Denim Jeans
By Nicole Schreier ( Class of 2020 )
as a Manifestation of Individual Identity in a Globalised World
Nicole is originally from São Paulo , Brazil and has always been passionate about creating art and using her creativity to undertake challenges . Her IB courses in Visual Arts and Psychology inspired her to take an interdisciplinary approach to the Extended Essay , one of the key components of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme . This article provides a condensed summary of the research and analysis she conducted for her Extended Essay . Nicole will attend The University of Toronto this fall to pursue a degree in Architectural Studies .
In our globalised world , goods , ideas and cultural influences move from place to place faster than ever before . The world has grown more interdependent , and those connections and dependencies affect societies and cultures . Globalisation has a positive impact on cultural diversity and diffusion ; at the same time , there is fear that globalisation leads to homogenisation , a growing sameness and conformity . This opposite trend can threaten traditional and local cultures .
The impact of global cultural diffusion is visible in the arts , especially music and fashion . The fashion industry has been particularly touched by globalisation . No product of the fashion industry is arguably more prominent than denim jeans , which are worn around the world by people of different genders , social classes , religions and races . In many parts of the world , jeans have become the single most common form of everyday attire . How can we account for the global pervasiveness of jeans as a fashion item ?
The evolution of a fashion trend The first denim jeans were sewn in California in the mid-19th century as sturdy work pants for men who laboured outdoors . It was only in the 1950s that denim jeans emerged as streetwear , first by teenagers to signal adolescent rebellion . The first women ’ s jeans were similarly unconventional , having been introduced well before trousers were accepted as mainstream apparel for women . When popular movie stars began to appear on screens wearing jeans , the trend took off . The sales figures for denim jeans confirm their popularity ; the global market grows every year .
Denim jeans evolved from a non-conformist fashion choice to what fashion author NJ Stevenson calls “ the uniform of youth ”. A key element of a uniform is its consistency . You wear it to look like everyone else .
The significance of fashion Designers are artists who piece together garments using fabric and creativity ; the body is a canvas for self-expression . In addition to its artistic significance , clothing conveys social and cultural meaning . There is significance in colour , shape , length , cut and decoration . Fashion choices are an immediate visual representation of personal and social identity . Fashion choices represent how we see ourselves and influence how others see us .
Fashion choices are not entirely personal . Historically , social norms deem what clothing is appropriate for different social groups and classes . Specific social and cultural occasions also call for specific apparel . Clothing also plays a role in helping us navigate unfamiliar situations . We can often make presumptions on how to act or whom to interact with based on how individuals are dressed .
The psychology of fashion choice Henri Tajfel ’ s Social Identity Theory suggests that , to improve our self image , we associate ourselves with high-status ingroups . We can choose how we present ourselves to make others perceive us as having certain desirable characteristics . The group we belong to influences how we feel about ourselves .
Our fashion choices are one element of this selfpresentation and construction of identity . Such
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Global Denim Market , by product ( 2013-2023 ) [ Credit : Prescient & Strategic Intelligence ]