this depends on perspective.
Fashion receives negative comments, b/c fashion reflects on us, the society.
It's just a mere reflection of how defiled the world has become, but people don't want to believe that the world has become so corrupted. So, what do we do? we choose to blame the fashion industry! But in the end fashion industry meres shows what people want, in most bold direct way.
So, if everything in society is really crap to you, then there is absolutely nothing good about the fashion industry. But if it has is good, that will shine. For eg. i know a friend who find marketing manipulation beautiful (bit strange
). For me I personally hate how the world revolves, but i love fashion as art, the ideal life, the fantasy.
on side note
Some may argue that fashion cause girls to seek to be beautiful. But that's not entirely correct. Most of our personalities develop at young age. And what do we get exposed to so much at such early age? Stories, and TV.
And from that age girls are alrdy brainwashed by society. From children stories, stereotypes portrayed in the media (mom cleaning), etc.
eg.
"mirror mirror on the wall who's the fairest of them all" or pretty dress makes cinderella pretty? it's stuck in the society. Fashion is not to blame at all.
If from today we start liking short legs, fashion soon will promote very short leg. the ideal beauty.
i apologize for talking too much