Fashion and Dress in World Cultures

Fashion and dress are considered markers of individual and social identities, used to express religious beliefs, group association, class, ceremonial functions, domestic functions, gender dynamics, and sexuality dynamics. This course will explore global fashion and dress— focusing on textiles and body ornaments used in different cultures throughout history. The course will be organized geographically—Asia, Africa, the Americas, etc. — spanning from the early modern period to the contemporary era. The course will encourage students to engage with theoretical frameworks from material culture, anthropology, history, and textile and fashion study.