Popular Culture’s Influence on Fashion
What Is Popular Culture?
The term popular or pop culture refers to what is ‘popular’ in a society at any given moment in time. What is deemed ‘pop’ changes and is best analysed by looking back at a particular decade, e.g. the 80s.

The term dates from the mid twentieth century with invention of ‘pop music’, with its roots in rock, blues and R&B. Bands like the Beatles, and The Rolling Stones were inspired by blues and rock ‘n’ roll pioneers Robert Johnson and Chuck Berry to create the ‘pop music’ of the day, inspire 1960s fashion and culture.
So what is included in pop culture today, and how does this impact on fashion? Pop culture today encompasses current entertainment and media; books; magazines; music; film; TV and video games. Technological advancements in entertainment including social media and streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify; memes and GIFs all contribute to current culture and influence how we communicate and behave. For example, twenty years ago the term ‘tweeting’ would have had no cultural relevance.

People in the public eye from Kim Kardashian, Gretta Thunberg and Donald Trump also play a part in creating our current pop culture. The rise of political movements, e.g. Neo-Feminism, the mee too movement and BLM, have contributed by inspiring many variations (some good, some bad) of the slogan t-shirt. Across the high street, t-shirts emblazoned with phrases from ‘rebel’ to ‘be kind’ have become ever popular. Never mind your sleeve, it’s never been more fashionable to wear your heart or your political opinions across your chest. 
Below are some examples of how current pop culture is influencing consumers and the fashion industry. See also an interesting article on the history of the slogan t-shirt.

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