Fashion Industry Answers a Need

Fashion industry answers a need and does not make consumers buy unnecessary items. Fashion's primary purpose is to distinguish members of different cultural groups. In this way, fashion has existed as part of society since prehistoric times. While modern fashion appears to take cultural differentiation to an extreme, an examination of previous trends shows that some fashion choices have always been extreme. Therefore, the fashion industry answers an existing need.

While fashion may have many purposes, its primary purpose is to distinguish members of different cultural groups. Whether discussing different tribes in Africa or different cliques in a modern American high school, sociologists can use fashion to determine group membership. More importantly, people inside the various groups can determine group membership by observing an individual's choice of fashion.

In addition, this use of fashion predates written history. Drawings and other artistic renderings make it clear that people have long used clothing and other adornments to help establish group identity. From the toga to the miniskirt, fashion has helped people establish their individual roles in larger groups.

In addition, while some modern forms of fashion may seem so extreme that they cannot be fulfilling an inner need; this view does not take into consideration worldwide historical fashion trends. Tattooing, body piercing, and dramatic makeup are only three ways that people have used fashion to dramatically alter personal appearance. No matter how outrageous and commercial modern fashion trends may appear, they pale in comparison to trends like neck stretching or foot binding.