Fashion & The Fashion Industry

Learning Targets Define fashion terms. Describe a fashion cycle. Explain how the textile industry operates. Describe the manufacturing process for clothing. Explain what’s involved in fashion merchandising.

What is fashion? Fashion: particular style that is popular at any given time. Clothes, hairstyles, accessories, etc. Style: characteristics that distinguish one particular clothing item from another. Skirts: Straight, A-line, Circular Sleeves: Set-in, Raglan, Kimono

Fad vs. Classic Fad: a fashion that is very popular for only a short time. “here today and gone tomorrow” Colors, accessories, looks May return in another generation Classic: styles that stay in fashion for a long time. Simpler and less innovative Basic style never dies

Examples of Fads

Examples of Classics

Other Terms to Know Avant-garde: a French expression that means being ahead of fashion. Daring and unconventional Don’t appeal to most people Old-fashioned: any style that is no longer in fashion. Retro: style of an earlier time that are fashionable.

The Fashion Cycle Introduction Stage A fashion is born when someone begins to wear it. Garment introduced to the public Small quantities & higher prices Growth Stage Interest builds & people accept it Variations at lower prices Maturity Stage Many people wear the fashion Reaches the peak of its popularity Large quantities at affordable prices Decline Stage People do not want to wear it any more Sales rapidly decline

Why Fashions Change Communication Travel & Trade People & Events The Fashion Industry Social Trends Historical Events Economics Desire for Change

Did you know? The United States produces enough fabric to stretch to the moon and back 23 times! How is this possible? The Textile Industry

What is the Textile Industry? Fiber and fabric producers 40% of the textiles manufactured in the U.S. goes into clothing Fibers are spun into yarns then made into fabrics in textile mills Apparel manufacturers buy finished fabrics then use them to cut and sew into garments Fiber companies research and develop new fibers and equipment for making them Forecasting services predict color, fabric, and fashion trends 2 years or more in advance

Locations 70% of textile employment is located in the southeastern US Related businesses such as mills, converters, and showrooms are located in NYC Other showrooms LA Dallas Atlanta Chicago

The Apparel Industry This segment accounts for more companies, employees, and sales volume than any other segment Apparel manufactures buy fabrics then design and produce a clothing collection or line, and sell the finished garments to stores Today clothes are mass-produced Many garments are produced at the same time with machines doing most of the work 3 main categories: women’s wear, menswear, and children’s wear

Types of Manufacturers Garment Handle garment’s production from design, to production, to shipping Produce two lines of clothing per year at least 6 months ahead of season Contractors Specialize in sewing certain garments for a certain price Many oversees Accessories Shoes, hosiery, jewelry, watches, scarves, ties, gloves, hats, belts, handbags, and small leather goods

The Manufacturing Process Designing the Line Making Samples Establishing the Costs Taking Orders Ordering Materials Creating Production Patterns Creating Layouts Cutting Fabric Assembling Garments Finishing Garments Inspection Distribution

Fashion Centers Heart of the garment industry is in NYC Seventh Avenue Garment District includes over 4500 showrooms and factories! Market Week Store buyers come to the garment district to purchase merchandise NYC hosts 5 market weeks each year Other headquarters and apparel mart locations LA Chicago Dallas Atlanta Miami San Francisco Seattle

Fashion Merchandising Retail means the sale of goods in small quantities to consumers. Retailers sell clothes and accessories. Retailers decide what styles, fabrics, colors, and sizes to sell and at what prices. Retailers display, advertise, promote, and sell the clothing items.

Retail Stores Fashion Leaders Traditional Retailers Mass Merchants Feature newly introduced styles that are usually expensive Ex: Nordstrom & Neiman Marcus Traditional Retailers Offer many fashions at moderate prices Ex: Macy’s & Dillards Mass Merchants Carry widely accepted styles at moderate to lower prices Ex: JC Penny , Sears, & Walmart Chains Large retail company with many stores in many cities

Fashion Promotion Efforts to inform people about what’s new in fashion and to convince them to buy. Marketing: developing, promoting, and selling products. Methods of Promotion Advertising Publicity Visual Displays Special Events Fashion Publications Trade Publications