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Today, we’re discussing the significance of fashion design and merchandising in the garment industry. Can anyone tell me why fashion may be considered a big business?
Fashion is popular and attracts a lot of people to buy new clothes!
Absolutely! Fashion meets the creative desires of individuals, contributing significantly to the economy. It employs millions globally. What do you think are the basic elements that fashion encompasses?
They include styles, trends, and consumer preferences.
Great points! To remember this, we can use the mnemonic **SCT - Style, Consumer, Trends**. Now, how do these elements connect with merchandising?
Merchandising ensures that these styles are available to consumers at the right time.
Exactly! Fashion merchandising involves planning, buying, and selling. It is essential for business success.
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Next, let’s discuss the fashion cycle. Who can outline the key stages of this cycle?
There’s the introduction, rise, peak, decline, and rejection.
Correct! Each stage represents how a fashion style evolves. Let’s create a quick rhyme to remember these stages: **'In the rise, styles amaze, peak heightens praise, decline leads to change, and rejection's in range.'** Can you explain what happens during the peak stage?
During the peak, many manufacturers copy the styles due to high demand.
Exactly! This is the crucial time for marketers. How does this affect merchandising?
Merchandisers need to know when to stock up or promote these peak styles.
Perfectly summed up! Understanding these cycles is pivotal for anyone pursuing a career in fashion.
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Let's shift our focus to fashion merchandising roles. Can someone explain what a fashion merchandiser does?
They ensure the correct merchandise is available at the right time, place, and price.
Great! To remember it, we can say **'5 Rights': Right Merchandise, Right Place, Right Time, Right Quantity, and Right Price.** Each of those points is vital. Why do you think knowledge of fabrics is critical for a merchandiser?
Because it helps them advise designers and choose the right materials for production.
Exactly right! Fabric knowledge translates to better design and merchandising strategies. Let us finish by summarizing the 5 rights of merchandising.
Right Merchandise, Right Place, Right Time, Right Quantity, and Right Price!
Fantastic! You've all captured the essence of fashion merchandising very well.
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This section explores the importance of fashion design and merchandising within the garment industry, describing the foundational concepts of fashion, the evolution of fashion cycles, and the various roles in fashion merchandising, equipping students with knowledge for their future careers in fashion.
Fashion design and merchandising play a pivotal role in the garment industry, satisfying both creative urges and material needs. In this section, we delve into the key fundamentals of fashion, discussing crucial concepts such as fashion, style, fads, and classics. Moreover, we explore the evolution of fashion—from its historical roots in France, which became the epicenter of fashion during the 18th century, to the impact of the Industrial Revolution that transformed craftsmanship into an accessible industry.
We also cover the Fashion Cycle, illustrating various stages it encompasses: introduction, rise, peak, decline, and rejection. Understanding these cycles is essential for recognizing market trends. The aspect of fashion merchandising is crucial for ensuring that the right merchandise reaches consumers at the right time and place, with an emphasis on target markets and understanding consumer demands. Future fashion professionals are encouraged to combine creativity with analytical and communication skills to thrive in this dynamic industry.
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Fashion today is a big business employing millions of people in design, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, retailing, advertising, communications, publishing and consulting.
Fashion is not just about clothing; it's an extensive industry that involves a variety of roles from design to marketing. Millions of people work in different areas that contribute to the process of bringing fashion to consumers. This industry is vital to the economy and offers numerous career paths.
Think of fashion like a large tree: the trunk represents the core industry, and each branch represents a different career or area of specialization—like design, marketing, or retail. Just as each branch is crucial for the tree's health, each part of the fashion industry is important for its overall success.
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Fashion is a complex subject and certain words and phrases are often used to discuss various aspects of fashion. These should be understood in order to understand the concepts of fashion industry. These include —
- Fashion is the style or styles most popular at a given time.
- Style is any particular look or characteristic in apparel or accessories.
- Fads or short-lived fashions, can come and go in a single season.
- Classic or styles that never become completely obsolete, but instead remain more or less accepted for an extended period.
In the fashion world, understanding terminology is essential. 'Fashion' refers to what is currently trending, while 'style' denotes specific designs or characteristics that can persist over time. 'Fads' are temporary trends that disappear quickly, whereas 'classics' are timeless pieces that remain popular across generations.
