From Haute Couture to Fast Fashion: The Fashion Industry and its Implications in the Realm of Law

Abstract

Although it is frequently treated casually, the fashion industry is in fact an all-pervasive and ubiquitous industry. The clothing industry is a vast global enterprise that deals with designing, manufacturing, distributing, marketing, retailing, advertising, and promoting all types of apparel for men, women, and children. This includes everything from high-end designer fashion to everyday clothing like sweatpants. The industry is worth billions of dollars and encompasses everything from the most luxurious haute couture to casual wear. The industry has thrived on its own through all the glitz and glamour. However, the blatant yet complex issues and nuances that comprise the industry need to be addressed, and in order for them to be addressed, consumers need to take cognizance of not just the present issues, but the industry in its entirety as well. This research paper delves into the transformation of the fashion industry from the traditional form of haute couture to the emergence of fast fashion. The paper starts by making the reader conscious of the industry and its alarming effects on various aspects of our society. The paper then discusses the rise of fast fashion, characterized by rapid production, mass consumption, and affordability. These diverging paradigms have not only transformed consumer behavior but have also posed legal challenges to frameworks governing intellectual property, labor rights, and environmental sustainability.