Today the London College Of Fashion held a twitter discussion based on the title of  the new book "Why fashion matters" by Frances Corner, head of the college.

As I read through and took part in the discussion, I realised that fashion does matter and has always mattered ever since clothes themselves were created. With it's importance spanning through the ages. It also goes further than just being important within it's own industry and to those people who are part of it. It matters in areas of society that it may, at first thought, not seem relevant in at all.

I wanted to bring together some of the ideas that were put forward in the discussion as to why fashion goes beyond just being clothes we wear, and explore the different uses and roles it holds within society.






     Self Expression and Individuality
   

This idea is probably the first idea that comes to mind for most people, the ability that fashion gives to people - the ability to create a visual representation of themselves through what the wear. It allows people to stand out or blend in and clothes and style can become very personal to an individual. They can give comfort or support, cover, create illusions or make a statement. Even if one does not believe that they care about "fashion" or "trends"; the colours, materials, textures, fit and style of the clothes they wear is still creating a certain message of their self identification and how they, though it may be  sub-conscious, want to present themselves to others.

This also ties in with the idea of Fashion for charity, over the last century the industry has been used to raise funds for various causes, from 'Fashion Targets Breast Cancer', Comic to Sport relief  through the annual designing of t-shirts by public figure, and to the for-profit shoe brand 'Toms' and many more means have been used to help those in need. When people donate through purchasing and then wear their item, they are clearly making a point of who they are and what they stand for and who or what they support.


      Society's Mirror

       
Fashion in society can often reflect where society is situated economically and politically, it may not be stated as clearly as it is in The Financial Times, but how the world has produced and purchased fashion over time and has reflected social class, economic situations and the varying wealth's and capabilities of countries. The reflection that is shone back on the world isn't always pretty, and can often reveal the darker sides of the industry revealing the lengths that some producers will go to in order to create a product for their customers.


However there is also a positive side of this reflection. Fashion represents and reflects the diversity, of the UK and London especially, as well as reflecting the many cultures, religions and beliefs in this world. Fashion often acts a symbol or representation for different parts of the world. And there may be nothing else in the world that represents the world itself in the way that fashion can, and does.


     Something we all have in common  

The last of my chosen ideas, and my favourite point made in the whole entire discussion. Whether unified or divided, fashion is still something that is shared in common. It connects and communicates like nothing else (apart from Mathematics, as stated above, but I don't know how creative one can be with numbers). In a world that can be divided by conflict and opposing views, fashion is definitely not a peace maker, but it still sustains the connection across the divide.


So there is it, just a few of many reasons as to why fashion matters. It holds power and influence not only as an industry but also in the form of expression and personal identification as well as holding the ability to define society and communication without words.