Globalization and Rapid New Market Growth Durland, Anillo, Chen, Vega, Tobin Globalization and Rapid New Market Growth How the International Fashion Market is Evolving to Capture Shifting Consumer Desires Taylor Durland, Natalie Anillo, Amber Chen, Andrea Vega, Colleen Tobin
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] University of Richmond 1 Volume 4, Number 1 Journal for Global Business and Community http://jgbc.fiu.edu Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education Globalization and Rapid New Market Growth Durland, Anillo, Chen, Vega, Tobin Introduction The Italian word for fashion moda, comes from the Latin word mos, which means usage, custom, habit, and tradition. Fashion always has been a part of the human experience relating to culture, need for identification and differentiation, and hence, our need for a social identity. As society and culture change over time, so does fashion. The fashion industry has managed to develop and expand worldwide, forcing the concept of fashion to diversify to form a variety of fashions. We can find an ever-expanding and ever-segmented market in terms of customers, distribution channels, and competitors. Consumers face countless choices, forcing brands to differentiate themselves by offering unique products appealing to a large consumer base. Likewise, competitors are becoming bigger and more international, meaning brands must learn to balance operations management and economic results with creativity and innovation. Each brand must strategize appropriately to remain true to its roots, while also attracting as many consumers as possible. Finally, new distribution channels are developing, such as the emergence of e-commerce.