A Study of the Fashion Industry as a Model of Widespread Systemic Change

Abstract

This chapter presents a study of the US fashion industry and its evolution over the past century as a reflection of the widespread systemic changes that have occurred across the nation's design industries. It examines these changes through historical and contemporary contexts and concludes with speculations about the future of the US fashion industry. These include the nation's transformation from being a local manufacturing trade into a globalized design-driven fashion industry during the 20th century; the spike in globally outsourced garment manufacturing and importation that destabilized national apparel manufacturing; the “fast fashion” sector and attendant levels of garment production and consumption; and the fashion industry's unrelenting environmental damage that necessitates sustainability. Focus is given to initiatives that aim to pivot the US fashion industry's current practices from unsustainable to a more viable approach that positively contributes to society. These practices include the reshoring/nearshoring of apparel manufacturing, bio-fabricated materials, automated machinery, and on-demand apparel. It is critical for educators across design disciplines to understand the past and future trajectories of this industry. In doing so, they will gain a deeper understanding of the implications for broader design disciplines and resultantly facilitate informed and strategic planning for the future design industries and design education.