2.8 - Fashion Evolution
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Introduction to Fashion and its Significance
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Today's topic is 'Fashion Evolution.' Why do you think fashion is significant in our daily lives?
I think fashion reflects our personalities and cultures.
Exactly! Fashion not only showcases individuality but also influences social trends and the economy. Fashion design and merchandising are crucial in the garment industry. Can anyone define 'fashion merchandising'?
Is it the planning and selling of fashion items?
Correct! It involves ensuring the right products reach the consumer at the right time. This links to our understanding of the fashion cycle. Can anyone name those stages?
Introduction, rise, peak, decline, and rejection!
Well done! Remember this acronym: I-R-P-D-R—'I Really Prefer Delicious Risotto' to recall the stages.
In summary, fashion is a dynamic industry reflecting societal changes, and understanding merchandising helps us align production with consumer needs.
The Fashion Cycle Explained
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Let's explore the fashion cycle in detail. What happens during the introduction stage?
New styles are launched based on designers' creative inspiration.
Correct! After this, during the rise stage, what occurs?
Styles gain popularity and more people start wearing them.
Exactly! As popularity peaks, designers often see their styles copied. What’s the next stage?
Decline! People lose interest because they see too many copies.
Great observation! And finally, what happens during rejection?
The style is completely out of fashion, and people move on to new trends.
Perfect summary! Remember, the fashion cycle helps businesses predict trends and manage inventory effectively.
Fashion Merchandising Roles
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Now that we understand the fashion cycle, let's discuss merchandising. What do you think is the primary role of a fashion merchandiser?
To select the right fashion products for stores, right?
Correct! They also analyze market trends to make informed decisions. Can anyone explain how they collaborate with designers?
They provide insights on what fabrics and designs are feasible based on market research.
Right again! This collaborative effort ensures that designs align with consumer preferences. To remember this, think of 'F-C-C': Fabrics, Consumer Collaboration. Any questions so far?
What are the levels of merchandising within a fashion organization?
Good question! There's retail organization merchandising, buying agency merchandising, and export house merchandising. Let's recap these roles—each plays a key part in turning designs into profitable fashion!
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
The evolution of fashion encompasses the changes in styles and practices that define how clothing and accessories are developed, marketed, and sold. Key concepts include the fashion cycle stages and the importance of fashion merchandising in aligning production with consumer demand.
Detailed
Fashion Evolution
This section delves into the evolution of fashion, an essential component in understanding the contemporary landscape of the garment industry. It outlines the historical development of fashion from ancient times through the significant changes brought by the Industrial Revolution and how these shifts have influenced today’s fashion trends. The fashion cycle is explained, detailing its stages: introduction, rise, peak, decline, and obsolescence, where designers introduce new styles that eventually fade. Furthermore, it emphasizes the role of fashion merchandising, which ensures the right pieces are available at the right time, place, and price, thus effectively translating consumer trends into retail success.
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Fashion Cycle Overview
Chapter 1 of 2
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Chapter Content
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. It is represented by a bell-shaped curve of time and sales.
Detailed Explanation
The fashion cycle is a model that explains how trends in fashion evolve over time. It starts with the introduction phase where new styles first enter the market, often through runway shows created by designers. This leads to the rise phase, where the new style becomes increasingly popular and is adopted by more people. The culmination phase occurs when the fashion reaches its peak popularity and demand, often resulting in mass production of similar items. Finally, the decline phase happens when consumers start to tire of the style, eventually leading to its rejection or obsolescence as they seek newer trends. This cyclical nature of fashion highlights its transient character.
Examples & Analogies
Think of fashion like a trend you might see in school, such as tie-dye shirts. At first, a few students might wear them (introduction), then more people start to buy them (rise), everyone has one (culmination), and eventually, people move on to other styles (decline and rejection). Much like how fads come and go among friends, fashion does the same on a larger scale.
Stages of Fashion Cycle
Chapter 2 of 2
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Chapter Content
- Introduction of a Style — Designers interpret their research and creative ideas into apparel and then offer the new styles to the public. Designers create new looks by changing elements such as line, colour, shape, fabric, and details, and their relationship to one another. 2. Increase in Popularity — As the new fashion is purchased, worn, and seen by many people, it may begin to rise in popularity. 3. Peak of Popularity — When a fashion is at the height of its popularity, it may be in such demand that many manufacturers copy it or produce adaptations of it at different price levels. 4. Decline in Popularity — Eventually, so many copies are mass-produced that fashion-conscious people tire of the style and begin to look for something new. These declining styles are put on sale racks in the retail stores. 5. Rejection of a Style or Obsolescence — In the last phase of the fashion cycle, some consumers have already turned to new looks, thus beginning a new cycle.
Detailed Explanation
The fashion cycle consists of distinct stages that help us understand how a particular style gains and loses popularity. In the introduction stage, designers present new ideas to consumers. If a style resonates, it transitions into the increase in popularity phase, where more people begin to adopt it. When a style hits the peak of popularity, it's everywhere—on celebrities, in stores, and even knocked off by other brands. As imitations flood the market, the style experiences a decline in popularity; consumers look for fresh alternatives and the once-loved pieces become less desirable, often relegated to discount racks. Ultimately, once consumers have completely moved on, the style faces rejection or obsolescence, paving the way for new trends to emerge.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine the life cycle of a trending gadget, like a smartphone model. When a new iPhone is released (introduction), people rush to buy it. As it gains popularity, sales soar (increase in popularity). At its peak, everyone has one, and many accessory brands create lookalikes (peak of popularity). Eventually, as newer models are released, the excitement dims, and the older model goes on sale (decline), leading people to opt for the latest model (rejection). Just like gadgets, clothing trends experience a similar life cycle.
Key Concepts
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Fashion Cycle: Describes the stages of fashion from introduction to rejection.
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Fashion Merchandising: Involves the planning and selling of fashion products to meet consumer demand.
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Target Market: Refers to the specific audience a business aims to sell its products to.
Examples & Applications
Example of Fashion Cycle: A new dress style introduced in spring that gains popularity during summer, peaks in fall, declines in winter, and is rejected the next spring.
Example of Fashion Merchandising: An apparel company that analyzes sales data to decide what type of clothing to stock in stores.
Memory Aids
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Rhymes
Fashion's a ride on a swirling cycle, from rise to peak to decline, don't forget the stages inline.
Stories
Imagine a new dress introduced in spring, adored by many throughout summer, only to fade into the background by winter. This story shows the journey through the fashion cycle.
Memory Tools
Remember: I Really Prefer Delicious Risotto for the fashion cycle stages.
Acronyms
F-C-C stands for Fabrics, Consumer Collaboration in merchandising.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Fashion
The style or styles most popular at a given time.
- Fashion Cycle
The stages through which a fashion moves from introduction to obsolescence.
- Fashion Merchandising
The planning and selling of fashion items to meet consumer needs.
- Target Market
The specific group of consumers a business aims to reach with its products.
- Prêtàporter
Factory-made clothing sold in finished condition and standardized sizes.
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