Publication Date

Spring 3-19-2026

Presentation Length

Poster/Gallery presentation

College

O'More College of Architecture & Design

Department

Fashion Design and Merchandising

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Priscilla Gitmu

Presentation Type

Poster

Summary

This project focuses on the 60s to the 80s fashion which had an enormous impact on the evolution of fashion. Pop culture has heavily influenced the fashion industry, as music and film were the main sources of inspiration. Throughout these decades, many social movements and revolts were popularized as young Americans protested for freedom, justice, and equal rights. The 1960s were a radical, youth-driven generation that prioritized bold self-expression, sexual liberation, and rebellion, as counterculture movements rejected traditional norms and used fashion as a form of individuality and protest. Within the fashion industry, London was leading with the MOD style, which brought on mini- skirts, go-go boots, and geometric prints. This later contributed to the late- decade hippie culture, recognized as the “youthquake,” characterized by anti- consumerist attire. At the same time, the Space Race influenced the rise of “space- age” fashion. Shifting fashion in a major way, the industry went from couture luxury to more accessible ready-to-wear. The 1970s were a decade of disco, polyester, and women's liberation. With sportswear on the rise, designers like Halston and Calvin Klein stepped in to introduce relaxed workwear fabricated with Ultrasuede and double-knit jerseys. Polyester revolutionised fashion completely during this decade, making couture-like designs available to the general public. The decade is not complete without disco, championing dancewear and maximalism through bold colors, shimmering fabrics, and embracing androgynous styles, which led to the women’s liberation movement’s involvement with fashion. The 1980s were a revolutionary time in fashion, as social movements from the 70s thrived, elevating bold trends and individualism. Fashion remained a tool for self-expression, with louder silhouettes and a variety of styles becoming popular nationwide with ready-to-wear. Women's fashion evolved immensely throughout the decades; in the 80s, women began wearing powerful, tailored suits as they entered the workforce. This emphasizes the passage of time and the evolution of women's rights.

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