Fashion History: A Global View (Dress, Body, Culture)

From the indigenous people of sub-Saharan Africa to Eastern trade networks dating back to the Bronze Age, fashion has occurred in cultures beyond the West throughout history. This book explores the geographic places and historical spaces that have been largely neglected by traditional fashion studies together for the first time, reversing the dominant narrative that privileges Western Europe in the history of dress.Adopting a cross-cultural approach, Welters and Lillethun explore a vast array of non-western cultures to examine key issues such as gender, production, consumption and colonisation. Case studies include the cross-cultural trade of silk textiles in the Ottoman Empire, the indigenous dress of Hawai'i and the cosmetics of the Tang Dynasty in China and Japan. Examining the new lessons that can be deciphered from archaeological findings and theoretical advancements, the book shows that fashion should be understood as a global phenomenon, originating much before the fourteenth century European court, which is continually, and erroneously, cited as fashion's birthplace.Providing a fresh framework for fashion history scholarship,__Fashion History: A Global View__will inspire inclusive dress narratives for students and scholars of fashion, anthropology and cultural studies. Fashion History: A Global View Proposes A New Perspective On Fashion History. Arguing That Fashion Has Occurred In Cultures Beyond The West Throughout History, This Groundbreaking Book Explores The Geographic Places And Historical Spaces That Have Been Largely Neglected By Contemporary Fashion Studies, Bringing Them Together For The First Time. Reversing The Dominant Narrative That Privileges Western Europe In The History Of Dress, Welters And Lillethun Adopt A Cross-cultural Approach To Explore A Vast Array Of Cultures Around The Globe. They Explore Key Issues Affecting Fashion Systems, Ranging From Innovation, Production And Consumption To Identity Formation And The Effects Of Colonization. Case Studies Include The Cross-cultural Trade Of Silk Textiles In Central Asia, The Indigenous Dress Of The Americas And Of Hawai'i, The Cosmetics Of The Tang Dynasty In China, And Stylistic Innovation In Sub-saharan Africa. Examining The New Lessons That Can Be Deciphered From Archaeological Findings And Theoretical Advancements, The Book Shows That Fashion History Should Be Understood As A Global Phenomenon, Originating Well Before And Beyond The Fourteenth Century European Court, Which Is Continually, And Erroneously, Cited As Fashion's Birthplace. Providing A Fresh Framework For Fashion History Scholarship, Fashion History: A Global View Will Inspire Inclusive Dress Narratives For Students And Scholars Of Fashion, Anthropology, And Cultural Studies-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- Foreword By Dress, Body, Culture Series Editor Joanne B. Eicher -- Acknowledgments -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The Lexicon Of Fashion -- 3. Europe And The People Without Fashion -- 4. How We Got Here -- 5. Fashion Systems In Indigenous Cultures -- 6. Trade Networks In The Eastern Hemisphere -- 7. Courtly Fashion In Asia -- 8. Global Fashion -- Bibliography -- Index. Linda Welters And Abby Lillethun. "Fashion History : A Global View proposes a new perspective on fashion history. Arguing that fashion has occurred in cultures beyond the West throughout history, this groundbreaking book explores the geographic places and historical spaces that have been largely neglected by contemporary fashion studies, bringing them together for the first time. Reversing the dominant narrative that privileges Western Europe in the history of dress, Welters and Lillethun adopt a cross-cultural approach to explore a vast array of cultures around the globe. They explore key issues affecting fashion systems, ranging from innovation, production and consumption to identity formation and the effects of colonization. Case studies include the cross-cultural trade of silk textiles in Central Asia, the indigenous dress of the Americas and of Hawai'i, the cosmetics of the Tang Dynasty in China, and stylistic innovation in sub-Saharan Africa. Examining the new lessons that can be deciphered from archaeological findings and theoretical advancements, the book shows that fashion history should be understood as a global phenomenon, originating well before and beyond the fourteenth century European court, which is continually, and erroneously, cited as fashion's birthplace. Providing a fresh framework for fashion history scholarship, Fashion History : A Global View will inspire inclusive dress narratives for students and scholars of fashion, anthropology, and cultural studies"-- Provided by publisher Introduction : Europe and the people without fashion -- Part 1. Understanding fashion and its history. The lexicon of fashion -- Fashion systems -- How we got here -- Part 2. Outside the canon: alternative fashion histories. Fashion systems in prehistory and the Americas -- Fashion systems and trade networks in the Eastern hemisphere -- Fashion systems in East, South, and Southeast Asia -- Alternative fashion histories in Euro-America -- Global fashion -- Conclusion.