Influence of western clothing on people across the globe
Western attire is one constant we can now see all over the globe. The influence of western clothing on people around the world is incredible and cannot be missed. There are many different reasons for this influence, one of them being western clothing seen as modern as contrasted to more traditional clothing choices or minimalist lifestyle clothing.
The industrialization and development of leading countries in the world also led to western clothing becoming mainstream. Different societies, for instance Japan, pushed towards following the more successful western societies in not just policy but culture and clothing as well.
Just as English found its way to becoming a language spoken and understood as a standard the world over, western clothing started finding its way into the everyday lives of the people.
The wide popularity of western clothing can be traced back to the colonial era. Centuries ago, the colonizers brought great cultural changes to their colonies, which included western clothing as well. Being the dominant culture, their impact was fast and long lasting.
Since the colonizers considered their own culture and clothing superior, they worked on making it more mainstream in their colonies. This is also probably how military uniforms evolved into formal clothing not just in the west, but in the east as well. The western culture disseminated gradually in the east with time due to colonization.
1) High Status
Western clothing has become something of a status symbol in many societies. This also has roots in the colonial era, when looking like the colonizers was considered a sign of affluence and influence. The colonizers themselves encouraged this trend as well.
Even right now, dressing up in western clothing is a sign of good fortune, quality education and financial status in many societies. In many regions of the world, a western attire can increase a person’s chances of success in the society.
2) Modern and in Fashion
There are many reasons why western clothing is considered more modern than other types of clothing. One of the reasons is that western civilization and culture are relatively new when compared to more traditional fashion and cultures.
For example, Chinese and Indian civilizations date further back than the western civilization, and therefore so do their cultures and attire. Western clothing is therefore adopted for casual and business wear and is seen as more trendy and modern. In a lot of communities, western attire is worn routinely, while more traditional clothes are kept for special occasions.
Western clothing is also very often considered secular and gender neutral. A lot of western clothing puts more focus on being practical like tee shirts and jeans, and this adds to its appeal. Some western clothing items (e.g. jackets) are an evolved form of military uniform, which gradually gained popularity and became common.
Online boutiques that cater to their clientele with western clothing are a glaring example of the ways western clothing is influencing people all across the globe. It should be kept in mind that western clothing is comparatively recent.
A hundred years back, women still did not wear pants and the clothing in fashion at that time is not seen in vogue today. This further adds to the idea that western clothing is relatively newer and more modern. Today’s western attires are very different from the clothes that were in fashion in the last century.
3) Popularity
The globalization set in motion in the past few decades has also helped western clothing gain popularity. With the rising popularity of western music, literature and arts the world over, western clothing has found its own niches too. Media has also played an enormous role in making western clothing more mainstream, and has further extended the idea that it is somehow more modern.
Some women have seen their favorite celebrity wear a Luna maxi dress in lace and wanted to wear it. The more popular western music, movies and TV shows are in a society, the larger the western influence and more common the western clothing as well.
4) Practical
Another reason western clothing is so popular in youngsters all over the world is how practical it is. It is easier to perform everything ranging from household tasks to farm work in jeans than in a saree or in an anarkali dress or while wearing a scarf or a dupatta. A lot of people have taken up casual western clothing because of the comfort it offers and because it is very convenient to work and perform different tasks in. Exercise, running, cycling, or even household chores become easier in western casuals.
Another reason western clothing is so popular in youngsters all over the world is how practical it is. It is easier to perform everything ranging from household tasks to farm work in jeans than in a saree or in an anarkali dress or while wearing a scarf or a dupatta. A lot of people have taken up casual western clothing because of the comfort it offers and because it is very convenient to work and perform different tasks in. Exercise, running, cycling, or even household chores become easier in western casuals.
5) Saves time and money
A lot of emerging fashions incorporate western and eastern or modern and traditional styles of clothing, but the western influence is very clear. Western clothes are also easy to produce in bulk and therefore more affordable in several areas of the world. A pair of jeans and a couple of tee shirts means that your whole outfit for the entire week is sorted.
Western casual wear is available for buying whenever you want, while many traditional outfits have to be stitched on order. This just adds to the fact that western outfits can sometimes be considered easier to get and more practical, not to mention cheap.
Globalization and the rise of multinational corporations has also led to a corporate culture of western business suits. While in some societies, casual Fridays are used to wear traditional clothing while western suits are expected rest of the week, the influence of western clothing is right there.
This also becomes a status symbol as only rich people or white collar workers wear suits. This influence can be traced back to previous colonization as well, when men in power were colonial rulers wearing western clothing, and this led to western attire being considered a symbol of status and power.
Western clothing has evidently influenced clothing for people all around the world. Casual clothing in most countries, even those outside Europe, is heavily western. There are many different reasons for western clothing being as in vogue as it is today.
Regardless of that, the way western clothing has found its way into the everyday lives of people around the world cannot be ignored. Just like the English language, western clothing has spread the world over in popularity.
This article was written by Carla Adams, an enthusiastic dreamer and a workaholic to achieve that. She is a passionate blogger, writer, basketball player, technology, and fashion freak. She has contributed to many reputed blogs and is constantly on the lookout to reach authoritative blogs around. For all the updates follow her on Twitter @CaCarlaadams
