Fashion research paper topics for students in 2025

Fashion research paper topics are endless. You can write tomes on every fashion brand, style, and trend. But if you feel stumped at this first stage of the writing process, we’re here to help. Our writers came up with 150 fresh and thought-provoking topics. You’re sure to find the right one among them.

Once you do, remember you can also ask our pros to take over. All it takes is a short line of “write my paper for me” in live chat.

150 fashion research paper topics and ideas

Even if you aren’t interested in the fashion industry’s inner workings, there are lots of fashion topics to research for any class, from History to Sociology and Marketing. We’ve collected all the most creative ideas on this list. But remember that we have plenty of other resources, whether you’re looking for nursing or education research paper topics.

Historical fashion research topics

Not sure where to take your fashion research? A historical overview is probably the easiest option, while also being the most exciting, especially if you love costume dramas. To help you navigate endless historical fashion topics, our writing experts compiled this list of research paper ideas:

1. Historical differences in clothing between nobility and common folk
2. Analyzing the popularity of Victorian fashion in the 21st century
3. Tracking the evolution of male formal wear over the past century
4. Analyzing the mutual adoption of fashion trends by the East and the West
5. Significance of clothing color in historical fashion
6. Assessing the social standing based on historical clothing and footwear
7. Fashion trend forecasting based on historical data
8. The biggest challenges of fashion industrialization in the 20th century
9. The impact of fashion on social changes and revolutions
10. Fashion reflecting the current events and trends over the decades
11. Comparing the biggest fashion history icons of the 20th century
12. Analyzing the differences between the 19th and 20th-century fashion
13. Explore the rise of haute couture and its impact on modern society
14. Comparison of traditional and folk costumes across European countries
15. The impact of historical events on fashion trends
16. Analyze the returning trends in fashion and interior design
17. Consider the practical side of historical fashion
18. The roots of corset popularity and its fall from grace
19. The impact of international travel on fashion trends
20. The value of fashion for preserving the indigenous cultural identity
21. Consider the effect of wartime on color choices and designs
22. Analyze clothing durability and value throughout the centuries
23. Assess the impact of fringe subcultures on mainstream fashion
24. Examine fashion changes throughout the Civil Rights movement
25. Consider the relationship between social changes and fashion styles
26. Discuss the role of clothing choices in the feminist movement
27. Historical and modern impact of royalty on fashion
28. Drastic fashion changes in the wake of the Industrial Revolution
29. Mutual effects of clothing and hairstyles throughout history
30. Consider the value of clothing and footwear across historical periods

Fast fashion and sustainability research ideas

If you want to write a fashion research paper to catch your professor’s attention and cause a heated discussion in class, sustainability is the best choice. By the way, most of these also make excellent speech topics:

1. Cloth recycling as a way to combat the landfills of fast fashion products
2. Translating the principles of ethical fashion into marketing strategies
3. The impact of Fair Trade policies on the global fashion market
4. Comparing different methods for clothing and footwear recycling
5. Analysis of technological innovations and their impact on fashion sustainability
6. Understanding the importance of transparency in fashion supply chains
7. Outlining the moral implications of fur and leather fashion products
8. Analysis of existing policies and regulations regarding sustainable fashion
9. The long-term potential of the fashion sharing and rental economy
10. Comparison of the ecological impact of real vs. faux leather and fur fashion items
11. The effects of DEI hires on sustainable fashion adoption
12. The implications of the rise of thrifting culture among Gen Z
13. Analyzing the likelihood of the return of handmade clothing
14. Developing methods for assessing sustainability for fashion brands
15. The different perceptions of fast and sustainable fashion across generations
16. Comparative analysis of successful and failed sustainable fashion promotion campaigns
17. The relationship between social media and fast fashion popularity
18. Sustainable fashion promotion vs. fashion brand revenue increase
19. Influencers and fashion industry opinion leaders advocating for sustainable fashion
20. Assessing the effectiveness of sustainable fashion promotion campaigns
21. Sustainable fashion education in high schools and colleges
22. Estimating the ecological impact of raw materials used in fashion
23. Calculating the carbon footprint of fast fashion products
24. Mapping relationships between fast fashion, oil, and energy sectors
25. Adjusting the messaging of sustainable fashion advocates for different target audiences
26. The cost-benefit analysis of implementing sustainable fashion practices
27. The impact of returning fashion trends on sustainability
28. Evaluating fashion items’ durability and its impact on sustainability
29. Understanding consumer behavior regarding the higher prices of sustainable fashion items
30. An overview of best practices for waste reduction in fashion manufacturing

Research topics on fashion and media

There’s no denying cultural influence on fashion, but the reverse is also true. That’s why these topics about fashion blend it with the film and music industries, as well as social media and other forms of media:

