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‭Fashion Fusion: Exploring Fashion Through History and Engineering‬

‭Fashion, a dynamic and broad phenomenon, spreads through every aspect of daily human‬

‭life, serving as a visual language that displays one’s identity, social status, cultural values, and‬

‭more. It is a reflection of society–mirroring beliefs, attitudes, and goals of a specific time and‬

‭place. The evolution of fashion is intertwined with historical events and technological‬

‭advancements, making it a compelling subject of study across various academic disciplines.‬

‭Fashion has attracted the attention of scholars in two disciplines in particular: history and‬

‭engineering. With fashion being a broad subject of inquiry, both disciplines are very different in‬

‭nature. While history approaches the topic of fashion to elucidate the development of mass‬

‭fashion in Birmingham through the utilization of wholesale catalogs from the 1920s to the 1920s,‬

‭engineering examines the integration of sustainable materials such as Thermoplastic‬

‭Polyurethane into fashion production through 3D printing. These different objectives shed light‬

‭on the multifaceted nature of fashion as both a historical and technological topic, with‬

‭contrasting audiences, evidence use, structure, and language.‬

‭In the history academic research article “‘Better Dressed than Birmingham’? Wholesale‬

‭Clothing Catalogues and the Communication of Mass Fashion, 1920s to 1960s,” Jenny Gilbert‬

‭presents her topic about the “Big Four” of Birmingham clothing and textile companies from the‬

‭mid-nineteenth century until the 1970s and their role in communicating and distributing mass‬

‭fashion through printed communications.‬‭1‬ ‭Gilbert’s argument centers on the significance of‬

‭wholesale clothing catalogs as essential tools in circulating mass fashion trends to a wide‬

‭audience throughout Birmingham, thus influencing consumer behavior within Birmingham‬

‭during the 1920s to 1960s. By examining the catalog’s layouts, contents, and strategies for‬

‭1‬
‭Jenny Gilbert, “‘Better Dressed than Birmingham’? Wholesale Clothing Catalogues and the Communication of‬
‭ ass Fashion, 1920s to 1960s,”‬‭Midland history‬‭45, no. 2 (2020): 258,‬
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‭https://doi.org/10.1080/0047729X.2020.1767978‬
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‭distribution, Gilbert illustrates how they functioned as the “vital link ‘in the chain of‬

‭distribution.’”‬‭2‬ ‭Gilbert’s argument is backed up by her comprehensive analysis of reliable,‬

‭primary source materials, including archival documents, catalogs, and testimonies from the‬

‭industries, which makes her argument very convincing for the audience.‬‭3‬ ‭She also uses many‬

‭figures throughout her research paper that all consist of different catalogs from the “Big Four”‬

‭companies. Gilbert’s presentation of her evidence is clear and convincing. She uses her sources‬

‭by implementing historical context to support her argument regarding the importance of‬

‭wholesale clothing catalogs. Additionally, the usage of her visual aids, or figures, showcasing‬

‭different catalogs from the “Big Four” companies enhances the credibility of Gilbert’s analysis,‬

‭and allows readers to visualize the evolution of fashion trends over Birmingham. Gilbert’s focus‬

‭on the socio-economic factors underlying the fashion industry further enhances her research‬

‭topic argument, providing compelling evidence about fashion consumption and trends during a‬

‭specific historical period.‬‭4‬ ‭Gilbert’s usage of reliable, primary source materials reflects the‬

‭history discipline; history needs to be supported by credible materials to construct accurate‬

‭narratives of the past. In the field of history, the authenticity of a source is paramount, as it‬

‭provides direct evidence of historical events. Gilbert, by relying on these dependable sources, is‬

‭able to effectively establish her argument and credibility—the materials used by Gilbert enhance‬

‭the credibility of her research and solidify her argument about fashion history.‬

‭Engineering, on the other hand, delves into the topic of fashion through a completely‬

‭different lens. In the research article titled “Thermoplastic Polyurethane Based on the 3d Printing‬

‭Fashion Clothing-Conceptual Model of The Fashion Industry,” authors Muhammad Ilias Hossen‬

‭and Chaoxia Wang venture into the intersection of engineering and fashion by exploring the‬

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‭ ilbert, “Better Dressed than Birmingham’?,” 258.‬
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‭3‬
‭Gilbert, “Better Dressed than Birmingham’?,” 258.‬
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‭Gilbert, “Better Dressed than Birmingham’?,” 259.‬
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‭implementation of 3D printing technology within the fashion industry. Their study revolves‬

