HB Fashion For Thought.
Wednesday 21 May 2014
Minority Report - Personal Advertising in the Future
NEW TECH IN FASHION DESIGN
Nowadays fashion its not just fashion its not just clothing now clothing is something that shapes our lives and the way we live.
Many fashion designers have been dipping their toe into science and the combination of fashion and science to create something so new and extravagantly interesting it gives them the new edge.
ALEXANDER WANG
Alexander Wang's AW/14 showcased a collection using heat sensitive woollen and woven fabrics this gave the illusions that the clothes where alive changing colour with body heat using clever laser cutting patterns and ink transformed this collection into sophisticated elegance.
mmm
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THOUGHTS ON THIS COLLECTION
I absolutely love this collection as a whole it has very small use of colour but i love the occasional POP of colour seeping through with metallic's and neon's.
The execution of the whole runway was extravagant and Wang never fails to make simple lines a more elegant triumph even with the complete funk of fresh new fashion. With a taste of the western the complete look with the cowboy boot like willies with contrasting heels bring another eye catching element to this runway pushing the boundaries of big backed hoods and shoes also the overuse of pockets gives a military injection to a few of the garments in this collection.
SPRAY ON CLOTHING
Yes it would be simpler to just put a T-shirt on but some people like myself would rather put in a little more effort and creativity by creating our own spray on T-shirt using this new technology “fabric in a can” which creates garments like a second skin. Thanks to a liquid mixture of cotton fibres we could essentially be spraying ourselves into our own dresses, tops, swimwear, hats and much more that we could then wash a re wear like normal purchased clothing. but can easily be reverted to use again as a liquid spray and all thanks to Dr Torres.
AMAZING.. YOU CAN ALSO WATCH A FASHION SHOW BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEN82Ebrqyk
My thoughts on future technology is that its a forever expanding and eventually everyone will be spraying, changing colour and purifying air as we walk our everyday lives in clothes we would normally wear. In a forever expanding obsessed consumer world we must have the latest trend addiction, technology will over ride fashion as we know it. Soon a wardrobe will be picking out our clothes in the morning because it will already know what you like and how you like it, just like Cher in clueless but with a slightly more expanded exaggerated robotic feel. crazy isn't it really, the thought of a robot picking out your clothes it would eliminate the insanity of “ARGHH I DONT KNOW WHAT TO WEAR!”
ETHICAL POLITICS OF FASHION.
When thinking about politics within the world of fashion certain factors spring to mind especially in the state of manufacturing. Once England itself was the heart of all product source. Leicester had a massive hosiery and sock production line, Northampton for footwear and Nottingham for lace and hosiery. “i could list more but i would be here all day”. England was at the top of its game and not a lot was in short supply but now most if not majority is imported and exported from foreign country's around the globe like Bangladesh, china and Indonesia where the culture is rich and the labour is cheap.
Fair-trade Fashion was introduced more than twenty years ago in corporation with “The Fair Trade Foundation” which was founded in 1988 and began by sourcing fair trade food. As time has moved on “The People Tree” was founded with it came sustainable and fair trade fashion. The objective of fair trade fashion is not to pay a fair price but to have a mutual respect for both manufacturer and trader. Fair trade not only has the potential to eliminate poverty at a house hold level it also enables people living in poverty to supply for their family and send there children to school. “ By changing the unfair structures of world trade, it creates a more democratic system” (www.peopletree.co.uk).
The People Tree
The People Tree are currently supporting fifty trade groups in eight developing countries mostly development organizations and social businesses working to WFTO standards (Ten principles a fair trade company MUST follow in their day.)( www.wfto.com). Many where originally founded to deal with a certain crisis or social issues or to just empower and inspire a particular community. Fair trade partners create everything from jewellery to hand knitted jumpers. People tree encourages hand skills and slow fashion to “strengthen livelihoods and empower over 4,000 artisans and farmers”.(www.thepeopletree.com) they also encourage designing collections with enough time for hand production and training for their workers to enhance there skills and strengthen their business this is highly rare in fashion companies today that out source material, fabrics, and manufacture.