1. The effect of smartphone cameras on fashion photography
2. Assess the value of fashion shows and exhibitions
3. Consider the evolution of fashion magazines in the past 50 years
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of street style photography in capturing current fashion trends
5. The impact of fashion photography on brands’ success
6. Paintings and our understanding of historical fashion
7. Dating art based on fashion trends
8. The effect of movie costuming on fashion brands popularity
9. The mutual influence of film and the fashion industry
10. The differences between movie costuming and everyday fashion
11. Music bands and their effect on fashion trends in the 20th century
12. Analyze the punk style’s musical roots
13. Finding the thin line between product placement and advertising in fashion movies
14. Evaluate the impact Hollywood stars have on the fashion industry
15. Consider the fashion impact of the annual Met Gala
16. Discuss a famous collaboration between a movie star and a fashion brand
17. Analyze the historical fashion accuracy in a costume drama
18. Consider the impact of social media trends on the fashion industry
19. The potential of creating artificial fashion trends using social media
20. Examine the impact of the Barbie movie on the fashion industry
21. Assess the effect of globalization on movie fashion
22. Explain the roots of cosplaying and its impact on the fashion industry
23. The positive and negative effects of cosplaying
24. Discuss the impact of AI-generated media on fashion trends
25. Evaluate the quality of AI-generated clothing patterns and mockups
26. Assess the accuracy of fashion trends predicted by AI
27. Pinterest’s influence on the current fashion trends
28. Fashion trends’ reflection in music videos and TV shows
29. The changes in fashion trends generated by popular Netflix shows
30. Discuss the most fashion-forward show or film

Research ideas on fashion brands and designers

If you’re most interested in personalities and their impact on the industry and the whole world, consider a fashion topic dedicated to a designer or brand. You can also use most ideas on this list as informative or descriptive essay topics for your fashion-related classes:

1. The long-term impact of Alexander McQueen’s work on modern designers
2. Explain the thinking behind a famous fashion brand logo
3. Compare Harper’s Bazaar’s and Vogue’s influence in the fashion world
4. The results of Audrey Hepburn’s cooperation with Yves Saint Laurent
5. The positive and negative aspects of Karl Lagerfeld’s fashion legacy
6. Evaluate the shift towards inclusivity among fashion models
7. Analyze Hermes’ branding strategy
8. Examine Louis Vuitton’s global market positioning
9. Compare sustainability efforts by luxury fashion brands
10. Consider the cost of entering the modern haute couture market
11. The cultural influences affecting Versace’s designs
12. Designers’ personal tragedies and their fashion outcomes
13. Examine the choice of designers and brands to be used in fashion education
14. Analyze the brand philosophy and mission of Etro
15. Fashion innovations in design by Gucci
16. Explain the distinct textile choices and silhouettes by Zimmermann
17. Analyze Miu Miu branding decisions
18. Evaluate the competition in the haute couture market
19. Examine the head designer’s influence on brand identity
20. Assess Fendi’s popularity across the globe
21. Explain luxury brands’ expansion into other markets
22. Discuss the history of Ray Ban's association with the Air Force
23. Hugo Boss marketing campaign’s main target audience
24. Examine the differences between luxury and mainstream brands
25. Explain the price gap between luxury brand products and mainstream items
26. Consider the reasons that make European brands popular in the US
27. Analyze the latest Moschino collection
28. Compare the branding strategies of Cartier and Tiffany’s
29. Ralph Lauren’s rise and fall in the 1990s
30. Prada’s representation in the media

Business research topics about fashion

Design and fashion aren’t just about creativity and style. It’s among the largest global industries. So, instead of focusing on the artistic or historical research topics about fashion, why not switch your focus to its bottom line? Here’s our list of business-centric fashion essay topics:

1. Comparative analysis of different brands’ fashion marketing strategies
2. Analyzing the return on investment of fashion shows
3. Calculating investment in the green shift in fashion
4. The impact of e-commerce proliferation on the fashion industry
5. The losses luxury brands incur because of counterfeits
6. Affecting consumer behavior through fashion
7. The relationship between a fashion brand’s popularity and influencer engagement
8. Estimating the cost of every stage of fashion product shipping
9. Assessing the effectiveness of brand collaborations
10. Developing the perfect blend of online shopping and offline storefronts
11. The initial investment necessary to start a fashion brand
12. Calculating the design and production cycle of a small fashion brand
13. Strategies for addressing manufacturing defects
14. The differences between Gen Z and Millennials' fashion shopping habits
15. Leveraging social media platforms to promote fashion brands
16. The shifting relationship between fashion designers and mainstream media
17. The cost of size inclusivity for fashion brands
18. The impact of digital transformation on the fashion business model
19. Potential applications of 3D printing in the fashion industry
20. The relationship between fashion store design and sales
21. Casual wear market analysis and competition assessment
22. Unpacking the cost of luxury handmade fashion items
23. Establishing transparency and corporate responsibility in the fashion industry
24. The impact of globalization on the fashion industry’s supply chains
25. Analyzing the market share of US-based and European fashion brands
26. The changing fashion business models in the globalized world
27. Estimating the price rise related to the cost of clothing recycling
28. Assessing the potential of shifting towards bespoke clothing
29. Calculating the impact of design innovation on a fashion brand’s revenue
30. Assessing the effect of international tariffs on the fashion industry

How to choose fashion research topics

There’s a ton of advice on how to choose the best fashion research topics. But it all comes down to three simple points:

• Decide how much time and effort you want to spend on it. If you’re in a rush, pick a bland topic you know well, but if you want to impress your professor, choose something more exciting and cutting-edge.
• Match the topic to your word count. Don’t pick a broad idea for a short essay and vice versa.
• Run it by your professor. Have a few backups, but get approval before you start researching and outlining.

You can also hire a pro to help you choose the topic and write your paper. You can even buy a PowerPoint presentation to go along with it. Keep this option in mind if you’re out of time to finish the paper before the submission deadline.

Conclusion

Feel free to use any of the topics on our list to spark inspiration and kick-start your research. But if you need more help with your term paper or capstone writing, give us a call or drop a line in live chat, and we’ll match you with the right expert.