The Misconception and Misogyny About the Fashion Industry

The Fashion Industry is without a doubt one of the most glamorous and underrated of industries, but it calls for a much higher level of respect. When asked about my plans for the future, people often scoff at my response to study fashion. Somehow one of the world's largest and most competitive multi-billion dollar industries has been labeled a worthless matter of study. Thinking about the public perception of this industry is baffling to me because I firmly believe that this industry should not be approached lightly nor underestimated. Besides engaging retailers, multinational corporations, publishers, and celebrities, the industry requires knowledge in areas such as law, technology, and finance. All over the world fashion contributes immensely to the global economy and provides a resource for creators and inventive minds.

At its core, fashion is so much more than the dresses and shoes you see in stores. The immeasurable creativity required to compete in the vast field requires the highest level of illustrious and stimulated minds. The talent and unique style that designers such as Coco Chanel, Vera Wang, Karl Lagerfeld, or Donatella Versace possess leaves a legacy that inspires thousands of people today to enter the fashion industry. Because the industry is filled with cut-throat competition, a person looking to pursue the career must be extremely driven and passionate about the field. They must be able to make sacrifices and accept the harsh criticism given to them because the fashion industry demands nothing but the most innovative, motivated, and dedicated people.

Fashion is often looked down upon because of its existence as a female-focused field. It's no surprise that our inherently sexist society would strive to diminish the importance of a field in which many women and femme presenting men thrive and succeed. Long-standing patriarchal standards have deemed fashion to be a frivolous endeavor for women to engage in. We can see and hear this phenomenon in the way that men speak about fashion interests, making a desire to buy new clothing or read about it in a magazine seems mindless and lacking in actual value. It has always been considered anti-male to be interested in style and self-expression through clothing. This has been recently brought to light on a more public scale with the public outcry after Harry Styles’ Vogue shoot where he was pictured wearing a dress. Far too many men see fashion as a threat to their masculinity, and this is likely a large part of why fashion is often looked down upon. They see it as a feminine interest that would demean their manhood and is not worthy of their time, but I believe that the world of fashion belongs to everyone, not just women. Both men and women deserve the respect they have earned by partaking in the creative and demanding world of fashion.

Our society has always looked down on fields or areas that were pioneered by women, and fashion is no exception. Because of its primarily feminine composition, it is often seen as a field that requires no talent or effort, but this is so far from the truth. We often imagine fields like business or law being the most cutthroat, but they pale in comparison to the competitiveness of this industry. It is incredibly complex, demanding, and versatile, drawing some of the most brilliant minds in the world. Fashion underpins our entire way of life. They set trends, author entire cultural movements, and contribute to the overall beauty and aesthetic of humanity. This field is not to be disregarded, and I think every person who doubts its power, should step back and reimagine the way they view something that so deeply impacts our lives.

xoxo,

Amelia's Closet