Ethnic influences on apparel design

So there are many, many influences on the fashions of the world today. People draw their inspiration from anything: nature, movies, people on the streets, etc. The fashions in the U.S. have increasingly been influenced by ethnic aspects. This is due to a number of reasons, and can be seen in many designer's recent collections.

One of my favorite ethnic influences on fashion is that of the Chinese. It can be seen everywhere, sometimes even in the unlikeliest of spots. First off, silk is one of these influences from China, as it a fabric that originates there, that most people love. The fabric is beautiful and feels nice when worn, and also has a great way of flowing away from the body. Many designers use this fabric in their collections, such as Donna Karan, Versace, and Gucci to name a few. The picture to the left shows a photo of a look from the Donna Karan Spring 2009 RTW Collection. (http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/S2009RTW-DKARAN)

Of course, silk is but one way in which China has influenced the fashion world in America. Colors such as the reds and golds that are traditional in Chinese ceremonies are often seen in clothing lines. There are many other ways it's influences can be seen, and according to Michele Coppin from http://colorbuzz.valsparblog.com/2008/09/chinese-influen.html, "Trendy Chinese labels are appearing in Western markets, not just copying existing styles, but employing their own Eastern flare. Indeed, the Chinese have, over their long history, inherited a fantastic feel and love for fine materials and gorgeous colors."

Another designer that shows a heavily ethnic-based Collection this year is Ralph Lauren. In his Spring 2009 RTW Collection, the obvious source of inspiration is from North Africa. Khaki took on a huge role in his color palate as well as gold. The image on the bottom left shows a model wearing one of the North African designs (image from http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2009RTW-RLAUREN/).

According to Nicole Phelps from Style.com, "The show opened with a khaki camp shirt that looked like it had just come back from safari".

Overall I really like the fact that ethnic cultures are influencing the way Americans dress. The world is becoming globalized, and so the fashions need to show that. It also opens up many new ways of dressing one's self each day!