We all talk and hear about the fashion industry, especially those of us who work in this industry, but what exactly is the fashion industry?

The fashion industry is a mutli-billion-dollar global enterprise devoted to making and selling clothes. Now most people consider all clothing inside the fashion industry, but the apparel industry is completely different than the fashion industry due to it not being “high fashion”. But what is considered fashion if there is also an apparel clothing industry?

Fashion is defined as the styles of clothing and accessories worn at any given time by any groups of people. This means that even everyday wear and apparel are also considered fashion, just not part of the specific fashion industry fashion.

There are many things that contribute to the fashion industry, it’s not just clothes and fashion shows (though that is the fun part). The fashion industry encompasses the design, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, retailing, advertising, and promotion of all apparel and designer fashion. Because of all of this, the industry accounts for a significant share of the world economic output.

There are five levels to the fashion industry:

1.) Production of Raw Materials (Design and Textiles)

2.) Fashion Design and Manufacturing

3.) Fashion Retailing, Marketing, and Merchandise

4.) Fashion Shows

5.) Media and Marketing

 

The fashion industry forms a part of a larger social and cultural phenomenon called the “fashion system”. The fashion system is a concept that embraces the business of fashion and the art and craft of fashion. Just proving that the fashion industry thrives by being diverse and flexible to gratify any consumer desire.