Publisher's Synopsis
Published in the summer of 2010 in print and online, the 10-volume Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion is the first comprehensive reference work to explore all aspects of dress and fashion globally - from pre-history to the present day. Arranged geographically and written by an international team of experts, the Encyclopedia will serve as the go-to source for all issues relating the art and anthropology of costume, dress, and fashion the world over for students, scholars, members of the design and fashion industries, and fashion aficionados for years to come.
The Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion brings together for the first time the work of over 600 renowned scholars from every part of the globe. All articles have been specially commissioned and particular effort has been made to commission articles by indigenous scholars with in-depth local knowledge. Global Perspecitves provides a transnational overview of dress within the global arena. "Intelligent" textiles and the impact of recent developments in nanotechnology are addressed alongside such popular culture phenomena as "cosplay", based on Japanese comics and animation, and virtual worlds, where avatars provide opportunities for multiple, shifting identities. There are broad overview articles on the fashion industry and its impact worldwide, secondhand clothing, and also ecofashion, which has evolved out of a concern for ethical consumption. Such varied topics as beads and perfumes are situated within a global context, and there is an informative section on dress and fashion resources worldwide, including museum collections. A fitting conclusion to this monumental major work on dress, Global Perspectives provides an important cross-cultural overview of human dress and adornment across the globalized world.
