The fashions of the s were often described as a global mash up , [ 1 ] where trends saw the fusion of vintage styles, global and ethnic clothing e. Hip-hop fashion generally was the most popular among young people of both sexes, followed by the retro-inspired indie look later in the decade. Men and women aged 25 and older adopted a dressy casual style which was popular throughout the decade. Globalization also influenced the decade's clothing trends, with the incorporation of Middle Eastern and Asian dress into mainstream European, American, and Australasian fashion.
In the early s, many mid and late s fashions remained fashionable around the globe, while simultaneously introducing newer trends. The later years of the decade saw a large-scale revival of clothing designs primarily from the s, s, and s. The early to mids saw a rise in the consumption of fast fashion : affordable off-the-peg high street clothing based on the latest high fashion designs.
With its low-cost appeal driven by trends straight off the runway, fast fashion was a significant factor in the fashion industry's growth. As affordable clothing became even more important in the entrance to the new age, brands started to develop strategies to keep up with consumers' new spending habits. In , department stores in the US such as Macy's , J. In the years that followed, that number began to fall. By the early s, the rise of online retail and in-store fast fashion caused department store sales to dwindle as retailers offered new styles quicker than ever before.
Target found major success in collaborating with various fashion designers to create affordable designer pieces, making them available to the average consumer. This trend in fast fashion allowed shoppers to own designer items at lower prices and also allowed the production and public normalization of copycat styles.
Stores such as Wet Seal and American Apparel are said to be "American precursors to the fast fashion empire". The ethics of fast fashion has been the topic of numerous debates and questioning of business practices. It also involves a lot of waste. Americans throw out 14 million tons of clothing a year, with the help of fast fashion.
