Essay Feb 2

Some people feel that fashion is like art and a significant part of society, while others feel that fashion is a waste of time and money.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

The fashion industry today is a vital component of society and people's lives. It is true that many individuals care little for clothes and scorn the importance that others attach to them; however, this does not mean that the significance that people give to fashion is a waste of time and money.

When one considers that areas of the world suffer from poverty, disease and inadequate access to food and potable water, the emphasis attached to fashion by the developed world can seem out of proportion. Many people would contend that the resources put into developing and creating fashion would be more ethically spent on creating some level of equality in terms of the right to live a healthy and happy life. This point is hard to argue with. However, it is also true that people in the developed world cannot be expected to send all their spending money to people in need and that wanting to look good is an unalterable human trait.

The fashion industry contributes to society much like most other industries. It provides jobs and income to millions of people around the world, and the money that changes hands generates taxes that contribute to the fabric of society. There is more to fashion than trying to look better than others and excessive luxury. The high level of fashion is indeed a kind of art form and, like other art forms, there will always be people who appreciate it, want to create it and want to spend money on it. It is part of the development of civilisation, and this is not likely to change.

After this analysation, I assume that fashion has a respectful status in modern-day society as an art form. Fashion is an expression of our creative imagination whether it be simple or abstract. Moreover, it is a form of creative expression carried out by a designer and put on our blank canvassed bodies. Further, fashion is beneficial in providing jobs to a huge set of people. For instance, fashionable giants named Tommy Hilfiger, Ferrari Garments and Nike have their manufacturing plants in developing or underdeveloped nations like Vietnam and Bangladesh owing to which a number of people are making their ends meet.   

To conclude, I, therefore, feel that, although the gap between the rich and the poor sometimes makes it seem that fashion is a waste of time and money and unethical use of resources, fashion is an important part of today’s society and economic output. It leads me to believe that trying to strike a balance between selfish greed and a more altruistic way of living should be an individual choice.