‭around the utilization of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) as a revolutionary material in 3D‬

‭printing clothing items, offering various models that showcase the impact and importance of this‬

‭innovative approach in the fashion industry.‬‭5‬ ‭Hossen and Wang first make their argument by‬

‭providing an overview of the current landscape of 3D printing technology in fashion. They assert‬

‭that although 3D printing has problems and concerns within the fashion industry, there is‬

‭potential for it to be a revolutionary phenomenon with the usage of TPU as a sustainable‬

‭material. They delve into the unique, sustainable properties of TPU, emphasizing that it has‬

‭outstanding “properties like tear resistance, resistance to chemicals, abrasion resistance, skin‬

‭compatibility, large elongation break … soft elasticity, and excellent bending and tension‬

‭strength.”‬‭6‬ ‭Hossen and Chaoxia use a plethora of Google Scholar articles about 3D printing and‬

‭fashion and integrate multiple quotes and research models from their referenced articles. The‬

‭authors use scientific scholarly literature to provide a theoretical framework for their article.‬

‭These reliable, scholarly articles make the author’s claim clear and convincing, ensuring that the‬

‭audience understands the revolutionary benefits of TPU usage in 3D printing. The engineering‬

‭discipline requires reliable, scientific scholarly literature as evidence since it serves as a‬

‭foundation to explain technological advancements. One of the engineering endeavors is‬

‭developing practical solutions to problems, which rely on empirical data, experimentation, and‬

‭scientific literature. By utilizing these credible sources, engineers ensure the accuracy and‬

‭credibility of their research, facilitating the advancement of science. Through a combination of‬

‭models/tables, theoretical analysis, and experimentation, the authors take a scientific approach to‬

‭5‬
‭Muhammad Ilias Hossen and Chaoxia Wang, “Thermoplastic Polyurethane Based on the 3d Printing Fashion‬
‭ lothing-Conceptual Model of The Fashion Industry,”‬‭Fibres & textiles in Eastern Europe‬‭30, no. 6 (2022): 1,‬
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‭https://doi.org/10.2478/ftee-2022-0047‬
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‭Hossen and Chaoxia, “Thermoplastic Polyurethane Based on the 3d Printing Fashion Clothing,” 2.‬
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‭fashion to demonstrate the benefits of utilizing TPU-based 3D printing technology for fashion‬

‭clothing production.‬‭7‬

‭Jenny Gilbert’s article seems to target an audience of scholars and researchers interested‬

‭in the fashion industry, as well as individuals interested in economics and history. Her focus on‬

‭mass fashion and the role of wholesale catalogs suggests an audience that is involved in‬

‭understanding consumer culture, mass fashion, and commercialization during a specific period,‬

‭or in this case, Birmingham in the 20th century. Gilbert assumes that her audience has a basic‬

‭understanding of historical research and concepts, as she utilizes some jargon throughout her‬

‭article. Although Gilbert uses jargon such as “wholesaler,” she immediately defines it as‬

‭“companies who provided the distribution channel between the small independent clothing‬

‭retailer … and the small to medium-sized manufacturer,”‬‭8‬ ‭to ensure clarity. Terms like “swagger‬

‭coat,” “tweeds” and “smock,” while it may confuse readers who do not understand specific‬

‭fashion terms, are used to build specificity to the article. Through her usage of jargon terms and‬

‭focus on the “Big Four” textile companies and their use of wholesale clothing catalogs, Gilbert‬

‭contributes to the discussion of fashion production and consumerism from the early to mid-20th‬

‭century to her intended audience.‬

‭On the other hand, Hossen and Wang’s article appears to target an audience of engineers‬

‭and researchers in the fields of fashion technology. Specifically, their focus on 3D printing‬

‭technology using TPU for fashion clothing production suggests that their audience would be‬

‭interested in innovative fashion, environment and sustainability, and the fashion industry. The‬

‭authors assume that their audience has a thorough understanding of the engineering discipline,‬

‭3D printing, and manufacturing processes. Hossen and Wang use an abundance of jargon such as‬

‭7‬
‭ ossen and Chaoxia, “Thermoplastic Polyurethane Based on the 3d Printing Fashion Clothing,” 2.‬
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‭8‬
‭Gilbert, “Better Dressed than Birmingham’?,” 258.‬
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‭“antimicrobial,” “warpage” and “Eigenvalues.” These jargon terms would not make sense to the‬

