Apparel is another word for clothing, especially when talking about it as a product or category, like sports apparel.
From Old French "apareiller" meaning "to prepare" or "to make ready," especially by dressing. Clothing was seen as part of preparing yourself to be seen in public.
“Apparel” sounds fancy compared to “clothes,” which is why stores use it to sell you the same fabric at higher prices. The word itself dresses up the idea of dressing up.
The apparel and fashion industries have long been structured around binary gender categories, with different expectations and value placed on men's and women's clothing. Women's apparel has often been associated with restrictive norms and unequal labor conditions in production.
Use "apparel" as a neutral term and, where relevant, acknowledge that clothing can be designed for a range of bodies and identities beyond a strict gender binary. Avoid assuming style, color, or cut preferences based solely on gender.
["clothing","garments","wearables"]
When discussing apparel design and labor, include the often-overlooked contributions of women and gender-diverse designers and the predominantly female workforce in garment manufacturing.
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