WORDS AND PICTURES
BY AMELIA LIM

From the latest pair of Adidas Superstar sneakers seen on Instagram that everyone dreams of, or the classic dark washed denim jeans that is seen in stores, there is no denial that culture affects everyone’s fashion style.

Cultural influences might not always be direct. For some people, their clothes are influenced by the culture that they associate with, and not the one that they are born in.

However for others, their culture’s fashion sense is imprinted on them, regardless of where they are in the world.

How exactly then does the Australian fashion style differ from the rest of the world? Learn more from a few of Monash University’s students featured below.

When East meets West: Chinese rapper Emmett, 25, is a big fan of the hip-hop culture and gets most of his dressing ideas from the West. The Masters of Professional Accounting student from Harbin gets his clothes from overseas retail agents, known as daigou in Mandarin, who scour the world for clothes from luxury and indie brands.
All clothes from overseas retail agents

Deep-rooted beliefs: Indian student, Laksh Swuyavanshi, 24, says his fashion sense is a fusion between the West and South Asia, and his Indian roots will always be ingrained in him, no matter where he goes. For the Masters of Information Technology student from Delhi, a scarf completes the look and it is his way of mixing the South Asian influence into his wardrobe, as scarves are a staple in the Indian culture, where they are worn by most in winter.
Scarf: Armani Exchange
Leather jacket and pants: H&M
T-shirt: Skult
Shoes: adidas

Euro-Chic: Masters of Journalism and International Relations student, Wang Xinhui, 23, used to be a big fan of Korean fashion but has started to veer towards the European style in recent years. The Chinese student from Beijing, who gets her inspiration from Instagram models and Western glamour magazines, says the European trend is increasingly popular among the Chinese because “people like to dress taller”.
All clothes from Chinese website Taobao

Sweet and girly: For Roujia Zhang, 23, Masters of Communication and Media student, cute and adorable is her personal dressing style. The Chinese student from Sichuan is a big fan of Japanese fashion and gets her fashion inspiration from social media as well as from Japanese fashion magazines.
Jacket: IU
Overalls: Donoratico

A modern twist: Indian-muslim student, Ayisha Hameed, 23, who grew up in Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore feels that her fashion choice is influenced by both her Indian and Muslim roots. The Microbiology (Honors) student’s love for bright colors, embroidery and jewellery like polki, stems from her Indian roots, and she also substituted the traditional hijab by using a scarf (pictured) from H&M instead.
Jacket, sweater, hijab scarf: H&M
Scarf: Target
Jeans: Levi
Bag: Cotton On

Not a plain Jane: It is a stark contrast between his soft-spoken nature and quirky dress sense, but Masters of Business student Joseph Zhang, 24, is not a fan of plain T-shirts because that's too ordinary so his wardrobe staples are all covered in prints. The Chinese student from Suzhou is not a big fan of the local fashion because he thinks it does not flatter Asians, due to the size difference.
Jacket: G-Star Raw
The rest of his clothing was bought in China

Colors are for all: “Millennial pink” is Industrial Design student Patrick Li’s favourite color, and Li’s obsession with pink hues was evident after the 22-year-old confessed to owning three caps in varying shades of pink. Unlike Zhang, the Chinese-born Australian says he does not have any Chinese influences in his wardrobe, opting for solids rather than prints.
Sweater: Topman
Hoodie and jeans: ASOS
Shoes: adidas

Lack of religious freedom or religious misunderstanding: Saudi Arabian PhD of Nursing student Sharifa Alasiry, is a devout Muslim who is afraid to wear her burqa when she is in public alone, especially when she is with her daughter Sarah (right), over concerns for their safety. Alasiry, who wears traditional covering known as an abaya (pictured), says the burqa is often misunderstood. The most beautiful thing about a woman is her face, she says, and it is so precious it should be covered so only close family and her husband can see it.
Sharifa Alasiry (left):
All clothes from Saudi Arabia
Sarah Alasiry (right):
Beanie: Target
Jacket: Monash University

Multicultural influences: Freshman Xavier-Joseph, 18, is influenced by the multicultural surroundings that he grew up in. The International Relations major student of French descent who is a big fan of the Italian fashion feels that the Australian culture is so diverse that he is influenced by people on the streets, from both similar and different cultures from his, to create his personal style.
Shirt: United Colors of Benetton
Sweater: Uniqlo
Watch: Citizen
Shoes: The Merchant