The fashion industry is a multibillion-dollar global industry focused on the production and retail of clothing. Some observers make a distinction between the apparel industry, which creates “mass fashion,” and the fashion industry, which creates “high fashion,” but by the 1970s, these distinctions were becoming less clear. The simplest definition of fashion is the type(s) of clothing and accessories that individuals or groups of individuals choose to wear at any given time. The high-end designer clothes displayed on Parisian or New York City catwalks may not look the same as the mass-produced sportswear and streetwear found in global markets and malls.
The design, production, distribution, marketing, retailing, advertising, and promotion of all kinds of clothing (for men, women, and children) are included in the fashion industry, from the most exclusive and pricey haute couture (literally, “high sewing”) and designer garments to regular, everyday clothing like sweatpants and ball gowns. The more general term “fashion industries” is occasionally used to describe a wide range of businesses and services that serve millions of customers worldwide.
Jacques Doucet: evening dress
Jacques Doucet: evening dress
The modern era is what gave rise to the fashion industry. Before the middle of the 19th century, almost all clothing was made specifically for each person, either at home or on demand from dressmakers and tailors.
