Australian Fashion In The Perspective Of Feminism

Women and fashion are closely interrelated.Fashion is often associated with France, the United States, the United Kingdom or Italy as world fashion landmarks, and Australia is obviously down on the ladder. However in the era of globalization, Australia's position is escalating in the fashion arena, and the Australian women have made achievements to mould and develop their identity by the means of fashion.Early Australian women were just like women in most of the rest of the world at that time, suffering from lack of independence and equal rights. Their inferior position led to the way they were dressed in accordance with social norms and presuppositions. The enduring torture and pain coming from the then fashion regulations and control gradually turned the obedient Australian women into rebellious minds. Moreover, the big waves of feminist movements have accelerated the process of awakening women's awareness to fight for their own rights. With the many other favorable forces playing together, Australian women have thus made tremendous achievements in changing the label of Australian fashion from the display of a forced and controlled aesthetic value to the symbol of choices of freedom and the showcase of their life attitude. Fashion has then broken out of the chains to be lighter, simpler and diversified.It took Australian women over a century to break out of the male defined femininity rules, and in the meantime, they have been trying to search out for their own Australian identity of fashion to set the difference from the ubiquitous international fashion styles. As a result, Australian fashion is now featured with thongs, beachwear and bright colors.This thesis is aimed to present a clear picture of the characteristics of Australian fashion at different stages under the influence of the revolutions that have occurred among Australian women and also demonstrates how Australian women's increasing efforts and involvement exert the great influence on the development of Australian fashion and the significance of Australian women to the global fashion.