Fashion is all about making yourself stand apart from the crowd through your clothing and accessories. Once a person makes a new and unique fashion statement, it becomes a trend. The fashion industry has grown insanely due to these trends.
Fashion and culture are linked together. Culture is an essential part of fashion. The main purpose of fashion is to reflect who we are and where we come from. Fashion has two cultural categories: Eastern and Western Cultures.
Eastern VS. Western Culture
Eastern Culture mainly corresponds to the religion, customs, norms, and beliefs of local people. Their fashion depends on their religious beliefs. Eastern fashion originates from Asia and Eastern parts of Europe.
Western Culture doesn’t have a fixed dress code. Their fashion is not defined by culture or religion. Their society is more of a secular civilization which is way more liberal. It evolves from time to time. Their fashion includes jeans, t-shirts, shorts, skirts, pants, etc. Their fashion is based on what seems to be comfortable and trendy.
Eastern fashion doesn’t evolve. It usually remains the same. But the western fashion keeps on adding new trends to the industry.
But over the past few years, both cultures have seemed to be blended together.
Adoption of Western Culture
The Eastern societies are seemed to adopt Western fashion a lot more. As the world has become a global village, people know what is going on on the opposite side of the globe. Every day in fashion magazines and social media platforms, we encounter Western celebrities and their new trends. People are influenced by the liberation and desire to dress up according to their comfort and not the religious norms.
As the world has advanced, the new generation wants the acceptance of new cultures and trends. The fashions of China and India are outdated. You cannot wear a saree and work in an office comfortably. Jeans are more preferred and known to be more comfortable.
The Eastern culture has evolved too but the changes are not revolutionary. Modernization starts in the Western world.
Another reason for Western culture adoption in Eastern countries is the British rule over the subcontinent. The rule ended but the foreigners had greatly influenced the local people. The obsession with their fashion and the English language can still be seen in the Indian people. The English language is seen as a status symbol and the one who doesn’t know it is called illiterate.
Conclusion
Our fashion statements define our identities. Its purpose is to reflect our culture, nationality, and class. By adopting a foreign culture, the Eastern people have dissolved their personalities and essence. Being embarrassed of your own culture is slavery.
As a summary, the reasons behind these blended cultures are:
· European Colonization of the Eastern world
· Western world became the power and therefore their dress code is now is used as a universal standard.
