How Does Fashion Represent Culture and Heritage?

The clothes we wear can tell stories of our culture and heritage, things that are deeply rooted in our lives and cannot be easily changed. Tradition is also transmitted in the way garments are created and constructed. Clothing habits vary from place to place, as each culture has its own unique style of clothing. Clothing can also reflect the beliefs, customs, values, morals, economics, art, and technology of individuals and groups of people.

It is a way to express ourselves through the clothes and accessories we choose to wear. Culture is at the heart of the fashion industry and elements such as patterns, fabrics and garments are used to represent culture in different ways. Clothing, such as clothing, makeup, tattoos, and shoes, are artifacts made by people that reflect multiple aspects of a culture. For example, the Gore-Tex fabric used in high-performance sportswear was invented through NASA's space program. Designers and manufacturers produce clothing and accessories that are in line with the culture of a particular region.

It then becomes the fashion of that region. People adopt a trend in clothing only if it is in accordance with the culture of that area. Religious groups often adopt a certain style of clothing that reflects their beliefs. People from many cultures have held beliefs about magic and luck; their clothing reflects these beliefs. In this short film, Bethany Yellowtail, an indigenous designer, talks about her experiences as a fashion designer and cultural appropriation.

Jattin Kochhar, a well-known fashion designer from India, comments: Fashion designers around the world promote the color of seasonal fruits and vegetables in their collections. However, today our society values the things that are in the latest fashion trends; commonly influenced by popular culture as a reflection of social factors and cultural forces. Although fashion is a broader concept, it has been reduced to fabrics, garments and accessories in modern times. In fact, Bhutanese fashion designers don't even present any design that conflicts with the age-old culture that is followed in their country. Anything that the prevailing culture accepts and is sufficient to make an impact becomes fashionable in that region.