Today's fashion world in now pushed to include sustainability and fair-trade fabrics into their collections big names leading the way are Stella McCartney who is a known animal activist and “eco worrier” who strives in running an eco friendly business. Other names such as Agua Cota,Lauren Pierce and Costello Tagliapietra all jumping on the band wagon because I think in this day and age of fashion and being a fashion designer you have to consider more than just your idea and your vision because your idea effects so many other peoples lives underneath you. And if you are prepared to step over anything at any cost to achieve your vision without exploring the facts or taking a look I think you lack in social responsibility and as a fashion student i will now consider the processes and lives of other people when deciding on final finishes and fabrics and i believe this will escalate through years and years of next fashion students because if it doesn't happen we will become a world of consumerism fighting for ourselves when we need to make a stronger not a weaker world and working together equally will help eliminate the bad.
People Doing There Bit in Leicester.
In and around Leicester there are we are trying to make a self sufficient come back and bring local produced back on our shelves. If you go to Leicester town centre you have to visit the lanes including St Martins Square
These streets and squares have several independent shops like Watch This Space who supply merchandise by independent British designers and locally produced quirky clothing really a treasure trove and can purchase one off beautiful garments. Another company is The Sweater Shop you might remember this vintage company from the late 1980s well its back with a new look! and still Leicester based just down the road in Thurmaston. You will also find a Fair Trade shop on the corner which sells a range of children's clothes bags and toys.
Current Final Major Project Trend Bored.
A trend board is one of the most important things when beginning an new design brief. understanding your customer needs and what the range will depict. Trend boards are also a great marketing starting point because you are able to understand the customer profile of who you are marketing for.
My trend bored focuses on modern architecture , creating very unique commercial clothing for those who live their everyday life in a commercial world, but intend to mix it up make a statement be recognized and be bold. As i think you can be stuck in the same shirt tie combination not really realising that fashion is moving faster than ever before.
Target market and an ideal candidate for my collection is someone who isn't afraid to break this mould and is ready to try something new. not someone who is refined by brand but someone who respects the art of fashion and effort in design,someone who appreciates clothes and loves revival. This theme can be transferred in to male and female garments but preferred young male with an innovative nature.
So get out of that boring old combination break the mould and be bold!
Thursday 8 May 2014
LIFE CYCLE*
The lifecycle of a piece of clothing varies from a garment being timeless to a quick FAD chuck away in which some garments are made to to break a week later, for you to buy another = consumerism a way for companies to make extra money.
Basic | Classic | Fashion | FAD |
Vest top | Little Black Dress | Culottes | Scooby Bands |
Leggings | Leather Jacket | Swing Dresses | Hair Glitter/ Mascara |
Long Sleeves | Black Blazer | Chunky Heels/ Flat forms | Heart Sunglasses |
Tights / Socks Underwear | Knitwear | Pastels and Tartan | |
Cardigans | Jeans | Contour | |
T-shirts | White Shirt | ||
Court Shoes/Brogue | |||
Watches | |||
Denim |
People
Innovators
Normally innovators of fashion spring from designers, models people with a self confidence and a high knowledge and interest in following or being the first the wear the current trend before anyone else.
Innovators can also be found in a unique individual with the ability to put a killer outfit together. Also very self confident and are normally found more at large in bigger cities, fashion capitals.
Having money would also help you be an innovator if the common interest was there. But money is not everything and creative people could put i highly fashionable outfit together without any funds at all which is still on trend like fashion students.
Early Adopters
Someone who reads a lot of high fashion magazines and catches up with blogs regularly. and who possibly has their own fashion blog of thoughts and ideas.
Working in retail seeing new lines as soon as they come in store and also STORE DISCOUNT! which would make it more affordable. For example “new look” store discount is 50% massive reduction for new lines wanted by a fellow employee.
Early Majority
Young girls ranging from the ages 17-23
Lacks general self confidence and would normally buy outfits already picked for them like dressed manikins in a store because it gives them the security they are “on trend”.
Late Majority
Mass Market, family life with no time to shop/look
shopping on a budget, still likes to look nice but shops more basic/ plain than trend. keeping a low risk/ low hassle approach to dressing. SALE SHOPPER
Laggards
Doesn't care what so ever about appearance about what is or not on trend.
HUNTERS FOR A BARGIN, and massively on budget to no money.
