This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of traditional clothing and influcence of western fashion from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Traditional Clothing

In many countries, people now wear western-style dress such as suits and jeans rather than traditional clothing.

Why is this?

Is this a positive or negative development?

It has become increasingly common in recent years for individuals globally to dress in western-influenced clothing. In my opinion, this is a natural result of corporate and cultural globalization and is broadly negative.

The main cause of this phenomenon is globalization. This relates firstly to culture. The growth of the media industry generally and online media more specifically has spread primarily American cultural values. Individuals living in distant nations watch the latest blockbuster Hollywood movies, listen to the same singers and emulate their lifestyle choices including fashion. Secondly, mass production enables this homogeneity. Hundreds of years ago, consumers had no choice other than to buy clothes produced by local artisans. Now, companies like Louis Vuitton and Tommy Hilfiger can fabricate identical items of clothing to be shipped globally at affordable prices, forcing many local businesses into bankruptcy.

The positive side of this trend, lower prices and potential inspiration from western fashion, are largely overshadowed by the injurious impact on cultural diversity. For example, in many parts of Asia, there are the rich cultural traditions of various ethnic minorities. These skilled garment-makers follow traditions dating back hundreds of years. The clothing produced is not only beautiful, but also more environmentally friendly and unique. However, these days few local residents are interested as they prefer wealthy western fashion brands that showcase their social status. The result is that the values being espoused by fashion are material wealth and appearances rather than tradition, culture, and artistic skill.

In conclusion, western fashion trends are ubiquitous today due to the effects of globalization and this represents a negative shift in values. Individuals should therefore strive to ignore these trends and purchase clothes that express their culture better when possible.

Analysis

1. It has become increasingly common in recent years for individuals globally to dress in western-influenced clothing. 2. In my opinion, this is a natural result of corporate and cultural globalization and is broadly negative.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. The main cause of this phenomenon is globalization. 2. This relates firstly to culture. 3. The growth of the media industry generally and online media more specifically has spread primarily American cultural values. 4. Individuals living in distant nations watch the latest blockbuster Hollywood movies, listen to the same singers and emulate their lifestyle choices including fashion. 5. Secondly, mass production enables this homogeneity. 6. Hundreds of years ago, consumers had no choice other than to buy clothes produced by local artisans. 7. Now, companies like Louis Vuitton and Tommy Hilfiger can fabricate identical items of clothing to be shipped globally at affordable prices, forcing many local businesses into bankruptcy.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
  4. Keep developing it fully.
  5. Extend with some short sentences as well.
  6. State the furthest possible result.
  7. The more you can add, the higher your task achievement score.

1. The positive side of this trend, lower prices and potential inspiration from western fashion, are largely overshadowed by the injurious impact on cultural diversity. 2. For example, in many parts of Asia, there are the rich cultural traditions of various ethnic minorities. 3. These skilled garment-makers follow traditions dating back hundreds of years. 4. The clothing produced is not only beautiful, but also more environmentally friendly and unique. 5. However, these days few local residents are interested as they prefer wealthy western fashion brands that showcase their social status. 6. The result is that the values being espoused by fashion are material wealth and appearances rather than tradition, culture, and artistic skill.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Continue developing it…
  5. as fully as possible!
  6. Continue the example.

1. In conclusion, western fashion trends are ubiquitous today due to the effects of globalization and this represents a negative shift in values. 2. Individuals should therefore strive to ignore these trends and purchase clothes that express their culture better when possible.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

It has become increasingly common in recent years for individuals globally to dress in western-influenced clothing. In my opinion, this is a natural result of corporate and cultural globalization and is broadly negative.

The main cause of this phenomenon is globalization. This relates firstly to culture. The growth of the media industry generally and online media more specifically has spread primarily American cultural values. Individuals living in distant nations watch the latest blockbuster Hollywood movies, listen to the same singers and emulate their lifestyle choices including fashion. Secondly, mass production enables this homogeneity. Hundreds of years ago, consumers had no choice other than to buy clothes produced by local artisans. Now, companies like Louis Vuitton and Tommy Hilfiger can fabricate identical items of clothing to be shipped globally at affordable prices, forcing many local businesses into bankruptcy.

