The propensity to replicate sartorial as well as other consumer choices is one area where human mimicry is pronounced. Given socio-economic factors that account for this phenomenon, I fully support the view in question.

Social conformity is one powerful driver that lures millions into imitative behavior. Today, the choice of outfits is an essential element signalling one’s values, social status and culture, so to blend into a community, a person needs to imitate the lifestyle and taste in clothing of that social circle. In today’s social landscape contoured by the ever-prevalent desire to seek authenticity and uniqueness, conforming to clothing trends and the prescribed way of life may be fundamental in establishing and maintaining cohesive relationships with neighbors and friends alike. A pertinent case in point is Uzbekistan, a country where adhering to national fashion patterns provides a person with the advantage of smooth interactions and almost immediate social acceptance.

Economic gaps are another catalyst. While upper social classes are well-positioned to wear branded and luxury clothing items, cars and similar goods, ordinary people have to opt for mass produced clothes, cars, appliances and the like. This divide is a fundamental pillar of mimetic patterns among consumers, regardless of industry, country or culture. From China to the USA, the working class, let alone people below the poverty line, is attracted to identical fashion trends, such as jeans and shirts produced by Zara or H&M, for instance, because of their affordability. This is a stark contrast to the elite whose attire is more sophisticated and hence unique, with Zegna and Brunello, two high-profile clothing brands, being the primary examples.

In conclusion, because today’s architecture of fashionable consumption is shifting toward socially valorized items, as are other consumer goods, and becoming ever more expensive for ordinary people to afford, it fosters mimetic choices. For these core reasons, I completely agree with this notion.

The bar graph illustrates how many jobs there were in a tourism-oriented industry in a city located in the UK from 1989 to 2009.

Overall, workforce in restaurants expanded over the years, despite a drop at the end, while that in hotels saw a fluctuation and rebounded to the original size. Sport/leisure followed a downward trend, as did travel and tour.

Focusing on higher figures first, the number of jobs in restaurants rose consistently from around 1,100 in 1989 to a chart high of 1,600 in 2004, followed by a notable decline to the final 1,300. Hotels started the period at about 1,050, a number that peaked at 1,400 in 1994, the only year when this category topped the list. Then, the figure had decreased gradually to its 1989 level by the end, ranking second again.

As for the remaining areas of employment, sport/leisure had an initial figure of nearly 900, which witnessed a decrease of 200 in 1994. After that, this number grew sharply to its highest at roughly 1,050, before steadily falling to its 1994 point. Last on the list, travel and tour stood at a low of 800 in 1989, after which there was an increase to a high of just above 1,000 in 1994 and a series of decrements to 400, the lowest on the chart, in 2009.