Fashion
Fashion is a style that is accepted and used by the majority of a group at any one time for a substantial period. They tend to grow slowly, remain popular for a while, then decline slowly. There are certain seasons for fashion like the weather. Fashion is an important part of everyday life and has to do with everyone since everyone wears clothes.
High fashion
[edit | edit source]It refers to those styles or designs accepted by a limited group of fashion leaders-elite class-who are first to accept fashion change. These articles are sold in low quantity but at outrageous prices to socialites, entertainers and fashion innovators.
High fashion refers to fashion produced by established fashion houses. High fashion has its foundation in the haute couture traditions of Europe in general, Paris, France in particular.
High fashion maintains time honoured traditions of handwork; the quality of textiles and trims used; creating unique textiles for the fashion house; and being at the forefront of trendsetting. The aforementioned factors contribute to the high cost of garments produced seasonally. Primarily as a result of the cost of garments, high fashion houses have a limited pool of customers which they serve. This pool of customers generally includes members of high society, celebrities and high net worth individuals.
In order to be more accessible to a wider consumer base, high fashion brands often have diffusion lines. Diffusion lines are often less expensive than the high fashion lines, due to the use of less expensive textiles or less labour intensive techniques.
Mass fashion/volume fashion
[edit | edit source]Mass produced fashion, fast fashion or retail fashion are those apparel items which conform to fashion trends introduced by the high fashion industry.
Mass produced fashion, although emulating colour and/or silhouette of high fashion, is usually produced using less expensive fabric and less labour intensive techniques in order to be accessible to the retail or mass consumer market. Furthermore, depending on the regional consumer base, local designers might adjust the style in order to satisfy mores of modesty, practicality or particular climate conditions of the local consumer base. These adjustments might be related to fabrication (materials and trims) or style (necklines, hemlines, fit).