The positive side of this trend, lower prices and potential inspiration from western fashion, are largely overshadowed by the injurious impact on cultural diversity. For example, in many parts of Asia, there are the rich cultural traditions of various ethnic minorities. These skilled garment-makers follow traditions dating back hundreds of years. The clothing produced is not only beautiful, but also more environmentally friendly and unique. However, these days few local residents are interested as they prefer wealthy western fashion brands that showcase their social status. The result is that the values being espoused by fashion are material wealth and appearances rather than tradition, culture, and artistic skill.

In conclusion, western fashion trends are ubiquitous today due to the effects of globalization and this represents a negative shift in values. Individuals should therefore strive to ignore these trends and purchase clothes that express their culture better when possible.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

increasingly common more and more pervasive

globally around the world

dress clothing

western-influenced clothing clothes from America, Europe

natural result of logical consequence of

corporate companies, business

cultural globalization cultures becoming the same around the world

broadly negative mostly bad

main cause primary catalyst

phenomenon development

relates firstly has to do with first of all

growth development

media industry news, websites, etc.

generally overall

online media websites, social media, etc.

more specifically in detail

spread primarily sent out mostly

cultural values traditions

distant nations far away countries

latest blockbuster Hollywood movies big movies from America

singers musicians

emulate copy

lifestyle choices decisions about how someone lives

fashion clothing

mass production making lots of something through factories

enables allows for

homogeneity all the same

hundreds of years ago since before the 1800s

consumers people buying things

produced by local artisans made by artists from this country

fabricate identical items of clothing create the same piece of fashion

shipped globally sent around the world

affordable prices cheap

forcing making

local businesses companies from this country

bankruptcy being driven out of business

positive side beneficial part

lower prices cheaper

potential inspiration possible influence

largely overshadowed mostly stronger than

injurious impact bad effect

cultural diversity different kinds of culture

rich cultural traditions important arts and crafts and fashions from the past

ethnic minorities groups of people

skilled garment-makers good tailors

follow traditions dating back hundreds use old techniques

not only but also including

environmentally friendly good for nature

unique special

residents people living there

interested care about

prefer like better

wealthy western fashion brands famous clothing makers

showcase demonstrate

social status how you are regarded by other people

result consequence

values important beliefs

espoused encouraged

material wealth money, things

appearances how you look on the outside

rather than instead of

tradition past ways of living

artistic skill how good you are at making art

ubiquitous common

due to because of

represents symbolizes

negative shift in values bad direction

therefore strive thus try hard to

ignore not pay attention to

purchase buy

express show

when possible if it can be done

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈkɒmən 
ˈgləʊbəli 
drɛs 
ˈwɛstən-ˈɪnflʊənst ˈkləʊðɪŋ
ˈnæʧrəl rɪˈzʌlt ɒv 
ˈkɔːpərɪt 
ˈkʌlʧərəl ˌgləʊb(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n 
ˈbrɔːdli ˈnɛgətɪv
meɪn kɔːz 
fɪˈnɒmɪnən 
rɪˈleɪts ˈfɜːstli 
grəʊθ 
ˈmiːdiə ˈɪndəstri 
ˈʤɛnərəli 
ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈmiːdiə 
mɔː spəˈsɪfɪk(ə)li 
sprɛd ˈpraɪmərɪli 
ˈkʌlʧərəl ˈvæljuːz
ˈdɪstənt ˈneɪʃənz 
ˈleɪtɪst ˈblɒkˌbʌstə ˈhɒlɪwʊd ˈmuːviz
ˈsɪŋəz 
ˈɛmjʊleɪt 
ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl ˈʧɔɪsɪz 
