influence on the culture of each civilization.
This article is intended for you, a fashion enthusiast who is about to finish high school and is considering a career in fashion design. There is nothing better than becoming an expert in the things you are passionate about and our goal is that by the end of this article, you will know the great influence of fashion in history and that you will be a little more convinced to study this great career.
A quick overview of the history of fashion design
At the beginning of our history, fashion was something inconceivable; clothing consisted of animal skins that covered the body and had a practical purpose: to protect people from the ravages of the weather. Wearing fur was basically the difference between life and death.
As our ancestors evolved and extreme temperatures stabilized, clothing ceased to be a practical element and became an aesthetic element that conveyed to the world the social class to which you belonged. This is how:
The ancient Egyptians used fabrics such as linen to create many of their garments. Dressing in a certain way was proof of power and nobility, or on the contrary, it could also represent slavery and poverty.
In Roman civilization having a tailor was a sign of power and wealth and the robes could give you information about whether the person was a philosopher, a priest, a warrior, a magistrate, or a high dignitary.
It was with the Renaissance that fashion design began its journey to become what it is today: a profession.
However, it was with the Industrial Revolution that fashion was transformed into the concept we know today: those garments, ornaments, and accessories that are worn in a given time and context and which can be reproduced in large quantities and offered for sale.
Fashion and its impact on society
Fashion has been present throughout human history and its influence is undeniable for several reasons:
The mere fact of “dressing”, of covering our body with garments responds to a social requirement.
Dressing in a certain way, with specific garments taken from the fashion of the moment, is a “mark” that communicates the way in which a person assumes his or her, age, status, and role in society.
Fashion and the way of dressing are considered the greatest expression of freedom, especially by societies and governments that considered the imposition and use of certain garments to standardize citizens.
Fashion is a reflection of the main moral and aesthetic values of societies. Its impact on modern societies is undeniable and for centuries it has even shaped the way men and women look. Its influence is visible when we analyze the “ideal bodies” of the 1950s and 1960s and compare them with the physical characteristics of the ideal contemporary man and woman.
Judging the subject superficially, fashion and clothing design may seem an irrelevant topic, but they have a profound connection to the development of human societies. If you enjoyed this article then visit Temu shines on Sitejabber for more interesting articles about fashion.
