Short answers, pulled from the story.
Fashion began in the middle of the 14th century with a sudden shortening of the male over-garment. European men shifted from long robes reaching their calves to a silhouette that barely covered the buttocks. This change created the tailored top and trousers combination that defines Western fashion to this day.
Charles Frederick Worth opened the first authentic haute couture house in Paris on the 1st of March 1858. Worth established the Haute house which required at least twenty employees and two collections per year. This innovation made the fashion designer a celebrity rather than a mere craftsman.
The myth originated in 1609 when the secretary of the Japanese court claimed Japanese clothing had not changed in over a thousand years. Evidence from Ming China reveals rapidly changing fashions regulated by strict sumptuary laws. The Meiji period from 1868 to 1912 saw a transformation where upper classes wore luxurious silks and women wore Western dresses.
Fashion became a direct vehicle for political rebellion in 1964 with the introduction of the leg-baring mini-skirt. Designers experimented with loose sleeveless dresses, micro-minis, flared skirts, and bell-bottom jeans. Fluorescent colors and print patterns became de rigueur outfits of the decade reflecting a desire for freedom.
Internet technology enables online retailers and social media platforms to display trend-setting styles instantly. Wearable technology incorporates solar panels and smart fabrics that change color or texture. 3D printing technology has influenced designers such as Iris van Herpen and Kimberly Ovitz to reshape design and production.
The global fashion industry faces urgent scrutiny over its environmental impact and the ethical treatment of its workforce. Rapid cycles of trend adoption have led to a culture of disposable clothing that harms the environment. The industry is now grappling with the need to improve sustainability and reduce its environmental impact.