Globalization refers to the economic, cultural, and political interconnectedness of the world and the growing interactions between people, businesses, and political institutions globally. While the term globalization has only been more widely used since the 1980s, the transnational interdependence of trade, politics and cultures has been increasing for centuries, most notably as a result of European colonization. However, the rates accelerated considerably in the 20th century, especially in connection to the progress in transport and communication technologies and the expansion of the capitalist free market economy. This means that ideas, behaviors, and decisions taken in one part of the world are now more than likely to impact communities worldwide. While it could be argued that flows of influence take place in multiple directions, globalization is also associated with the dominance of those with economic advantage and the Westernization of global cultures. In the context of fashion, the globalization of its production and consumption has resulted in a homogenized global fashion identity that decimated the diversity and richness of other forms of fashion expression and suppressed the continuity of local artisan and heritage crafts traditions. Crucially, as the production of fashion goods consumed in the Global North has been largely outsourced to countries of the Global South, the social and environmental costs of fashion overconsumption are now carried by those least responsible for its impacts.(1-5)
GLOBALIZATION