Imagine a dance trend. A fad might be a specific dance move that everyone does for a few months, like the 'Harlem Shake', while a classic would be something like the 'Waltz', which has been enjoyed for centuries. Just as dance styles evolve, so does fashion, but some things stay classic.
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To understand the working of the fashion industry, one has to have knowledge of Fashion Fundamentals. First in the sequence is to know how the fashion business developed. Thus the history of fashion helps the designers to make decisions for the present day and future fashions.
The evolution of fashion is crucial for anyone wanting to work in the industry. By understanding how fashion has changed over time, designers can create new items that resonate with current trends while respecting historical influences. This historical knowledge shapes contemporary and future fashion.
Consider how movies often draw inspiration from past genres or styles. A modern superhero film might take cues from classic films, creating something fresh yet reminiscent. Similarly, fashion designers pull from historical fashion to create innovative designs.
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France’s dominance over international fashion began in early 18th century. Until Industrial Revolution, people belonged to two main classes: wealthy and poor. Only the wealthy could afford fashionable clothes. By the turn of 18th century, King Louis XIV’s court members became the trendsetters of taste, making Paris the fashion capital of Europe.
Historically, France has been the heart of fashion, setting trends for the world. The affluent class could afford fashion, which influenced styles. Gradually, with the rise of middle-class and industrialization, fashion became more accessible to the general populace, allowing for broader influences in fashion.
Think of Paris Fashion Week today as a modern form of this historical trend-setting. New designers showcase their work, and as media spreads these styles globally, just like King Louis XIV's court highlighted fashion to Europe.
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Fashion moves in a cycle. The way in which fashion changes is described as a fashion cycle. The stages of fashion cycle include introduction, rise, culmination and then decline in acceptance of a style.
The fashion cycle illustrates the life span of a style—from its initial introduction to its peak popularity and eventual decline. Understanding these stages helps designers and merchandisers anticipate trends and adapt accordingly. Knowing when to introduce new styles is critical for success.
Think of popular movies. A blockbuster often starts with minor buzz (introduction), gains overwhelming popularity (rise), and eventually, everyone has seen it, leading to it being less exciting over time (decline). Each phase helps the producers plan their next project.
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Fashion merchandising refers to the planning required to have the right merchandise, at the right time, at the right place, at the right price and with the right sales promotion.
Merchandising is a strategic area within fashion that focuses on ensuring products are available at the right time and price. This includes forecasting demand, selecting appropriate products, and planning promotional strategies to maximize sales.
Imagine preparing for a big holiday sale. Merchandisers must decide what decorations to buy, ensuring they’re available in stores just before the holiday rush. If they stock the right items, the store enjoys high sales; otherwise, items may end up unsold.
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
Fashion: The current popular styles.
Cycle Stages: Introduction, Rise, Peak, Decline, Rejection.
Fashion Merchandising: The planning and execution of product availability.
Target Market: Specific consumer group for products.
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
The introduction of ready-to-wear clothing in the 1920s transformed the fashion landscape, making it accessible to a broader audience.
Classic styles like the blazer and polo shirt are enduring examples of fashion trends that remain in style across different eras.
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
Fashion flows like a stream, from rise to peak, then fades from the dream.
Imagine a young designer who introduced a dress that quickly became popular, reached peak fame, and then faded away. She learned to observe market trends and adjust her designs proactively.
To remember the fashion cycle: I (Introduction), R (Rise), P (Peak), D (Decline), R (Rejection). Our story goes: 'I Rap Publicly, Doing Replays.'
Review key concepts with flashcards.
Review the Definitions for terms.
Term: Fashion
Definition:
The style or styles most popular at a given time.
Term: Style
Definition:
Any particular look or characteristic in apparel or accessories.
Term: Fad
Definition:
Short-lived fashions that lack the design strength to hold attention long-term.
Term: Classic
Definition:
Styles that never become completely obsolete and remain accepted for long periods.
Term: Couture
Definition:
The art of dressmaking, another term for high-end fashion design.
Term: Fashion Cycle
Definition:
The stages a fashion style goes through from introduction to rejection.
Term: Fashion Merchandising
Definition:
Planning and coordinating to have the right merchandise available for sale.
Term: Target Market
Definition:
The specific group of consumers a business aims to reach with its products.
Term: Market Segmentation
Definition:
Dividing a larger market into smaller, more defined categories of consumers.
Term: Retail Organization
Definition:
The structure under which retail operations are managed.