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.
