Why fashion is important.

He looks a bit pensive! Probably thinking about the importance of fashion.
Image from Distill Magazine (remember that?)

Hello,

I'm interested in Fashion. Such a broad statement, actually, and one which is often met with a scoff or a rather condescending "oh really" and a look which says "isn't that nice for you, precious".

I want to work in industry, sure, but when you say you want to work in fashion it's met with the assumption you want to be a designer. I am currently studying Fashion Retail Branding and Visual Merchandising. A little known area to the outside world but a crucial part of the retail operation.

I read the papers, I watch the news and watch educational programmes, I read books and have an interest in music, the arts and culture. I'm a massive foodie. I like to keep up to date with current affairs be it political, environmental or international. And so does Fashion as it is influenced by all of these too.

"You can't have brains and be "into" fashion"
"If you have a brain why would choose a career in fashion"

 The industry is considered to be filled with idle bimbos. And it still has this stigma attached. People can't help but think its a vacuous interest. Maybe it's just my perspective and from what I've experienced - but unless you're in it - generally - people don't 'get' it.

Hardly, it's the second biggest employer in the world. Yes, the world. From design to retail there are millions of people employed globally to ensure this industry keeps ticking over. Imagine a world without fashion. Some may rejoice but in actual fact our whole economy would collapse.

Whilst the rest of the world has seen dwindling business over the past few years - fashion houses have been getting bigger, richer, stronger. How many other industries are recording quite the same sales percentages and figures as Mulberry and Burberry? At this precise point in time couture - one of the most exclusive and expensive forms of fashion - is actually turning a profit. Ludicrous to think that garments which retail for tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds were only just breaking even and have only just become a profitable part of a fashion house.

Aside from the top end, the industry is operated by highly skilled, creative and imaginative individuals and is driven by analytics and forecasting and intricate planning - we may see the designers and the clothes - but there is an awful lot more about the industry than just 'it' bags and new season must haves. It's not for the faint hearted either, its tough industry to gain respect in, you really can't be a floozy and whilst with every industry there is the element of who you know not what, fashion, from my perspective at least it's not something you can blag.

I'm not an industry insider or fashion authority and I don't want to attempt to be. But fashion is plural, accessible, inclusive. And I want to promote this message, the importance of fashion. You don't need to be a fashion designer or model or editor in chief of a top magazine to be a part of a beautiful and inspiring community. And you certainly shouldn't be afraid to explore it and experiment.

If fashion teaches us anything it's to express ourselves and accept one another - different is good; different is inspiring. A contradiction perhaps considering fashion is trend based. But fashion isn't about creating clones. Instead it should be an interpretation - an expression of your creativity and your imagination and an extension of your personality. The beauty of the industry today is social media makes it even more inclusive than ever before. You can steam previously exclusive high fashion shows - LIVE. Street Style is the eternal trend - reimagining and providing more longevity to out there items. Rejoice!

Why is fashion important? It's what inspires people like me to see the beauty in everyday and want to share it with the world. At the end of the day it's just clothes innit?

Andrea x