Under Fascism, attempts were made to create an Italian style of international prominence with no success. After the war, France was again focused on reviving the haute-couture market, and the US was well on its way as the mass market leader in fast, cheap production. Italy found its niche in the middle.
Read MoreFashion History: France After WW2... Dior Revolution
The geography of fashion has distant roots, and world capitols rely on a large accumulation of materials from around the world in order to grow. As a Nazi-occupied island, isolated from the rest of the world, Paris lost its monopoly on fashion, with competition growing stronger in New York, London and Italy. In order to recover, French ateliers returned to the haute-couture stage, but with innovative cooperation between the fashion and textile industries.
Read MoreFashion History: From WW1 through WW2 - The Chanel Years
The interwar years saw a profound shift in the cultural values of the Western World. Women's fashion was particularly affected, with formality taking a backseat to practicality and comfort. Gabrielle Chanel was among the first designers to not only understand this cultural shift, but to capitalize on it and build an empire in the process.
Read MoreFashion History: From the Belle Epoque through WW1
The advancement of the leisure lifestyle and creation of Sportswear was the first reason for women to turn away from traditional dress. Oriental influences became hugely popular in the West through art and performances. Paul Poiret became the first to capture these trends, after Charles Worth had blazed the trail for the original designer to become the arbiter of taste. Poiret introduced the modern marketing concept of fashion: he sold the dream, not just the dress.
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