At the intersection of Yonge and Dundas downtown Toronto. The walk signal goes off for all the street corners. There are hundreds of residents and tourists walking through the intersection wearing bright colours, different patterns. Each person is wearing a different outfit and is displaying their own unique style

“Fashion is very expensive, almost like painters painting. Im saying, this is my art.” Morris Watson, George Brown Fashion Design graduate shared thoughts.

It’s clear fashion is an important part of our society. It also has many layers to the topic and is more important to you think. Fashion is of the interest to anyone who wears clothes and as a result a multi-billion-dollar industry with presence all over the world. It’s a way of expressing someone’s true identity. Current Ryerson University Fashion Design student Alexandra Jones Fiddes shares her take on current fashion relevance.

“Fashion is relevant because everyone is affected by it. Even if a person doesn’t follow fashion it will affect them indirectly,” she says.

It maps out the way we look, how we perceive ourselves and spend our money. Since the 2005 Consumer Trends Report, the retail sector has continued to play an increasingly vital role in the Canadian marketplace. In 2011, the sector generated $457.4 billion in retail sales and represented approximately 12% of the Canadian workforce.

Of this 457 billion in sales approximately 15% comes from the apparel and beauty sectors. Susan Roberton Program Coordinator of Humber College’s Fashion Design talks about fashion employment and effectiveness.

“Fashion is a huge employer in Canada and across the world.  It is an area that interests and engages many people.  It is a unifying force that pulls together consumers from all cultures and countries. ”

According to a Statistics Canada Household Survey, from 2011-2013 there were 3,990,050 of jobs. The annual average income is $50,300 based on all occupations.

Fashion intertwines with many different subjects, with designers need a background in business, drawing and sewing skills. The topic of fashion is more than just an art. A subject offered as a post secondary study option, math and a science element. Morris Watson, graduate of Fashion design from George Brown College shares.

“The fashion world contributes to society by showing us the colours that’s in for the season and also what the fashion trends are coming back in style.
While celebrities and the media set fashion trends and are role models for many who provide insight. They inspire us to look remarkable. Many of them have gone onto become clothing designers, showcasing load of talent. Sometimes inspiration is from the people around us. Alexandria Fiddes Jones’ inspiration comes from her family.

“My great grandfather Alexander Fiddes was a fashion artist for Eaton’s and Tip Top Tailors.

My grandmother, his daughter, became interested in the fashion industry through him. My grandmother taught me how to draw and gave me her old sewing machine when I was 12. She was a huge inspiration for me and encouraged me to go into the fashion industry.”

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The fashion industry influences the world in many different ways. From the billboards to the stranger passing by on the street; we all determine the way we look by inspiration and creativity. Our surroundings have a huge impact on a person’s fashion sense. For example, in a 2015 Elle Canada article, Toronto born designer Tanya Taylor’s explained her inspiration for her spring/summer 2015 collection came from a recent trip to African countries Kenya, Tanzania, and Morocco. The vibrant colours on the inhabitants and the beautiful agriculture was her motivation behind her designs. Taylor’s designs were featured in the 2015 New York Fashion Week.

We cannot underestimate the importance of fashion. One positive is that many clothing lines have catered to the plus size community. Large retailers such as, Old Navy, Forever 21, and H&M have a plus size section full of trendy clothing. Stores like Torrid, Penningtons, and Addition Elle only have clothes available for the plus size women. 20 years ago, it was a lot harder for someone considered plus size to find proper clothing. The variety didn’t exist In trendy clothing creating issues for both men and women. Thus, fashion has come a long way, catering to shapes and sizes. Fiddes Jones mentioned her thoughts on the variety of fashion.

“The fashion industry is changing and calling for more diversity from sizes to skin colour and paying closer attention to environmental concerns”

Graphic T-shirt Designer Jenyo Aladejebi makes sure he caters to all shapes and sizes with his designs.

“If the size is not listed on the site, let us know what product and size you would like to purchase. We cater to most shapes and sizes for our apparel. ”

We cannot undermine the importance. There is no mistake about the role it plays on women. We cannot under estimate the importance of fashion. There is no mistake about the role it plays on women. As adults, we often worry, “Am I am too fat, does my hair look blonde enough, am I beautiful without make up, is my body too thin?” A lack of self-esteem and confidence can lead to some troubling disorders, like anorexia or push to consume steroid to accomplish the picture. Undoubtedly these problems still exist today, but are slowly diminishing. Fashion is a unique and refreshing subject. Constantly changing for the better for everyone to be accepted.
According to a 2012 Canadian Public Health Agency article, dangerous and unrealistic cultural ideas of slimness and muscularity have affected all the age groups. We all see the prominent celebs on television and wish to look like them. Young people often feel dissatisfied with their body weight and size. In many situations, young adults with a healthy weight suffer from body image issues.

The rich and famous fashion icons do impact our lives in important ways. they provide us all with entertainment. Let’s be honest living in a society without and vibrant fabrics and the Victoria Secret Fashion show, life would be boring.

We should think of fashion as an everyday asset to our everyday world. It’s everywhere we look. We all put on clothes each day and accessorize. As humans, were a remarkable species that comes in all shapes, sizes and colours nut possess the same genetic makeup. Fashion is self expression. Staying in tune to fashion magazines is a great way to keep up with current trends. No matter who you are, make a statement.