Fashion capital

A fashion capital (or fashion city) is a city which is a major centre for the fashion industry. In such a city activities including the production and retail of fashion goods, fashion events (such as fashion weeks and awards) and trade fairs will generate significant economic activity.

The world's big four fashion cities, part I: Milan (left) and London (right)

Besides having economic power, a fashion city is integrated with an active entertainment and cultural scene, and thereby attracts tourists and consumers not only because of fashion per se. A fashion city should be an object of inspiration for the professionals based there, with an active, vivid, strong, unique subculture, that can inspire not only fashion professionals, but also the people in the city, turning the Street style and the street culture into essential characteristics. This mix of fashion, business, entertainment, culture, and leisure makes a city attractive and internationally recognised as fashion centres for their unique and strong identity, differentiating themselves due to specific characteristics.

Traditionally, there are four main fashion capitals known as the "big four": London, Milan, New York City and Paris. In ranking terms, however, the "big four" are not always at the top of the list, as in 2009, when Rome came fourth and London fifth, or in 2010, when Hong Kong came second and Milan placed itself sixth. Los Angeles has been ranked as fifth multiple times. As of 2011, London has been ranked as the top fashion capital of the world.

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 global leaders, in their respective eras and parts of the world, when it came to clothing.

The world's big four fashion cities, part II: Paris (left) and New York City (right).

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, due to the cultural power that these cities exerted in that period of time; this includes cities such as Florence, Milan, Rome, Naples 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, it still looked up 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. 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, London, Milan, New York City, and Paris have been the leading cities in global fashion, making up the "big four".

Present-day

According to the Global Language Monitor, In 2009, Milan claimed the title of top fashion capital for the media. 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".

Two other major fashion capitals are Los Angeles (left) and Hong Kong (right).

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.

The other main centers of fashion in the world are in order of significance, Rome and Florence, Madrid and Barcelona, Sao Paulo, Moscow, and Monte Carlo Sydney, Tokyo, Düsseldorf,, Toronto, Shanghai, and Dubai. In recent years, however, the importance of the fashion industry has grown in many other cities around the globe, such as Buenos Aires, Chicago, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney.

Global Language Monitor rankings

Cities

Rank (2011)	Rank (2010)	Rank (2009)	Rank (2008)	City	Country	Region
3	3	3	2	London	England	Western Europe
4	6	2	4	Milan	Italy	Western Europe
1	2	1	1	Paris	France	Western Europe
3	5	6	6	Los Angeles	USA	Western United States
17	17	17	22	Hong Kong	Hong Kong	East Asia
5	3	3	5	Barcelona	Spain	Southern Europe
18	18	20	28	Singapore	Singapore	Southeast Asia
7	14	12	10	Tokyo	Japan	East Asia
8	18	19	9	Berlin	Germany	Western Europe
9	7	9	7	Sydney	Australia	Oceania
10	12	14	13	Shanghai	China	East Asia
12	NL	NL	NL	Monaco	Monaco	Western Europe
14	16	10	8	Las Vegas	USA	Western United States
15	9	25	18	Melbourne	Australia	Oceania
16	20	22	16	Moscow	Russia	Eastern Europe
17	17	NL	NL	Amsterdam	Netherlands	Western Europe
18	24	24	20	Buenos Aires	Argentina	Latin America
19	32	NL	NL	Bali	Indonesia	Southeast Asia
20	29	30	NL	Mexico City	Mexico	Latin America
21	19	18	30	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	Latin America
22	28	16	22	Mumbai	India	South Asia
23	4	4	4	Sao Paulo	Brazil	Latin America
24	8	13	26	Miami	USA	Southern United States
25	33	26	19	Stockholm	Sweden	Western Europe
26	34	NL	NL	Copenhagen	Denmark	Western Europe
27	31	23	17	Santiago	Chile	Latin America

Source:

Regions

2011 Top Fashion Capitals according to Global Language Monitor:

• Europe (12): London, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Monaco, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Florence.
• Middle and Eastern Europe (5): Moscow, Warsaw, Vienna, Krakow, Prague.
• North America (11): New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Toronto, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta, Montreal.
• Asia (7): Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Bangkok, Mumbai, New Delhi.
• Oceania (3): Sydney, Melbourne, Bali.
• Latin America (6): Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Caracas.
• Middle East and Africa (4): Dubai, Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi, Cape Town,

  2010-2008

For 2010, the Global Language Monitor describes these as the leading fashion cities in their respective regions:

• Asia and Oceania: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangkok, Shanghai, Seoul, and Mumbai
• Europe: Paris, Milan, London, Moscow, Barcelona, Prague, Vienna, Krakow, and Madrid
• Latin America: Sao Paulo, Rio De Janeiro, Caracas, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Mexico City, and San Juan
• Africa and Middle East: Casablanca, Beirut, Cairo, Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, Dubai, and Cape Town
• North America: New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Dallas, San Francisco, Toronto, Montreal, Atlanta, San Diego, Seattle, Chicago, and Edmonton

For 2009, the Global Language Monitor describes these as the leading fashion cities in their respective regions:

• Asia and Oceania: Hong Kong, Sydney, Tokyo, Bangkok, Shanghai
• Europe: Milan, Paris, Rome, London, Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Amsterdam.
• India: Mumbai and New Delhi
• Latin America: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Mexico City
• Middle and Eastern Europe: Moscow, Krakow, and Prague.
• Middle East and Africa: Beirut, Dubai, Johannesburg, and Cape Town.
• North America: New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Dallas, Toronto, Montreal, and Atlanta.

For 2008, the Global Language Monitor describes these as the leading fashion cities in their respective regions:

• Asia and Oceania: Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai, Singapore
• Europe: Rome, Paris, Milan, London, Berlin, Madrid, Stockholm, Barcelona, and Copenhagen.
• India: Mumbai and New Delhi.
• Latin America: Sao Paulo, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
• Middle and Eastern Europe: Moscow, Krakow, and Prague.
• Middle East and Africa: Dubai, Johannesburg, and Cape Town.
• North America: New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Toronto, and Montreal.

See also

• Fashion week, for a partial list of cities with fashion weeks.