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| Irina Dvorovenko, of American Ballet Theatre, in Jessica Lang’s “Splendid Isolation III” at the Metropolitan Opera House, opening night, May 19, 2008. Costume designed by Elena Comendador. Photo by Sara Krulwich / The New York Times Photo Archives. - One of 10 stunning images chosen for its visual appeal by top fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg. This New York Times Store image reflects the power of photography as well as Furstenberg’s unique style and statement. |
Competitiveness of the European High-End Industries
The European high-end industries have proven remarkably resilient to the economic and
financial crisis. Over the past decade they showed stable growth, but in 2010 and 2011 they
noted yearly growth of over 10 %. Further growth at the level of between 7% and 9% is
expected in 2012 and in the coming years (Altagamma Monitor Update, May 2012).
to the article |
| The fashion industry is a product of the modern age. Prior to the mid-19th century, most clothing was custom made. It was handmade for individuals, either as home production or on order from dressmakers and tailors. By the beginning of the 20th century—with the rise of new technologies such as the sewing machine, the rise of global capitalism and the development of the factory system of production, and the proliferation of retail outlets such as department stores—clothing had increasingly come to be mass-produced in standard sizes and sold at fixed prices. |
Although the fashion industry developed first in Europe and America, today it is an international and highly globalized industry, with clothing often designed in one country, manufactured in another, and sold world-wide. For example, an American fashion company might source fabric in China and have the clothes manufactured in Vietnam, finished in Italy, and shipped to a warehouse in the United States for distribution to retail outlets internationally. The fashion industry has long been one of the largest employers in the United States, and it remains so in the 21st century. However, employment declined considerably as production increasingly moved overseas, especially to China. Because data on the fashion industry typically are reported for national economies and expressed in terms of the industry’s many separate sectors, aggregate figures for world production of textiles and clothing are difficult to obtain. However, by any measure, the industry accounts for a significant share of world economic output.
The fashion industry consists of four levels:
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the production of raw materials, principally fibres and textiles but also leather and fur;
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the production of fashion goods by designers, manufacturers, contractors, and others;
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retail sales;
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and various forms of advertising and promotion.
These levels consist of many separate but interdependent sectors, all of which are devoted to the goal of satisfying consumer demand for apparel under conditions that enable participants in the industry to operate at a profit. |
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