The fashion industry has a longstanding history and has changed, evolved and reinvented itself countless times over past eras and centuries.
Check out 20 interesting fashion facts you should know as compiled by Glamtush.
- The Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) is the premier fashion industry association in Nigeria, whose purpose is to promote fashion design in Nigeria’s cultural, social and traditional life. It was founded January 10, 1989
- Fashion designers draw inspiration from various sources such as art, history, nature, travel, and popular culture. They often combine different elements to create unique and innovative designs.
- Gen Z fashion is about creating your own style and rebelling against fashion norms. The younger generation values self-expression. Instead of following fashion industry trends, they strive to set them.
- French fashion house Hermes is the oldest luxury brand in the world still in operation today. It was founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermes. The designer originally produced saddles and other riding gear.
- Christian Dior was a strong believer in psychics and would visit one to determine which day would be best to show his latest collection.
- Charles Frederick Worth was an English fashion designer who founded the House of Worth, one of the foremost fashion houses of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He is considered by many fashion historians to be the father of haute couture. Worth is also credited with revolutionising the business of fashion.
- Toluwaloju Olowofoyeku is the creative director of the fashion brand. Toju Foyeh, which she coined from her names. She officially launched her flagship store in October 2012.
- Before Queen Victoria’s white wedding, white was a colour traditionally associated with mourning
- The bra strap clasp was invented by Mark Twain.
- Before she became a fashion designer, Vera Wang dreamed of becoming an Olympic figure skater.
- The simple, yet elegant and highly versatile little black dress is attributed to Coco Chanel.
- Neckties were first used in Croatia, hence the name “cravat” derived from the à la croate.
- Women’s fashion changed with the invention of cars, where skirts in the 1900s were made shorter to allow women to step into automobiles with more ease.
- The word ‘jeans’ comes from the cotton pants worn by the “Genes”, the local term for Genoan sailors.
- Buttons were not attached to jacket sleeves for decorative purposes at one point in history. Napoleon Bonaparte had buttons sewn on jackets to prevent soldiers from wiping their noses on their sleeves.
- The simple, yet elegant and highly versatile Little Black Dress (LBD) is attributed to Coco Chanel.
- The most common clothing materials are linen, cotton, polyester, and rayon.
- Jewelry was first worn by men. Popular amongst kings and royals, they were a symbol of status and victory in battle.
- The skirt is the second oldest item of women’s clothing in history, outdated only by the loincloth.
- Major international fashion weeks always take place in the following order: New York, London, Milan, and finally, Paris.