In Hong Kong, to dress in ignorance of the latest fashions and brand names is to almost risk social disapproval. But, as a seminar this weekend intends to show, there is more to dressing than simply fashion.
Organised by the Textile Society of Hong Kong, it will look at the influences and idiosyncracies of contemporary dress in Hong Kong and China, as well as exploring why we wear what we do. It is a major departure for a group normally concerned with historical tapestries and robes.
'Quite often textiles are extremely revealing about society and have an enormous history to tell,' said Textile Society president Diana Collins.
'Dressing is an application of textiles and we'll be taking an intellectual look at the way that we dress and how we dress. It's not about finding out what to wear.' The first thing to understand is the difference between dressing and fashion. Fashion has to do with constant change and keeping up with the look of the moment, and is usually thought of as something generated by the fashion industry, according to Dr Hazel Clark, associate professor at the School of Design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and keynote speaker at the seminar.
'Dressing, on the other hand, is more of a necessity. We all dress in particular ways but we don't all follow fashion, although we are influenced by it,' Dr Clark said.
In the case of Hong Kong, the story of dressing reflects its position as an Asian free port and international financial centre. Japanese and Western styles predominate, but with a few local characteristics, she said.