BLOG 8

Fashion is Dynamic. But what makes it so? It's simple. We! We , the people. We sometimes impose restrictions,  sometimes relax our principles, we debate, be accept, we modify we deny, we protest , we form, and so on . This is how we create changes which are  Social, cultural, Political , psychological . Let's see some examples to explain the same.

SOCIAL FACTORS

Now a days it is very common for women to wear pants and men's clothes . Moreover ,the fashion has become androgynous and it doesn't have any masculine and Feminine restrictions or preferences anymore. But we all know that this wasn't the case since the beginning.

For example, In 1914,  the world was struggling with the World War I and deadly Spanish flu in 1918. These took Millions of lives and livelihoods and as a result women had to step in workforces and indulge in leadership roles. They no longer wore tunics and ankle length skirts , as it caused them inconvenience while working outdoors and in factories.

After 'roaring 20s' , when the WWI  and Spanish Flu were the major events shaping the decades, the economy was at one of its weakest points. Then women got their right to vote and they also  realized their contribution in the preceding hardships. Instead of going back to the corsets and tunics, women began relying on modern and comfortable fashion depicting their social liberation . This is how fashion for women in 1920s- 1930s was shaped due to the social factors.

CULTURAL FACTOR

Culture definitely plays part in carving fashion. As culture is something  that has been inculcated within and is an indispensable part of us.

Different cultures have different practices, and when we see globally, the world is tremendously diverse and rich in terms of cultures , practices and beliefs.

In India many cultural groups wear nose rings due to its religious and traditional importance. Some Vedic beliefs say that nose rings increase the fertility and reduces the menstrual pain. Indian brides wear nose rings as a symbol of intimacy and Chastity. Hindus wear nose rings on wedding  to honor  Hindu Goddess of marriage ,Parvati. Where as in African Beja and Berber tribes, Nose rings symbolize wealth.

Even tattoos are a part and parcel of Henna practices whose origin can be traced in Malaysia and  Morocco.  Many Middle Eastern African and Asian cultures apply Henna as a ritual to look extravagant on their wedding day.

POLITICAL FACTOR 

Politics is around us. It is inevitable to stop politics from shaping the fashion. Many political incidents and movements happen, either radical or gradual, but they definitely have an impact on Fashion.

One such example can be sited as the interplay between political issues such as Gay rights in 1960s and fashion . The then- prominent hippies and Gay communities, though were two distinct subcultures, they shared a common reaction against the formality and conformity that was embodied within previous generation's streetwear. In the mainstream, , the most conspicuous and long lasting impact of these counter cultural movements was the acceptance of the tee- shirts and blue jeans. Other trends associated primarily with hippie movement were Ironic wearing of camo and military pants , vintage outfits, etc

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Environment provides us our  basic needs . It's the only  source we extract our raw materials from.

But now, Human needs have reached such an extent that environmental  reservoirs of resources are depleting.

Many companies and brands have been taking major steps in order  to conserve the environment as much as possible.  Innovations are being done to use waste products to reduce the exhaustion of the natural resources.  One such example can be making of shoes from pineapple waste. Pine Kazi, a Kenyan brand makes footwear from pineapple leaf and discarded waste rubber.The upper part of the shoe is made up of pineapple waste and is internally lined with cotton where as the  sole of the shoe is made up of sisal plant fibre and waste recycled rubber. It is completely handmade to reduce the carbon footprint. 

Now the fashion is turning more and more  sustainable , and anything that  is not environment friendly is out of Vogue.

PSYCHOLOGICAL  FACTORS 

Definitely Psychology plays a very vital role in  fashion and any related changes. It is a key factor not only used to  predict upcoming trends and actions in the industry but also helps in understanding the consumer Psychology and how it affects the upcoming demands.

Here's an example. Shakaila Forbes-Bell , founder of Fashion Is Psychology  assists brands and companies to identify and create better consumer experiences through psychology of fashion.

There have been researches that study the intersection between the clothing and races.

There are many minute  psychological aspects such as background,status, ambience and environment of the shopping medium that affect fashion in the bigger picture. Fashion doesn't stop at just garment formation and its sale, it's also about creating an experience.

This how Social , Cultural, Political, Environmental and Psychological Factors affect Fashion in different ways.