The degree of cultural diversity across the globe is simply mind boggling and this rich tapestry of cultures has allowed different styles of clothing to flourish during many centuries.

Fashion in clothing continues to evolve depending upon how the culture of a particular region, nation or civilization evolves. Evolution of fashion also depends upon cross cultural interactions and the relative influence each culture has over shaping the tastes, values, artistic input from other cultures.

Due to last two centuries of Western dominance, the fashion and clothing preferences in large regions of China, India, South East Asia, Middle-East, Africa have evolved to a degree where western style clothing has become almost universal in its appeal and presence.

One only has to travel around the globe to realize that Western style male trousers, shirts, neck ties, as well as women’s clothing such as dresses, mini-skirts, trousers, and shoes are almost universal in their presence and appeal.  In regions where the native cultures have a strong identity, like India, China and Middle-east, the traditional Eastern dresses still have mass appeal and presence. The eastern and western clothing style now co-exist harmoniously and people often change their clothing from traditional to Western on a day to day basis.

The hippie culture in North America and Europe during the 60s and 70s bought many East Indian fashions such as “Kurta”, a long upper body garment imprinted with religious names and symbols, but it did not find a mass market appeal. High profile celebrities, such as Steve Jobs and Beatles went to Indian Himalayas and the banks of Ganges River to seek enlightenment. When they came back to America or Europe, they wore Indian clothing frequently and to a certain extent it did permeate the fashion culture of Western societies but this fashion did not take root and consequently it whithered away.

So there are times when fashions change with respect to cultural influences, but during other times they may not take root, despite cultural movements and celebrity endorsements.