1. Design and Buying Centers
Chapter 4
Fashion Centers
Design and Buying Centers
Global Impact of Fashion

2. Chapter Objectives Describe a fashion design center.
Define a buying center.
Explain how design and buying centers impact local economies.
Identify the most important design centers.
Explain the importance of global sourcing in the fashion industry.
Describe how cultural influences affect mainstream fashion.

3. What Is a Design Center?
A thriving design center can make a city important in the fashion world.
design center a district in a city where fashion design and production firms are clustered together
Design centers host important fashion shows during fashion weeks.
fashion weeks periods during each year when fashion designers present new designs or collections
Section 4.1

4. International Design Centers
Major design centers include:
Paris
New York
Milan
London
Tokyo
Section 4.1

5. International Design Centers
Since the 1700s, the city of Paris has been synonymous with haute couture and has been the home to couturiers.
haute couture French term for high fashion, which is expensive, trend-setting, custom-made apparel
couturiers professional fashion designers, involved in designing, making, and selling high fashion
Coco Chanel and Yves St. Laurent are examples of couturiers.
Section 4.1

6. International Design Centers
Atla moda, the Italian term for high
fashion, is centered in the city of Rome.
Designers in Milan concentrate
primarily on ready-to-wear garments.
Italian fashion is known for its beautiful fabrics and sophisticated prints.
Section 4.1

7. International Design Centers
New York City is considered to be
the center of U.S. fashion.
Almost two-thirds of U.S fashion
manufacturing is located in New York.
New York designers present their creations during designated fashion weeks.
Section 4.1

8. International Design Centers
London was originally noted for
classic business suits.
London fashion now focuses on
high-quality, ready-to-wear garments.
There are about ten design centers throughout the United Kingdom.
Section 4.1

9. International Design Centers
Tokyo has quickly become one
of the leading fashion design centers.
Fashion companies in Tokyo not only
produce Japanese designs but also have licenses to produce European and American apparel products.
Section 4.1

10. U.S. Design Centers Important design centers in the U.S. include:
New York City, New York
Los Angeles, California
Dallas, Texas
Miami, Florida
Section 4.1

11. What Is a Buying Center?
Buying centers are concentrated in geographic areas where manufacturers promote their newest lines or a group of styles and designs.
buying centers a central district in a city where fashion businesses sell products to retail buyers
Section 4.1

12. The Importance of Buying Centers
What Is a Buying Center?
The Importance of Buying Centers
Out-of-town apparel buyers generate millions of dollars for the local economy.
Section 4.1 12

13. U.S. Buying Centers
The apparel industry designates particular market weeks to present different components of fashion products.
market weeks the major times scheduled by fashion producers to show fashions to buyers
Section 4.1

14. U.S. Buying Centers New York’s Garment District is the
primary buying center in the country.
Many retailers avoid New York and
use regional buying centers in cities such as
Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, or Miami.
Section 4.1

15. U.S. Buying Centers
A larger regional center may have several building clusters, or marts.
mart a building that houses thousands of showrooms for a specific merchandise category
Different marts may be devoted to specific apparel or accessory groups.
(Ex: prom/evening wear,
handbags, etc.)
Section 4.1

16. Heart of the Fashion Industry
Design centers and buying centers represent the heart of the fashion industry.
Design centers represent the centers of creativity.
Buying centers represent the centers of commerce.
Section 4.1

17. Global Sourcing and Production
To reduce costs and maximize profits, many textile and apparel manufacturers have begun global sourcing.
global sourcing the identifying and negotiating of supply chains in numerous world locations
Section 4.2

18. How Fashion Travels
The global chain of production must remain flexible to
enable producers to respond to the latest fashion trends.
Globalization
Need to reduce costs
Time-to-market concerns
Product lead times + + +
More complex sourcing and production strategies =
Section 4.2 18

19. Culture and Fashion –see Page 80
The influence of culture or ethnicity cycles in and out of fashion.
culture the system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts attributed to members of a specific society
Some ethnic styles become classic, or standard.
Section 4.2

20. Main Points
4.1
What are three of the most important international design centers?
New York, Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo
What is the difference between a fashion design center and a buying center?
Fashion design center is where the creative functions of design and production happen. A buying center is a where fashion businesses sell products to retail buyers.
How do fashion design centers and buying centers benefit the cities in which they are located?
Stimulate the economy and increase revenue to a city through other businesses A. B.
Quick Check Answers
Paris, Milan, and New York City
A fashion design center is a location in a city where design and production firms are clustered together. A buying center is a central district in a city where fashion businesses sell products to retail buyers.
Design centers and buying centers stimulate the local economy through direct spending in the fashion industry. They also increase revenue to a city indirectly through spending in hotels, restaurants, and other non-fashion businesses. C.
Section 4.1

21. Checking Concepts
Describe the concept of fashion weeks hosted by design centers.
Fashion weeks are periods during each year when fashion designers present new designs or collections. 1.
Local governments are happy to have organizations promote the fashion industry within particular cities. It brings in tourism and increases the economy. 2.
Explain how local governments support design centers.
Checking Concepts Answers
Fashion weeks are periods during each year when fashion designers present new designs or collections.
Local governments enact favorable regulations, and they have organizations to promote the fashion industry within particular cities.
continued

22. Checking Concepts
What do we call the geographic areas where manufacturers promote and sell their newest lines?
Other businesses that benefit include hotels, restaurants, transportation services, and other non-fashion businesses. 4.
Manufacturers promote their lines in buying centers (such as New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas). 3.
Name some businesses besides fashion businesses that benefit from design and buying centers.
Checking Concepts Answers
Manufacturers promote their lines in buying centers such as New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Miami.
Other businesses that benefit include hotels, restaurants, transportation services, and other non-fashion businesses.
continued

23. Checking Concepts Identify the major design centers of the world.
Paris, Milan, New York City, London, and Tokyo .
New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Miami
Identify the major buying centers of the United States.
Checking Concepts Answers
Paris, Milan, New York City, London, and Tokyo
New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Miami
Risks of global sourcing include lack of economic stability in developing nations as well as economic and political factors around the world. .

24. Checking Concepts Critical Thinking
Answers may include any culture that has influenced fashion with reasonable examples. Some cultures may include Asian, western, and urban, Bahamian, Aztec. 7.
7. Identify a culture that has significantly influenced fashion of the last two years and give examples of items of apparel.
Checking Concepts Answers
Answers may include any culture that has influenced fashion with reasonable examples. Some cultures may include Asian, western, and urban.