Why Fashions Change

Vocabulary flashcards covering the economic, social, technological, political, and youth-oriented factors that drive changes in fashion.

Economic factors (fashion change)

Financial conditions—such as recessions, depressions, affluence, and credit facilities—that stimulate or limit changes in fashion.

Affluence (fashion change)

An economic condition where fashion flourishes due to greater wealth, whereas less affluent communities experience little to no fashion change.

Credit facilities

Financial mechanisms that stimulate and drive fashion change by enabling consumer purchases.

Geographical living patterns

A social factor influencing fashion change, where urban populations purchase clothing more often than rural populations.

Cross-cultural contact

The interaction between different cultures and subcultural groups that introduces new fashions to one another.

Education levels (fashion impact)

A social factor wherein higher levels of education lead to better-informed consumers who are more fashion forward.

Technological factors (fashion change)

Innovations including synthetic fibres, new finishing processes, improved sewing and knitting machines, mechanization, and computerization that accelerate fashion changes.

Mass media and marketing (fashion change)

Channels that enable the rapid dissemination of fashion changes and drive consumer acceptance of new trends.

Political and legal factors (fashion change)

Government legislation and international trade relations that either promote or restrict changes in fashion.

Trade relations

Commercial interactions between nations that, when positive, facilitate fast fashion changes.

Clothing legislation in the Middle East

A legal and political factor exemplified by strict legal codes regulating attire and clothing.

Brand names (young adult fashion)

Labels used to establish financial status among young adults, prompting those who cannot afford them to buy imitations.

Young adult fashion trends

Contemporary style patterns driven by media and advertising, characterized by seeking group acceptance, wearing daring clothing that exposes more body, and preferring cheaper, trendy clothes over classic pieces.