How does information about new global fashion trends typically spread?

Information about new global fashion trends typically spreads through hierarchical diffusion. This form of diffusion occurs when trends or ideas spread from a person or place of authority to others in a less influential position. In the context of fashion, often designers, fashion icons, and influential figures share new styles and trends through high-fashion shows, social media, and prestigious publications. As these trends are adopted by influential individuals or locales, they gradually filter down to a broader audience until they become widely accepted and prevalent.

The reason hierarchical diffusion is particularly relevant for fashion is that it often starts at the top of the social or professional hierarchy. Major cities known for their fashion industries, such as Paris, Milan, or New York, set trends that flow down to smaller cities and communities. This contrasts with contagious diffusion, where ideas spread more uniformly and rapidly across a population without the influence of authority levels. Relocation diffusion focuses on the physical movement of people carrying their cultural traits with them, which is less about the spread of trends from a central point. Spatial diffusion is a broader term that refers to how phenomena spread over space, and it encompasses various forms of diffusion but doesn't specifically address the hierarchies that influence fashion trends.