Analysis of The Development of Fashion in Australia

When you think of Australian fashion one would assume it mainly consists of swim wear since water activities are so big in this culture, while researching this country it was completely different from what I was expecting. Until, mid 1990s Australia’s fashion wasn’t of much thought due to limited funding in this specific area. The people of this country prided themselves on the fact that they didn’t care for the fine details of their appearance, which is related a lot to masculinity in this culture. Before Australia became urbanized fashion was a bore, with very neutral minimalist looking clothing. A lot of indigenous people went unclothed, wearing only kangaroo, and opossum skin while marking their bodies with different earth pigments as a form of accessorizing, to imitate Western styles.

The definition of fashion in this country is now quite different with the spread of various trends throughout the world. Movies and music are big contributors to the casual clothing that swarms the Australian streets. Clothing these days are more provocative and less conservative, similar to Western styles, but flowy skirts, shirts, and dresses will always be in style for women. As for men’s fashion, it is out spacing the women’s wear industry and could be the future for Australia. Designers are thinking above and beyond, going out of the norms and using recycled materials to cultivate vintage looking piece of clothing. With it being warm for many of the seasons the fabrics are being made more ethereal and lighter.

Even while using recycled materials for clothing is deemed as cool and different, Australia isn’t known for that, nor any specific fashion item or trend at all. With this country fashion basically being a break off of Western styles and culture, as well as getting a lot of their influence from Britain, they are mainly known for geography not fashion; although a lot of great designers and brands did come out of Australia. In all honesty, men and women’s fashion are very similar, using the same fabric, styles, and patterns. Only changing to form too what is gender specific/ nonspecific articles, for the simple reason that most styles and prints are gender neutral anyway. No clothing in the world we live in today has a specified gender tied to it, especially in the United States, so why would Australia be any different.

Among the positive trade balance and being the 23rd largest country with an export economy in the world, Australia is ranked the 2nd wealthiest nation, which plays a part in their fashion fabrics and how/ who provides what is readily available for them to use. In the cutthroat world of fashion, with Australian designers not being the top of the food chain they are starting to pave a way for themselves in this fashion obsessed world. Designers such as Collette Dinnigan, Zimmerman, Akira, and so many more who are dominating the runways all over the world. The Australian lifestyle is so intriguing and sought after with its beautiful summers, and springs, comes along many collections that become popular overseas, making swim/surf wear their strongest apparel export.

Anyhow, with this country major religion being Christianity you would think it plays a major role in how men and women dress. This being true in the early 1990s, but just like in America today it seems as if everyone dresses how they want and goes off what is trendy, with religion not being a big factor even for those who claim to be super religious. Religious dressing in Australia is still present, but only impacts those who attend religion affiliated schools and while attending a worship ceremony; even though less than a quarter of people who identify with a religion go to church. In the 21st century people don’t see religion as a way of life anymore, but as an optional fellowship, thus being the reason, it does not have an effect on the fashion in this culture.

Incidentally, Australia has adopted a lot of various aspects of its culture from the U.S., but some things are still a little different. Particularly when it comes to casual clothing they can take it to the extremes. In smaller towns you may see a doctor wearing swim trunks in the hospital or students coming to class barefoot, that being unlike rural areas in the United States where doctors are still supposed to look professional in, and out the hospital, and shoes are a requirement to step foot in any building. One thing both countries have in common is the love for athleisure wear, whether you’re working out or not you will see it almost everywhere you go. With the percent of obesity being subsequently low compared to the U.S. it makes perfect sense that athletic clothing is the main style.

On the topic of cultural fashion, I would like to conclude this essay with what this country does and does not bring to the table when it comes to importing and exporting goods. Australia is not one of the top importers for apparel and textiles in the world but, is the largest country for apparel imports in the Southern Hemisphere. With T & A import constantly fluctuating and the recent decline in the manufacturing industry, Australia has had a tremendous demand increase for apparel and textile imported goods over the last couple of years; such as man-made fabrics, jerseys, sweat shirts, cardigans, coats, and cotton shirts. In 2017 69% of all imports in Australia were knitted and woven apparel, with the exports of textile and apparel accounting for 92% of the market. Clothing has become the biggest category in exported goods from India to Australia, making Australia now one of the main apparel importers, creating a historic reliance on China in this particular field.