Fashion

Art, Clothing, and Fashion; when talking about fashion it is hard not to discuss
clothing; and when speaking about clothes, it is hard to omit the influence of
art. Thus, these three words go hand in hand to give meaning to each other. Art,
clothing, and fashion influence each other and provide basis for us to
understand each one. Anyone who has ever visited an art show or art museum
can easily see that art comes in various forms. Art ranges from an oil painting
hanging on the wall to a statue made out of diamonds. In the same way, fashion
may be presented through different clothing each falling in different categories
like; evening, gala, night, beach wear, etc.

Well fashion does not coordinate only towards clothing. We also have hair
styles, make up, music and now a days even shoes. Each of these depends on
the type of clothing chosen. Nevertheless in each category art is present and this
criterion has been a debate argued for decades.

Fashion is a creative process that results in a finished garment. Fashion has

always borrowed from other art forms whether they are textile patterns of
ancient cultures or sport. Taking these insights, designers recreate a new
language of art in the form of an item of clothing. They are artists working
within the medium of cloth.

Fashion, perhaps, originate in man’s age-old wish to look distinct and attractive.
Naturally, they are more popular with women. It is said that the chameleon
does not change its colour as quickly as a woman wears out a new fashion. But
men, too, are not innocent in this matter. It is they who desire to see that
women are in the fashion. Indirectly, therefore, men are responsible for
women’s fashion. This means that psychology of fashion is two-fold. People
want to be individualistic and to be acceptable to the opposite sex.
Let us look at the popularity of fashion from another point of view. They are
popular with the youth, because in youth people the urge to show themselves
off is the strongest. Children are too small to be conscious of the thrill that
fashion creates, while the aged are too old to pay any serious thought to it. The
young, on the other hand, find life enjoyable and want to enjoy it more by
adding to its colourfulness. They adopt all sorts of devices to look different.

Fashions are popular in cities rather than villages. The reason is that most
fashions are a luxury. The simple, poor and backward villagers cannot afford to
indulge in such luxuries. On the other hand, the rich, clever and advanced city-
people are tempted to luxuriate in fashions which have a glamour of their own.

Fashions can pertain to any aspect of human behavior, e.g., to walk limpingly
after Byron, to smoke a particular brand of cigarettes or to read a particular
type of novels. But the most popular fashions are those that relate to dress. ‘An
apparel’ oft proclaims the man’, said Shakespeare and the world has taken
Shakespeare too seriously. Thus we observe that men’s pants change in size and
shape every six months and their shirts every four months; that women’s
petticoats change in design every two months and their shirts shrink or grow
every fortnight.

It is to be noted that it is the West which is the home of fashions. We, in the
East, only copy the West in this respect. This attitude shows that we are still the
mental slaves of our western overlords.

To come to the moral point, fashions reflect the character of a nation. Western
fashions are a clear index of the western mode of thinking and feeling. The
West, seen through its fashions, represents a culture devoid of any moral
values. Similarly fashions prevailing in various countries, amongst various races
or tribes give us a clear idea of their respective ways of living.

We, the Muslims of Pakistan, should pay head to two things. Firstly, not to
follow any fashion which violates the principles of Islam. Secondly, not to think
too much of fashion as we have better things to do. Our efforts should be to
make Pakistan not a fashion house but a great and strong country.
With the Name of Allah (Subhanahu) Who is the
Master of all the universe …

Assignment
Presented To:
Ms. Maria Majid

Presented By:
Farhat Yaseen
MS(Replica-B)
Roll # 60
Institute of Communication Studies
University of the Punjab (Lahore)