Fashion is a multibillion-dollar industry that makes the clothing we wear. Millions of people work in the designing, sewing, gluing, dyeing and transporting of this clothing to stores. Fashion is also a mode of identification and a way to demonstrate loyalty or solidarity with a particular group. Judges wear robes, soldiers wear uniforms, and brides often wear long white dresses. Fashion is also a form of art, and some designers create clothing that is not only functional but beautiful as well.
Fashion changes over time. One change might be the length of a dress or the color of a coat, while another might be the style of shoes or the size of pants. Some changes may be dramatic, like a drastic tightening or shortening of the sleeve on a shirt. Other changes are more gradual, like a change from a long cloak to a small cape or a shift from heavy wool to cotton.
In addition to making clothing, the fashion industry also makes accessories like hats and bags. Some observers make a distinction between the “high fashion” shown on runways and the mass-produced clothing sold in stores, but others see no clear division.
Some people argue that the fast-paced changes in fashion are indicative of the problems with modern society, such as waste and overconsumption. However, others think that the rapid changes in fashion are a way for people to explore new styles and experiment with their appearance.