Moral- CHEAP AND CHEERFUL/ CHEAP AS CHIPS.
Where do you fall in the fashion lifecycle?
I would say I fall into early adopter and innovative due to being a fashion student and having a whole general interest in having the new thing or finding something amazing and clashing it with something else. You don't have to have the latest garment to be an innovator. You yourself can be a highly creative dresser taking inspirations from either end of the scale, its all about how your wear and your attitude towards the way your dress. weather its making a crazy bold statement or just quietly loving fashion on your blog. You don't have to die your hair pink and paint your face blue to be innovative.
Do you know what you are ?
HB*
MARKETING MIX
‘The 4Ps’
Weather you are a small or large business you still have to consider the 4ps of marketing. without these basic inquires your product will not fly. You need to consider all not just some of the points of your product. Its essentially the domino effect if one is out you will eventually hit a stump.
CHANEL ‘ready to wear’ S/S 014
He'd taken as his starting point an antique German paint chart and from it sprang painterly knits fused to tweeds of neon pink, black and white. Subtly glittering, they zipped up the sides to show pearl-encrusted miniskirts beneath sleeveless tabard coats, some with cloaked backs.
Endless ideas for his Chanel following - they came hanging off one shoulder, with feathery frayed hems, in a spectrum of pink woven knits - all easily wearable with a low-waisted nonchalance that was typically cool. Wide-legged leather trousers in pale pink or grey had cashmere knits tied around the waist, while a denim story - matching exactly the concrete floor that the girls were walking on - added a tougher element before silk dresses smothered in multi-coloured swatches were taken over by bow-festooned black and white full-skirted dresses.
The accessories, too, carried the artistic theme - spray painted rucksacks hung off the back of models carrying orange and pink Perspex bags in one hand and an artist's portfolio in the other - and huge pearl baubles at the neck or wrist were hopelessly desirable, while patent court shoes were attached to sparkling woolly socks. It had all the signatures but mixed them up again to look modern, new and intoxicating.
Lagerfeld walked around the Grand Palais afterwards to accept his applause with a wry smile: there's nothing quite like a successful Chanel.
Dolly Jones Information sourced from fashion TV
PROMOTION
‘Push and Pull’
High End Fashion Magazines normally advertisements in the first few pages.
TV Advertising.
Red carpet events in lower end magazines like ‘HELLO’ showing stars in the garments
PLACE
The whereabouts of a store has to be chosen correctly you would never find a ‘CHANEL’ store on a standard high street next to Primark. Location is everything! you would usually find these stores on the elite streets of major fashion capitals and capital cities. like Paris, New York and Milan. Their are four ‘CHANEL BOUTIQUES’ in London. Google- 'CHANEL' Boutiques Locations
PRODUCT AND PRICE
Dress and Jacket Combo
Fitted with layered mixtures of tweed with lashings of black and pink hounds tooth, finished with a rough frayed edge. Dress and jacket in matching materials with a synched in waist accessorized with two skinny matching belts, extravagant broach, bangles and clutch.
STUNNING!
If i was shopping in ‘Chanel’ i would expect a level of customer care an extreme amount especially if i was panning to spend thousands. But with these types of ‘elite’ stores and boutiques come with its fair share of snobbery, and the stereotypical ‘you cant afford to shop here’.
Upon purchase i believe a fair amount of packaging would be involved including logo embossed tissue, boxed then bagged in a luxurious over the shoulder roped bag. With the bold CHANEL black letters proudly on the front.
PRICE RANGING FROM 6000-14,000 MAJOR <3
TOPSHOP Ready to Wear S/S14
PROMOTION
“Push and Pull”
Billboards lower and magazines like Cosmo(high street edition)
The offer of 10% discount with the presentation of an NUS card at the till also valid off sales items as well!
constant streams of emails offering you latest garments and information about TOPSHOP itself . what's new!
They also offer an TOPSHOP shopping app for Smartphone and Android and have a public Tumbler where people can upload outfit pictures and inspirations.
PLACE
City Centres on main high street shops or big shopping centres more likely to be next to American Apparel than Primark. Google Maps Finder For London TOPSHOPS.
