Fashion capital

A fashion capital is a city which has a major influence on international fashion trends and is a key centre for the fashion industry, in which activities including the design, production and retailing of fashion products; fashion events (such as fashion weeks and awards); and fashion-related trade fairs generate significant economic output. Fashion capitals usually have a broad mix of business, financial, entertainment, cultural and leisure activities and are internationally recognised for having a unique and strong identity.^[1]

There are currently widely regarded as being four principal fashion capitals in the world, known as the "big four": New York, London, Milan, and Paris.^[2]^[3] An annual ranking of the leading fashion capitals is produced by Global Language Monitor.^[4]

History

Fashion and political power have often interwined in history, and this can be seen in classical history, where the major political powers of the world, such as Alexandria, Athens, and Rome were leaders in their respective eras and parts of the world, when it came to clothing.

In history, several cities have been, in turn, fashion capitals. Furthermore, during the Renaissance era, different city-states in what would become modern-day Italy were Europe's main trendsetters,^[5]^[6] due to the cultural power that these cities exerted in that period of time; this includes cities such as Florence, Milan, Rome, Naples, Genoa, and Venice. However, as one progressed into the late-16th century, with the influence of the Elizabethan era, the English court or more specifically, London, became a major city in European fashion; similarly, due to the power of Spain at the period, the Spanish court influenced fashion, making it a major centre. In the 17th century, as the Renaissance started to fade away, with the power of the French court under Louis XIV, Paris established itself as Europe's main fashion centre, and would remain the world's undisputed fashion capital until the 1960s and 70s. In the Victorian era, with the powerful British empire, London also became a major fashion centre, although it still looked to Paris for stylistic inspiration. Throughout the 20th century, New York City grew as a fashion capital, and in the 1950s, Florence re-emerged as a leading city in haute couture.^[7] Milan's complete dominance of the fashion world lasted until the 1960s. In the 1980s, Milan, with its everyday, practical chic, and minimalistic fashion houses, reinforced its place as the most important fashion capital of the world. Ever since then, New York City, London, Milan, and Paris have been the leading cities in global fashion, making up the "big four".

Present-day

London

Milan

New York City

Paris

According to the Global Language Monitor, London claimed the Fashion Capital crown from New York (the 2010 Fashion Capital) in 2011 and repeated in 2012. The ascendance of Kate Middleton and the London Olympics were frequently cited as being instrumental in London's rise. In 2009, Milan claimed the title of top fashion capital for the media.^[8] Both Milan and Paris have longstanding traditions of excellence and creativity in design. Milanese fashion is regarded as the most sophisticated and admired, concentrating equally on ready-to-wear clothes as well as haute couture, while Paris' focus lies mostly in "Haute Couture".

Paris is also considered to be one of the four capitals of fashion due to its longstanding history as center of art and fashion, and its being home to several highly prestigious and powerful fashion houses. Paris and Milan are, perhaps, best known for the elegance of their fashion designs, rather than for their practicality. (London-based fashion designs are known for their extravagant quirkiness, while Parisian designs are regarded for their elegant, refined and chic formal nature). However, both cities also have upscale haute couture and high fashion shopping districts.

Other main centers of fashion in the world include: Venice, Los Angeles, Rome, Antwerp, Manchester, Florence, Madrid, Barcelona, Reno, São Paulo, Moscow, Monte Carlo ^[9] Sydney, Tokyo,^[10] Düsseldorf,^[11] Toronto,^[12] Shanghai,^[12] and Dubai.^[12] Dubai showed its ambitions to join the fashion capitals of the world by taking on various projects, the latest of which is called Dubai Fashion 2020.^[13] In recent years, however, the importance of the fashion industry has grown in many other cities around the globe,^[10] such as Buenos Aires,^[14] Chicago, Mumbai, Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne.^[15]^[16]

Global Language Monitor rankings

Rank (2012)	Rank (2011)	Rank (2010)	Rank (2009)	Rank (2008)	Rank (2007)	City	Country	Region
01	01	03	05	05	04	London	United Kingdom	Western Europe
02	02	01	02	01	01	New York	USA	North America
03	07	09	14	25	13	Barcelona	Spain	Western Europe
04	03	04	03	03	03	Paris	France	Western Europe
05	12	10	21	15	NL	Madrid	Spain	Western Europe
06	13	22	04	02	02	Rome	Italy	Western Europe
07	25	13	08	NL	21	São Paulo	Brazil	Latin America
08	04	06	01	04	05	Milan	Italy	Western Europe
09	05	05	06	06	07	Los Angeles	USA	North America
10	10	18	19	09	11	Berlin	Germany	Western Europe
11	44	NL	NL	NL	NL	Antwerp	Belgium	Western Europe
12	06	02	07	11	08	Hong Kong	Hong Kong	East Asia
13	20	24	24	20	22	Buenos Aires	Argentina	Latin America
14	21	32	NL	NL	NL	Bali	Indonesia	Oceania
15	11	07	09	07	12	Sydney	Australia	Oceania
16	31	NL	NL	NL	NL	Florence	Italy	Western Europe
17	23	19	18	30	20	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	Latin America
18	41	NL	NL	NL	NL	Johannesburg	South Africa	Africa
19	08	15	20	14	10	Singapore	Singapore	Asia
20	09	14	12	10	06	Tokyo	Japan	Asia
21	17	11	25	18	15	Melbourne	Australia	Oceania
22	14	12	14	13	14	Shanghai	China	Asia
23	50	NL	NL	NL	NL	Caracas	Venezuela	Latin America
24	16	16	10	08	09	Las Vegas	United States	North America
25	15	NL	NL	NL	NL	Monaco	Monaco	Western Europe
26	30	31	23	17	19	Santiago	Chile	Latin America
27	19	17	NL	NL	NL	Amsterdam	Netherlands	Western Europe
28	27	31	23	12	24	Dubai	UAE	Middle East
29	32	NL	NL	NL	NL	Bangkok	Thailand	Asia
30	29	34	NL	NL	NL	Copenhagen	Denmark	Western Europe