GTA CLUSTER POWERPOINT

http://preezo.com/view.php?key=dabd6c5bb7c35c9ef832f35b8e88a70d

Web 2.0 to change fashion forever?

“What happens when following the fashion herd becomes wisdom of the masses? When everyone can become his or her own fashion editor? When “citizen” journalists replace glossy magazines as oracles of fashion?”

We have been studying Web 2.0 for a year now, so I thought this article would be a great example to show what I have learned, in the past year in Rod Shannon’s class.

The biggest beef I have with articles like the one published by the Financial Times is that they overestimate the importance of Web 2.0 to the world despite the fact that, most of the time, there is nothing revolutionary going on. Web 2.0 didn’t invent word-of-mouth and it’s not likely to have a major impact on the way the fashion industry operates and drives sales.

So how do YOU think the world of fashion will look after Web 2.0? Probably pretty similar to how it looked before Web 2.0.

This article is a great example of misusing social media marketing and word of mouth marketing. Do you listen to what your friends and family think of the clothes you wear?! Then read this article!

Cheers

Caroline Krikorian

Article Summary

• Recommendations from trusted sources such as friends and ‘experts‘ are (or can become) important promoters of sales in the fashion business.
• In the realm of luxury brands and high fashion, celebrity and exclusivity still remain key drivers for success. If powerful Influentials exist for fashion brands, they’re more likely to be celebrities, athletes, supermodels, hip fashion designers etc. than they are to be trend followers and average consumers.
• “celebrities, models, and the wealth that buoys them“.
• There’s a very good reason that many shows at Fashion Week use significant chunks of their budgets to ensure that celebrity attendees are in the audience.

The Financial Times states:

“People are starting to trust friends or those they consider to be their peers. If someone recommends something to you, you’re more likely to trust that recommendation and then go on to buy it.”

• Somehow social media proponents seem to be doing quite a good job of convincing the world that this is a new phenomenon that they control.

Osoyou.com’s Dawn Bebe, for instance, states:

“Five or 10 years ago, people used to look to magazines for that kind of referral but now, peer-to-peer referral is the first option.”

• Keller Fay Group, a ‘word of mouth research and consulting’ firm, found in a 2006 study that 92% of word-of-mouth marketing takes place offline.
• Interestingly, 41% of the conversations about brands “involve a reference to something seen or heard in the media or in marketing material“, which seems to go against the notion that traditional advertising is on its deathbed.
• A 2007 study by Keller Fay Group found that, while teens are more likely to be involved in online word-of-mouth marketing, 61% of this still occurs offline.

WEBSITE: http://www.e-consultancy.com/news-blog/365094/web-2-0-to-change-fashion-forever.html

For more information about web 2.0 and fashion visit http://www.businessoffashion.net/web_20/

Fashioning a Fashion Career

Welcome!

I decided to write my first blog on what fashion is all about. The article below describes exactly how I feel about the world of fashion and Apparel. It is not all about parties, and drinking. J.Simpson describes how you need to study, know how to draw perfectly, have good communication skills and to know exactly what you want out of your fashion ideas.

Enjoy the article below!!

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/free-fashion-industry-article/fashioning-a-fashion-career/fashioning-a-fashion-career1.asp

Aside from being model or a Hollywood A-lister, perhaps there is no other career more glamorous or exciting as fashion design. Most people conceive of a career in fashion designing as merely drinking cocktails, dressing celebrities up and attending chi-chi affairs. But fashion designing is more than that. Fashion is not just about clothes design either; designers pursue other interests like shoes, accessories, or bag designs. Of course, nothing gives a designer glory than a famous celebrity wearing and acknowledging her creations. Excited about pursuing a fashion designing career? Don’t grab your pencil and paper yet, there is more to designing than just drawing.

In setting up a fashion design business, a budding designer needs to know the basics. Knowledge and experience in designing, drawing, sketching, and CAD applications are necessary to facilitate design illustrations. Expertise in sewing, embroidery, and detailing are important and give a young designer advantage over starting competitors. Of course, knowledge in textiles, fabrics, and clothing technology are also requirements. Certification from design schools and workshops give additional points for a budding designer but are not really necessary.

Possessing the above-mentioned skills does not guarantee fashion designing success. These are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg in starting your own fashion business. As a starting fashion designer, you must identify the type of design you are interested in pursuing. Whether it is clothes, accessories, bags, or shoes design, it is important to equip yourself with the know-how of that particular industry. Also, defining your market is a vital step. Are you going to concentrate on women, teens, kids, men, or be a general designer? Some starting designers opt to concentrate on a special market by being a formal wear designer or a bridal gown designer. General designers however, usually get the most profits since they cater to everyone. Employees are also crucial part of your planning stage. Starting design businesses opt to open their own store and hire their own pattern-makers, sewers, and staff. Others choose to do consignment and affiliate themselves with department stores and boutiques. Custom and per-order designing are the usual pursuits of budding designers. Fashion business experts recommend the latter two to most starting fashion design business as these require less capital and workforce.

But still, there is nothing like the thrill of working close to top models and famous designers. To jumpstart a fashion design career quickly, applying as an employee in a fashion house is another option. Positions for entry-level applicants are usually pattern makers, sample maker, and sketcher. The key is to see these lowly positions as training ground for your fashion empire. To apply for these jobs, it is important to prepare an impressive portfolio with your designs and pictures of finished products from past customers. Fashion house managers agree that they tend to look for individuals with great style and flair for fashion. So dressing the part for interviews and applicant workshops help a lot.

Website: http://www.fibre2fashion.com