‭average reader who has no knowledge of fashion and engineering and has a high possibility of‬

‭getting confused. Hossen and Wang do not explain these terms and assume that the readers have‬

‭a preconceived understanding of these terms, suggesting that the audience would be engineers‬

‭and researchers who are already in this field. By exploring the potential of TPU-based 3D‬

‭printing technology in fashion clothing production, the authors are able to contribute new‬

‭insights into the interconnectedness of fashion and engineering to their audience.‬

‭Jenny Gilbert’s article is organized in a structural manner by following a clear argument‬

‭and ideas, reflecting the history discipline’s emphasis on clarity and coherent arguments.‬

‭Through her usage of footnotes and the adherence to the Chicago Manual of Style, Gilbert‬

‭establishes a scholarly framework. Her article consists of different sections and subheadings: the‬

‭abstract, her arguments with unique subheadings, the conclusion, and finally, her‬

‭acknowledgments. Gilbert is able to further organize her analysis and allow easy navigation for‬

‭the reader through her subheadings and sections, underscoring history’s commitment to‬

‭organizing information systemically. Furthermore, Gilbert’s tone throughout her research article‬

‭is scholarly, informative, and authoritative. She also uses formal and precise language to ensure‬

‭clarity and accuracy in her information which embodies the disciplinary values in history.‬

‭Authors Muhammad Ilias Hossen and Chaoxia Wang follow a similar format to Gilbert’s‬

‭article. Their article begins with an abstract with a summary of the research, then it is followed‬

‭by their article with the introduction section that provides background information on 3D‬

‭printing and TPU. Their article includes many subheadings with different titles, in which they‬

‭discuss their methodology, research, and visual figures. They also include a “Figures and Tables”‬

‭section where they present their findings with different figures such as graphs and tables. Finally,‬
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‭they have a references section where they also use the Chicago Manual of Style citations. This‬

‭structural approach to their research article is indicative of the engineering discipline’s focus on‬

‭methodological analysis and data. The tone of their article is significantly scholarly, especially‬

‭with their usage of figures from their conducted research. Their language is professional, formal,‬

‭and specialized, which caters to an audience familiar with engineering terminology, which‬

‭highlights the discipline’s attention to detail.‬

‭In conclusion, this comparative analysis of different scholarly approaches to the study of‬

‭fashion in the disciplines of history and engineering provides an understanding of the differences‬

‭and similarities between the two. Through the examination of Jenny Gilbert’s research of‬

‭wholesale clothing catalogs in “‘Better Dressed than Birmingham’? Wholesale Clothing‬

‭Catalogues and the Communication of Mass Fashion, 1920s to 1960s,” and Muhammad Ilias‬

‭Hossen and Chaoxia Wang’s research of Thermoplastic Polyurethane in 3D printed fashion items‬

‭in “Thermoplastic Polyurethane Based on the 3d Printing Fashion Clothing-Conceptual Model of‬

‭The Fashion Industry,” valuable insights have been gained. Their diverse methodologies in‬

‭research, arguments, sources, language, tone, and organization all contribute to the comparative‬

‭nature of both disciplines. Gilbert’s analysis of primary archival sources illustrates the historical‬

‭and economic context of shaping mass fashion trends while offering a narrative of how mass‬

‭fashion was communicated throughout the 20th century. In contrast, Hossen and Wang’s‬

‭scientific research highlights the revolutionary potential of engineering technologies in fashion‬

‭production, highlighting the usage of TPU and the interconnectedness of fashion and‬

‭engineering. Comparing and contrasting these different disciplinary perspectives brings forth a‬

‭comprehensive understanding of fashion as a dynamic and versatile topic between technology‬

‭and history.‬
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‭Notes‬

‭Gilbert, Jenny. “‘Better Dressed than Birmingham’? Wholesale Clothing Catalogues and the‬

‭Communication of Mass Fashion, 1920s to 1960s.”‬‭Midland History‬‭45, no. 2 (2020):‬

‭258–274.‬‭https://doi.org/10.1080/0047729X.2020.1767978‬

‭Hossen, Muhammad Ilias, and Chaoxia Wang. “Thermoplastic Polyurethane Based on the 3d‬

‭Printing Fashion Clothing-Conceptual Model of The Fashion Industry.”‬‭Fibres & textiles‬

‭in Eastern Europe‬‭30, no. 6 (2022): 1–11.‬‭https://doi.org/10.2478/ftee-2022-0047‬