Fashioning Power: Gendered Structures and Pathways for Future Research

The fashion industry is one of the most influential sectors world wide, not only in terms of monetary value but also in terms of cultural creation and symbolic importance. Traditionally, women have represented the main target market, with the majority of garments, products, and ser vices designed to address female consumers. However, as the very defini tions of “women,” “men,” and “gender” have been increasingly questioned, a critical debate has emerged around how fashion both reflects and shapes gender issues. These issues range from the underrepresentation of women in C-suite and creative leadership positions to the persistent stereotyping of gender in consumption and production. At the same time, fashion has become a battleground for challenging and renegotiating gen der norms, particularly through recent efforts to address inclusivity and non-binary identities.