Fashion History

It wasn’t until the 18th century that fashion had begun to evolve into an industry. The fashion designer known as the ‘couturier’ began to give credence to the import role of the clothes designer. This skilled tailor designed for royalty and the wealthy elite of Europe and enjoyed being able to socialize amongst the wealthy. It was during the 18th century in Paris, France that fashion designing, fashion houses and the emergence of the fashion designer began to take hold of Europe then the rest of the world. Costume dress was the way to distinguish royalty and the wealthy from the commoners.

As time progressed fashion evolved into a thriving industry that has helped to propel artists and everyday people into fashion icons. High-end fashions were called ‘haute couture’ designs because of the intricate sewing techniques involved in the making of the garments and haute couture fashions are expensive garments. As wealthy Americans began to travel to Europe, they brought back with them the clothes thereby aiding in spreading the word about the boutiques, designers and latest fashions. Paris quickly became the fashion capital of the world and many designers branched out by opening stores in the United States and designing clothes specially tailored for wealthy Americans. The average citizen wanted the clothes as well thus creating the retail industry, which launched some of the most famous department stores in the world. New York became the clothing manufacturing capital of the United States and remains so today.

The fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that has crossed cultures, ethnicities and other industries. The merging of fashion and entertainment was inevitable with the creation of motion pictures a need for the actors and actresses to appear glamorous and larger than life opened the door for the costume designer.