Abstract
For centuries trade routes have transported textiles across the world linking the Far and Middle East to Europe. The global textiles trade was driven by the appeal of luxury fabrics and Western interests in the idea of exoticism. This was based upon the desire for extravagant display. Chinoiseries was a fashion that resulted from Western interpretations of Eastern design. At the beginning of the 20th century the fashion industry evolved from this complex history. Trade, production, consumption, and design have increasingly become tied to globalized fashion systems since the late 20th century. Perhaps there will be a shift in the balance of fashion power as non-Western fashion design develops.