ˈfæʃən
mæs prəˈdʌkʃən 
ɪˈneɪblz 
ˌhɒməʊʤɛˈniːɪti
ˈhʌndrədz ɒv jɪəz əˈgəʊ
kənˈsjuːməz 
prəˈdjuːst baɪ ˈləʊkəl ˌɑːtɪˈzænz
ˈfæbrɪkeɪt aɪˈdɛntɪkəl ˈaɪtəmz ɒv ˈkləʊðɪŋ 
ʃɪpt ˈgləʊbəli 
əˈfɔːdəbl ˈpraɪsɪz
ˈfɔːsɪŋ 
ˈləʊkəl ˈbɪznɪsɪz 
ˈbæŋkrəptsi
ˈpɒzətɪv saɪd 
ˈləʊə ˈpraɪsɪz 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən 
ˈlɑːʤli ˌəʊvəˈʃædəʊd 
ɪnˈʤʊərɪəs ˈɪmpækt 
ˈkʌlʧərəl daɪˈvɜːsɪti
rɪʧ ˈkʌlʧərəl trəˈdɪʃənz 
ˈɛθnɪk maɪˈnɒrɪtiz
skɪld ˈgɑːmənt-ˈmeɪkəz 
ˈfɒləʊ trəˈdɪʃənz ˈdeɪtɪŋ bæk ˈhʌndrədz 
nɒt ˈəʊnli … bʌt ˈɔːlsəʊ 
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntli ˈfrɛndli 
juːˈniːk
ˈrɛzɪdənts 
ˈɪntrɪstɪd 
priˈfɜː 
ˈwɛlθi ˈwɛstən ˈfæʃən brændz 
ˈʃəʊkeɪs 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈsteɪtəs
rɪˈzʌlt 
ˈvæljuːz 
ɪsˈpaʊzd 
məˈtɪərɪəl wɛlθ 
əˈpɪərənsɪz 
ˈrɑːðə ðæn 
trəˈdɪʃən
ɑːˈtɪstɪk skɪl
ju(ː)ˈbɪkwɪtəs 
djuː tuː 
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnts 
ˈnɛgətɪv ʃɪft ɪn ˈvæljuːz
ˈðeəfɔː straɪv 
ɪgˈnɔː 
ˈpɜːʧəs 
ɪksˈprɛs 
wɛn ˈpɒsəbl

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

It has become i__________________________n in recent years for individuals g_____________y to d_____s in w__________________________g. In my opinion, this is a n___________________f c_____________e and c___________________n and is b__________________e.

The m______________e of this p_____________n is globalization. This r_________________y to culture. The g__________h of the m________________________________y and o__________________a m_______________________y has s______________________y American c__________________________s. Individuals living in d_______________s watch the l__________________________________s, listen to the same s___________s and e____________e their l____________________s including f____________n. Secondly, m____________________n e___________s this h_________________y. H________________o, c_______________s had no choice other than to buy clothes p__________________________s. Now, companies like Louis Vuitton and Tommy Hilfiger can f_________________________________g to be s____________________y at a____________________s, f________________g many l__________________s into b__________y.

The p_________________e of this trend, l______________s and p________________________n from western fashion, are l_________________________d by the i______________________t on c__________________________y. For example, in many parts of Asia, there are the r_________________________s of various e_____________________s. These s______________________s f______________________s d_______________________s of years. The clothing produced is n_________y beautiful, b_________o more e________________________y and u__________e. However, these days few local r______________s are i_______________d as they p_________r w_________________________________s that s_____________e their s__________________s. The r__________t is that the v_________s being e_______________d by fashion are m_________________h and a_____________________s r_________________n t_____________n, culture, and a_______________l.

In conclusion, western fashion trends are u_______________s today d_______o the effects of globalization and this r____________s a n___________________s. Individuals should t_______________e to i__________e these trends and p__________e clothes that e_________s their culture better w____________e.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/02/muslim-women-fashion-political-influence/550256/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Fashion

  1. Why are designer bran clothes popular?
  2. Why are these brands so expensive?
  3. How has fashion changed in your country?
  4. Is it important for designers to stay up to date with the latest fashions?
  5. Is fashion more important than adapting your clothes to the weather?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

The number of people who are interested in and wearing fashionable clothes is increasing.

Is this a positive or negative development?

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