The Fashion Industry Fashion Interior Design

The Fashion Industry Fashion & Interior Design

The Role of Fashion Designers n n n Work at different levels Some national & world recognition Others assist high level designers or work with existing designs Specialization is common – swimwear, lingerie, bridal gowns, children’s clothing Must be aware of target market

High Fashion Designers – “Name Designers” n n n Influential in establishing fashionable looks for a season Some own their own firm or financed by partners Others – Ralph Lauren – are publicly owned companies listed on stock exchange The companies of high-fashion designers are called Fashion Houses Some have special style or look – RL – Classic, Hilfiger, Casual, street smart

Collections n n 2 -4 times a year designers turn out a collection – group of clothes designed or produced for a specific season – 50 -70 items Different collections for different customers – women, etc. May also have different price range – designer, better, moderate Top designers – responsible for most of the company’s creative decisions

n n Search for new ideas, design garments, choose fabric & colors & establish an image, set prices, meet with buyers & clients & promote the fashions Approve the licenses of other products that are sold under their name

Apparel Industry Designers n n n Most don’t have name recognition Work for garment manufacturers that provide clothing for a brand or store label Do create original designs

Stylists n n Adapt designs created by others, often High Fashion Designers By adapting – produce less expensive versions – Knock Offs – Choose less expensive fabric & change some details Must understand - garment construction - Manufacturing Process - Firms production capabilities - Work closely with buyers of major stores

Freelance Designers n n Work independently selling original designs or adaptations Self-employed – not involved in manufacturers business decisions

Business of Designing n n n Create hundreds of styles – most never make it to store “A Designer is only as good as his last collection” – customer makes the final decision Success once depended on high prices – not inexpensive – just as fashionable – mix & match – exp. With less exp.

The Design Process n n n Step 1 Idea Art exhibits, theater productions, movies, newspapers, magazines, travel, ethnicity New fabrics, textures, patterns, prints – trims, fasteners

Step 2 - Sketching n n Makes a sketch – very rough with little detail – some drawn on body silhouette – may add color Croquis (Kro-KEY) – preliminary sketch as it is developed it begins to get details – yokes, pockets, collars, etc.

Step 3 - Draping n n n Some do instead of sketching Draping – arranging fabric into graceful folds & attractive lines. Some use live models See silhouette, proportion, details longer than sketching

Step 4 – Selecting Fabric & Trims n Swatch of fabric & trim is attached to each design sketch

Step 5 – Making Sample Garments n n n Develop Pattern Sloper – preliminary pattern is made which fits a certain body shape Pattern is made – sewn together – tried out - revised

Designer Collections n n n Were specifically made for clients Couture (Koo-TOOR) – french word for dressmaking – designing, making & selling of high fashion clothing Haute Couture (oht koo-TOOR) – High Fashion – most fashionable, expensive & exclusive designer clothing – Cost thousands of dollars Atelier – designers workroom - hand sewing Fabrics – finest available, sometimes one of a kind or created exclusively for the designer – very few people can afford

Fashion Babies n n n 1700’s dolls dressed in detailed copies of Queen Marie Antoinette’s latest clothes Dressmakers in London used dolls to duplicate the style, fabric & construction details Couturier- designers who make custom made clothing – copied the idea & sent dolls to copy – was popular until newspapers & fashion magazines

Charles Worth - 1845 n n 1 st Designer to present gowns on live models 1 st Designer to sell samples to US to be copied 1 st to market perfume under his own name Father of Haute Couture

Fashion Capitals n n Paris – significant fashion always started in Paris until the end of WWII US started using more American Designers and started having an influence on other countries

Fashion Shows n n n 2 times a year July – Fall/Winter January – Spring/Summer Paris, NY, Milan – High Fashion Designers Collections – London, Tokyo, Montreal

Designer Ready to Wear n n n US started Pret-a-Porter – Deluxe ready to wear – French couture house present 2 collections a year More practical – not as expensive – fabrics not as unique – no hand sewing Sold in Major dept. Stores Top designers in NY, Milan, etc. hold showings as well – retailers come

Licensing n n n Giving legal permission to use your name to promote a product Receive a royalty - % of profits Licensing of moderately priced items has enabled more customers to buy designer products