A Study on Modern Changes in European Clothing - with an emphasis on the effect of industrial revolution -

서구복식(西歐服飾)의 근대적(近代的) 변천(變遷)에 대한 연구(硏究) - 산업혁명(産業革命)의 영향(影響)을 중심(中心)으로 -

  • Published : 1982.12.01

Abstract

Investigation for industrial revolution has been recognized as an important issue of historical science, since industrial revolution itself was a historical moment in modern economic society and in the forming of modern capitalistic culture. If clothing culture had been developed in close relation to social culture. industrial revolution which gave a base for modern capitalistic culture, would be a birth of modern clothing as well as a moment for modernization of western clothing. As it takes for granted that industrial revolution, historical phenomenon is a developmental base of modern clothing culture. This study tried to enlighten the origin of modern clothing culture phenomenon with investigation of industrial revolution as a historical moment in modern clothing culture through documental study. Historian's point of view and method of studying are important when we investigate the clothing phenomenon. Although culture phenomenon of industrial revolution has been evaluated usually through socialogical aspect, studying for clothing culture phenomenon must be carried out on aethetical as well as well as sociological aspect, on account of dualism of clothing, as it is social and artistic nature. In 19th century, there were technical improvement, changing patterns of production, changing social relation and beginning of mass culture. At the same time clothing culture phenomenon was changed in relation to modern capitalistic society. The findings of the study could be summarized as follows. 1. Technical improvement in textile industry and fitting process brought about mechanization of clothing industry. 2. Appearance of popular clothing culture made it easy to spread to various classes of society. 3. Development of transportation system and communication channel made it internationalization of western clothing. 4. Recognition of importance in functional style of clothing. 5. The pursuit of modern aesthetics made rapid changing mode of clothing. Above distinctive features of modern clothing culture were derived from by-product of machinary culture, mass culture, internationalism, rapidly changing mode of various culture during industrial revolution. Industrial revolution was a change of the material world as well as in industry owing to machine advent, then the culture part that displayed directly these changes was the plastic arts of living that mould the material. The problem of clothing construction caused by industrial revolution was solved by pursuing the functional aesthetics. Clothing phenomenon as a process of value transfer participates mass culture in closs relation to general change of various culture caused by industrial revolution. Therefore western clothing gained the qualities of modern culture, condensed as function, and popularity in the process of modernization.

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