PRODUCT AND PRICE
WHEREVER Topshop's girl is headed this summer it's going to be hot because those barely-there silk slip dresses suspended from the tiniest of spaghetti straps will demand balmy climates. Desirably throw-on, they billowed in deep Mediterranean blues. For chillier days, she will be thankful for all that suede, which looked expensive (there is plenty of it around for spring, and for anyone hankering after Proenza Schouler's, which debuted last week, this would be your more reasonably-priced answer). Full skirts with drawstring waists, tops with deflated peplums, the series was standout. Meanwhile, Topshop's denim offering extended to patchwork hoodies and outsize jackets, and low-slung raw denim jeans with exaggerated cuffs, something that we have seen now for several seasons; first at Celine, then MiH. Those tired turn-ups were at odds with the trailblazing vibe usually associated with a Topshop girl, but that's a minor detail.
This was a collection spiked with global influences and crafty details, like a series of floppy crochet knits, a sun-bleached Moroccan tile print, dresses with ethnic fringed trims (the sort that one might pick up at a souk), and others more worked in the shape of shiny satin, A-line mini shifts appliquéd in scattered shards of mirrored glass.
Above all else, Topshop mostly got the measure of its customer: girls who holiday in places like Ibiza, who pack a suitcase filled with clothes that can work for endless days that run into night, and nights, into days. Any one of these pieces could work on a beach at sunrise or sunset; and come summer, that's just what they will do. (Sarah Harris) VOGUE. TOPSHOP S/S 14
Simple Swing Dress Textured Finishing's
Beautiful simple cut summer dress perfect for the early evening BBQ. With and elegant plunge V line neck holding together with spaghetti straps. Light material flowing with the walk. Finished with a wire brushed mohair effect and heavy star like patterning in deep blue and dark charcoal.
SIMPLISTIC!
Shopping in TOPSHOP is a pretty normal experience and i would expect a the certain level of customer care that i would find in any other shop, polite but not to attentive. When shopping in high street stores you normally have to ask for help as appose to the staff asking you. but you still expect good manors “Please and Thank you”.
Upon ready to purchase at TOPSHOP i would expect to stand in a 2-5 minute queue, and receive the standard “hello, did you find everything you was looking for today” at the till with some light casual conversation about the garments being purchased. To then hand over your money student card. to receive your garments in a not cheap but not highly expensive plastic/paper bag with the label printed on the front. no extra packaging. although sometimes the added bonus of a FREE magazine hidden in there.
PRICE RANGING FROM- £30-£45
ASDA
PROMOTION
Push an Pull
Lots of TV advertisements and exposure.
Catchy jingles and Catchphrases. “ASDA PRICE”
FREE magazines in and around checkout and store for food ideas fashion toys.
Lots of visual merchandise ( bill boards, bus stations, posters, leaflets, charity buckets)
PLACE
Normally found in local locations. with a busy atmosphere. standing alone.
Would never be found next to Tesco or another competing super store.
PRODUCT AND PRICE
Cutesy Black Playsuit.
Crafted with multiple front pockets and gold tone buttons this G21 belted playsuit puts a smart twist on utility style. So whether you’re off to the office or heading out on the dance floor this chic little number is sure to have you dressed to impress.
• Mock front pockets
• Skinny patent belt
• Mock buttons
Cool and coordinated, G21 is your one-stop shop for today’s hottest trends. In carefully synchronised colour ways, our expert edit of key shapes makes styling your new look a cinch.
Shopping in ASDA is an every day occurrence for some people and is not generally a treat but a chore. the majority of the time the clothing range is used for bog standard basics tights, socks and pants.But sometimes a hidden treasure is found under the masses of acrylic. Speaking from experience i wouldn't expect a great level of customer care or acknowledgement around this store.
Upon purchase in this store i would expect to be standing in a queue for 10-15 minutes.With a trolley full of items. Normally checkout staff are more polite than the main floor staff and shelf stackers and the buying process is very simple scan buy go, they also offer a self service which is basket only. The packaging offered in ASDA is a standard thin plastic carrier bag. But if you so wish you can purchase a bag for life which is a sturdier construction and the proceeds go to charity.
PRICE OF GARMENT-£16
Thursday 27 February 2014
Fashion Forecasting and Trend*
Fashion Forecaster Job Description.
