Functions of Clothing

Unit 1

What is fashion?

1950s

1990s

What is fashion?

• An accepted style that keeps changing, which is influenced by the majority.

Functions of Clothing

1. Physical Protection

2. Modesty

3. Adornment

4. Status

5. Identification

Factors Influencing Dress

1. ENVIRONMENT

1. Protection

– Survival

– Weather

– War

– Occupational hazards

» Construction» Astronauts

» Cold -40oC

» armor, » gas masks

» latex gloves

Factors Influencing Dress

Environment cont’d

2. Technological Advancements

– Synthetic materials are made by forcing fiber forming materials through holes into the air forming a thread

» Polyester, Nylon, Acrylic, Polyolefin

Factors Influencing Dress

Environment cont’d

3. Natural Resources– Cotton – plentiful in the Southern USA– Wool -- many kinds of sheep’s wool– Linen -- made from the flax plant– Silk -- spun from the cocoon of the silk worm

• Some religions don’t wish to show face or legs

• Death in the family – black clothing

2. Modesty

1. Economic Advancement

• less developed countries retain native and traditional clothing longer versus North American’s rapid change in styles

ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING FASHION

• 2. Consumer Income

– more income more choice, variety– less income less choice, uniforms

• 3. Purchasing Power– Purchasing power influences price & choice– The larger the order, the lower the price

Purchasing power by country per capita

4.Demographics (age)– Demand changes as requirements change

• As people’s sizes change, so does the need • As you get older, “comfort” vs “brand name” becomes

more appealing

http://pichad.webs.com/view.php?q=Age%20Progression&url=http://www.genpolicy.com/images/age_progression.jpg

Sociological FactorsWhat would you wear for…

1. JOB

1. Police Officer??

2. Army Personnel??

3. MacDonald’s hamburger flipper??

4. Eden Student??

5. …

6. …

Create your own list of 20 different jobs or careers which require special clothing.

Job

• Stock broker – dress clothes• Dental Hygienist – scrubs• Doctor – lab coat• Priest – clerical …• Chief – apron & hat• Farmers – overalls, hat, dirty cloths• Clown – red nose, colourful cloths, red shoes• Office employee – business casual • Athlete – sports uniform

Sociological Factors cont’d

2. LEISURE TIME

1. casual clothes1. …… name five items you consider casual clothing

1. leisure wear 1. ….. name five items you consider leisure wear

Casual Clothing

Leisure Clothing

3. BOREDOM

1. ….. name five items you would wear if feeling bored

Sociological Factors cont’d

4. CURIOSITY

1. Desire to experiment

1. ….. name five items you would wear if wanting to be different than everyone else

Sociological Factors cont’d

5. REBELLION

1. Go against convention

1. ….. name five items you wear if you were wanting to go against what your parents felt was appropriate

Sociological Factors cont’d

6. SELF ASSERTION

1. Desire to be an individual

2. Recognition (dress up for special date)

3. …..

4. ….. Name five items you would wear if you wanted to stand out in a crowd and you were asserting your personality

Sociological Factors cont’d

7. SUPERSTITION

1. Wedding (something old, something new something borrowed,

something blue

1. …… Name another occasion in which you may wear something because it may bring good luck

Sociological Factors cont’d

8. VANITY

1. 1920s - corsets

2. Today - false eyelashes, cosmetic surgery: botox, breast implants

3. …. Name five items you may wear if you want to show off your body.

Sociological Factors cont’d

9. ADORNMENT AND SEXUAL ATTRACTION

1. Dress to make opposite sex notice you

2. …. Name five items you may wear if you want the opposite sex to notice you.

Sociological Factors cont’d

Assignment

• Using a large piece of paper, subdivide each side into four parts

• Find one picture for each of the eight sociological factors using the fashion magazines

• For each block, include:– Sociological factor you illustrating?– One sentence describing how the picture illustrates this

• Put your name on the top right hand corner and hand in