The evolution of a discipline: A transformative chapter in fashion studies

This editorial reflects on the transformative trajectory of fashion studies, highlighting key developments over the past decade. Initially dismissed as a trivial field, fashion studies has evolved into a critical interdisciplinary domain, interrogating fashion’s intersections with social, cultural and economic structures. Through the lens of the International Journal of Fashion Studies, this evolution is examined across thematic trends such as decolonization, sustainability, digitalization and intersectionality. Decolonial approaches have critiqued Eurocentric frameworks, amplifying pluralistic narratives and interrogating power dynamics in global fashion systems. Digitalization, meanwhile, has reshaped the methodologies and paradigms of the discipline, examining its impact on production, consumption and representation. Sustainability remains a central concern, urging the field to navigate its complexities beyond neo-liberal framings. This editorial also reflects on interdisciplinarity as a cornerstone of fashion studies, embracing methodologies from sociology, anthropology, digital humanities and material culture studies. Fashion is no longer perceived as mere ‘surface’ but as an autonomous object of inquiry, essential for understanding identity, power and modernity. The Journal’s future lies in sustaining these critical engagements, enriching fashion’s place in global academia.