Fashion forecasting is a global career that focuses on upcoming trends. A fashion forecaster predicts the colours, fabrics and styles that will be presented on the runway and in the stores for the upcoming seasons. The concept applies to not one, but all levels of the fashion industry including haute couture, ready-to-wear, mass market, and street wear. Trend forecasting is an overall process that focuses on other industries such as automobiles, medicine, food and beverages, literature, and home furnishings. Fashion forecasters are responsible for attracting consumers and helping retail businesses and designers sell their brands. Today, fashion industry workers rely on the Internet to retrieve information on new looks, hot colours, celebrity wardrobes, and designer collections. (Wikipedia)
Vogue's Fashion Guide for Spring 2014.
Spring 2014 is about transformative clothes. It’s about boiling down everything that was on the runways to the one thing (or 75-plus things) to buy next season that will instantly update a look. And the statements are simple: Try a longer skirt, one that hits midcalf or the upper ankle. Feel the power of flowers, whether they’re rendered as South American embroideries or giant South Pacific hibiscus. Take cues from your favourite gallery and wear something artful. This season, there is fashion for every personality.
Fashion calendar!
Quick example of a fashion calendar for women's wear.
JAN
- Complete sampling
- Selling the range
- Contracting and seeing buyers
- Organising production for Autumn deliveries
Begin sourcing fabrics
- Sales (Europe)
- Production sourcing / finances
FEB
- Sales / exhibitions / marketing
- Production sourced and agreed
- Finances checked
Sample fabrics
Fabrics orders
MAR
- Order book closed
- Fabrics ordered
- Production underway
- Designing begins
- Marketing/promotion discussed
- Budgets set
- Production underway
- Quality control
APR
Production underway & monitored
Collection developed
Orders dispatched
MAY
Production underway & monitored
Collection developed
Collect payment
JUN
Production underway & monitored
Samples and exhibition sales
Collection developed
JUL
Orders dispatched
Production sourced / finances
Sample range finalised
AUG
Collect payment
Fabrics ordered
Sales & marketing begins
Begin fabric sourcing
SEP
Collect payment
Fabrics ordered
Sales & marketing
Fabric sourcing
Fabric sourcing
OCT
- Production underway
- Quality control
- Order books closed
- Fabrics ordered
- Production underway
Designing
- Designing begins
- Marketing and promotion discussed
- Budgets set
NOV
Orders dispatched
Production underway & monitored
Collection developed
Collection developed
DEC
Production underway & monitored
Sales (USA)
Collection developed
Menswear Calendar works two months ahead of a women's wear calendar.
JANUARY
- Complete sampling
- Selling the range
- Meeting buyers
FEBRUARY
- Sales & exhibitions
- Production sourced
- Pre-production technical packs
MARCH
- Order book closed
- Fabrics ordered
- Production confirmed
APRIL
Production underway
MAY
- Production underway & monitored
- Quality control
Collection developed
JUNE
Production dispatched
- Complete sampling
- Selling the range
- Meeting buyers
JULY
Production dispatched
- Sales & exhibitions
- Production sourced
- Pre-production technical packs
AUGUST
- Order books closed
- Fabrics ordered
- Production confirmed
SEPTEMBER
Production underway
OCTOBER
Production underway
NOVEMBER
- Production underway & monitored
- Quality control
DECEMBER
Production dispatched
( information sourced from http://www.designerfactfile.com/content/353/Advice-from-Designers)
Premier Vision is an exhibition in Paris, for anyone in fashion,marketing or trend is a MUST GO! and a non miss under any circumstances. there will also be textile artist and many other merchandisers selling their fabric,the exhibition itself showcases colour,fabrics and current patterns. Its a place for everyone to get together to collect ideas and inspirations to find the must have bag the fabric the colour to make sure you and your company are on current trend of the season.
Other sourcing of information for any fashion company comes from trend books/ catalogues collated by specific companies like Collezioni, Fashion Trend Forecast and promostsl their job role is to predict the; shapes, colour, materials, structure, accessories and themes of upcoming trends (the complete look) and the catalogue/book you receive from the specific company will be directly responsive and related to your company style.