Chapter 10 - Article #3

Question 1

What technological innovation in the 1800s significantly accelerated clothing production?
A) Power loom
B) Sewing machine
C) Spinning jenny
D) Steam engine

Answer 1

B) Sewing machine

Question 2

What is “ready-made clothing”?
A) Clothing tailored specifically for an individual.
B) Clothing produced in bulk in a range of sizes rather than made to order.
C) Clothing crafted by luxury couture houses.
D) Clothing made from handwoven fabrics.

Answer 2

B) Clothing produced in bulk in a range of sizes rather than made to order.

Question 3

Who were “sweaters” in the 1800s textile industry?
A) Factory owners responsible for overseeing production.
B) Home-based workers paid very low wages for outsourced tasks.
C) Skilled designers crafting high-end couture.
D) Immigrants working in luxury fashion houses.

Answer 3

B) Home-based workers paid very low wages for outsourced tasks.

Question 4

How did World War II influence clothing production?
A) It led to increased reliance on imported textiles.
B) It introduced couture fashion to middle-class consumers.
C) It increased standardized production and functional styles.
D) It eliminated mass production due to fabric shortages.

Answer 4

C) It increased standardized production and functional styles.

Question 5

What tragic event in 1911 highlighted poor working conditions in the garment industry?
A) Rana Plaza Collapse
B) Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
C) Tazreen Fashion Factory Fire
D) Bangladesh Textile Mill Fire

Answer 5

B) Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Question 6

What post-war trend helped fast fashion gain acceptance?
A) Mass-produced clothing became more valued by middle-class consumers.
B) Wealthy consumers promoted bespoke tailoring.
C) Government subsidies for home-based garment production.
D) Expansion of luxury fashion brands.

Answer 6

A) Mass-produced clothing became more valued by middle-class consumers.

Question 7

What cultural shift in the 1960s contributed to the rise of fast fashion?
A) Older generations adopting trendy, affordable clothing.
B) Young people rejecting traditional sartorial customs.
C) Governments mandating affordable fashion for all.
D) Reduced global demand for luxury garments.

Answer 7

B) Young people rejecting traditional sartorial customs.

Question 8

How did the outsourcing of textile production to developing countries benefit U.S. and European companies?
A) It increased demand for hand-crafted textiles.
B) It saved millions of dollars in labor costs.
C) It encouraged the growth of small, local workshops.
D) It improved environmental sustainability.

Answer 8

B) It saved millions of dollars in labor costs.

Question 9

Which brands are recognized as leaders in the fast fashion industry today?
A) Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton
B) Zara, H&M, TopShop, Primark
C) Levi’s, Wrangler, Calvin Klein
D) Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, American Eagle

Answer 9

B) Zara, H&M, TopShop, Primark

Question 10

What is a key criticism of the modern fast fashion industry?
A) It encourages sustainable and ethical practices.
B) It relies on overseas sweatshop labor to cut costs.
C) It focuses only on luxury and premium markets.
D) It supports local, small-scale garment workshops.

Answer 10

B) It relies on overseas sweatshop labor to cut costs.

Question 11

How does the 2012 Tazreen Fashion factory fire relate to the history of fast fashion?
A) It demonstrated how technology had reduced workplace dangers.
B) It paralleled earlier tragedies like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.
C) It marked the first instance of unsafe garment factories.
D) It led to the end of fast fashion practices in Bangladesh.

Answer 11

B) It paralleled earlier tragedies like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

Question 12

What role did mid-20th century European brands play in fast fashion’s evolution?
A) They introduced ready-made luxury garments.
B) They started as small shops focused on trendy, affordable clothing.
C) They established the first mass production factories in Europe.
D) They relied solely on domestic labor to produce clothing.

Answer 12

B) They started as small shops focused on trendy, affordable clothing.

Question 13

How did fast fashion brands enter the American market?
A) Through partnerships with luxury designers.
B) By emphasizing their origins in sustainable practices.
C) By expanding aggressively in the 1990s and 2000s.
D) By setting up local manufacturing hubs.

Answer 13

C) By expanding aggressively in the 1990s and 2000s.

Question 14

Which retailer is considered the longest-running fast fashion brand?
A) Zara
B) Forever 21
C) H&M
D) TopShop

Answer 14

C) H&M

Question 15

Where did H&M founder Erling Persson find inspiration for his retail model?
A) British department stores during WWII
B) American high-volume retail establishments after WWII
C) European luxury fashion houses
D) Asian garment factories during the 1970s

Answer 15

B) American high-volume retail establishments after WWII

Question 16

What principle has been central to Zara’s success since its first store opened in 1975?
A) Using only local production facilities
B) Prioritizing sustainability over speed
C) Making speed the driving force in design and production
D) Offering premium-priced designer collaborations

Answer 16

C) Making speed the driving force in design and production

Question 17

How did the New York Times define “fast fashion” when Zara entered the U.S. market in 1990?
A) An industry focused on local craftsmanship and ethical labor.
B) A process where garments take only 15 days to go from design to store racks.
C) A model that prioritizes high-quality clothing over trends.
D) A term describing the first high-end, fast-paced production cycle.

Answer 17

B) A process where garments take only 15 days to go from design to store racks.

Question 18

Which U.S. retailer is considered one of the fastest-growing fast fashion brands?
A) Wet Seal
B) Forever 21
C) American Eagle
D) Express

Answer 18

B) Forever 21

Question 19

Why did trend-driven mall stores like Wet Seal and Express struggle to compete with fast fashion retailers?
A) They offered only high-priced luxury items.
B) They couldn’t restock with new trends as quickly as fast fashion brands.
C) They relied solely on international supply chains.
D) They focused too heavily on sustainability.

Answer 19

B) They couldn’t restock with new trends as quickly as fast fashion brands.

Question 20

What cultural shift in the late 1990s and early 2000s helped fast fashion gain popularity?
A) A preference for sustainable and ethical shopping.
B) Consumers are becoming more likely to hunt for bargains and reject department stores.
C) A resurgence of home-sewn garments.
D) The rise of high-cost couture fashion among middle-class shoppers.

Answer 20

B) Consumers are becoming more likely to hunt for bargains and reject department stores.

Question 21

What did the New York Times note about H&M’s arrival in the U.S. market in 2000?
A) It signaled a return to traditional retail methods.
B) It made shopping for bargains “chic.”
C) It focused primarily on formal wear for professionals.
D) It emphasized collaboration with luxury designers.

Answer 21

B) It made shopping for bargains “chic.”

Question 22

What does the term “democratization of fashion” refer to?
A) The accessibility of fashion to people across social and economic backgrounds.
B) A return to small-scale, local garment production.
C) A focus on haute couture for the elite.
D) The regulation of fast fashion by government agencies.

Answer 22

A) The accessibility of fashion to people across social and economic backgrounds.

Question 23

Which prominent figures have been seen wearing fast fashion, signaling its broad appeal?
A) Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld
B) Kate Middleton and Michelle Obama
C) Rihanna and Beyoncé
D) Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie

Answer 23

B) Kate Middleton and Michelle Obama

Question 24

What is one major issue associated with the current fast fashion system?
A) High prices for mass-produced clothing
B) Overreliance on local supply chains
C) Unjust labor practices and excessive waste
D) Limited options for global consumers

Answer 24

C) Unjust labor practices and excessive waste

Question 25

How has modern technology transformed the fashion industry?
A) By eliminating the need for physical retail stores.
B) By allowing consumers to purchase garments online moments after runway shows.
C) By standardizing production cycles to three months or more.
D) By replacing all human labor with automation.

Answer 25

B) By allowing consumers to purchase garments online moments after runway shows.