3. Fashion & Design
- EXPLAIN → Why / How
- DESCRIBE → What you see / know
- COMPARE / CONTRAST → Same vs different
- OUTLINE → Simple examples
- DISCUSS → Multiple views & opinions
- EXPRESS OPINION → What I think
- RECOMMEND / SUGGEST → What should happen
PRACTICE THE VOCABULARY
3. FASHION & DESIGN ✔
PRACTICE reading
3. FASHION & DESIGN - Reading B1 ✔
practice questions
Fashion
1. How much money do you usually spend on clothes a year?
2. Is the way you dress important?
3. What does the way you dress say about your personality?
4. Do you make your own clothes?
5. Would you like to be able to design your own clothes?
6. What items of clothing are worth spending a lot of money on?
7. Are there any brands of clothing that you would never wear?
8. Do you think that a models job is difficult?
9. Would you like to work in a clothes shop?
10. Do you need talent to be a fashion designer?
watch video
'The true cost of fast fashion'
Level: B2
Length: 6:50
Produced by: The Economist.
Downloads
Fashion_and_Design_Vocabulary (pdf)
DownloadExam queston B2
3. Fashion & Design
B2 Oral Exam Task
Situation:
You are a fashion and design consultant advising brands and consumers on responsible clothing choices.
Part 1 – Explain:
Explain the main environmental and social issues connected to fast fashion, as outlined in the text.
Part 2 – Compare:
Compare fast fashion with sustainable or slow fashion in terms of production methods and consumer behaviour.
Part 3 – Give your opinion:
Give your opinion on whether fashion should be seen mainly as a form of personal expression or as an industry with ethical responsibility. Support your answer with examples.
"The fashion industry plays a significant role in global culture and the economy, but it is also one of the world’s most resource-intensive industries. Fast fashion, characterised by low prices, rapid production cycles, and constantly changing trends, has made fashionable clothing accessible to a wide range of consumers. However, this model has raised serious environmental and social concerns.
Producing large quantities of clothing requires extensive use of water, energy, and chemicals. Textile waste has become a growing problem, as many garments are worn only a few times before being discarded. In addition, manufacturing is often outsourced to countries with lower labour costs, where working conditions and wages may not meet international standards.
In response, there has been increasing interest in sustainable fashion and ethical design. Designers and brands are experimenting with recycled materials, durable construction, and transparent supply chains. Slow fashion promotes quality over quantity and encourages consumers to buy fewer, longer-lasting items. At the same time, consumers are becoming more aware of how clothing choices can reflect personal values, identity, and social responsibility.
Design is not only about aesthetics, but also about function and communication. Clothing can signal belonging, status, or individuality, while also responding to practical needs such as comfort, climate, and durability. As a result, fashion designers today must balance creativity, commercial pressure, and ethical responsibility in an increasingly complex global market."