Fashion today is produced and consumed globally. It is dependent on a rapidly changing infrastructure influenced by art, popular culture, technological innovation, politics, and trade regulations. Moreover, fashion constantly references ideas and cultures from around the world, both past and present.

The Fashion Reader is designed for students, scholars, and anyone interested in contemporary fashion. The book brings together the key writings on the subject, covering the history, culture, and business of fashion.

The extracts are drawn from a wide range of sources - books, professional and academic journals, magazines, interviews and exhibition catalogues. Each section is specially introduced and concludes with guides to further reading.

1. A Brief History of Modern Fashion

2. Fashion Theory

3. Fashion & Identity

4. The Geography of Dress

5. Politics of Fashion

6. Fashion & the Body

7. Fashion & Art

8. Fashion in the Media

9. High/Low: From Haute Couture to the Street

10. The Fashion Business

11. Future of Fashion

Linda Welters is Professor and Chair of the Dept of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design, University of Rhode Island.

Abby Lillethun is Assistant Professor in the Dept of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design, University of Rhode Island.