If you are planning on entering the highly competitive fashion industry, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the ‘Business of Fashion’. In addition, it is vital to have a clear understanding of ALL the roles within a merchandise team and also, knowledge of the supporting roles within a fashion organization. Understanding all aspects will give you confidence and in turn, make you more attractive to future employers.
Increased business knowledge will result in you being able to explore more avenues within the industry and provide you with the ability to work with colleagues across all disciplines of a complex business.
On this multi-faceted unit, you will gain knowledge of all aspects in a clear, understandable format. It is excellent for students wishing to enter the fashion business as part of a product development team in the capacity of buyer, merchandiser, garment technologist or designer.
You will be introduced to the major roles and responsibilities within the Product Development Team (PDT) including – The Buyer, Merchandiser, Garment Technologist and Designer. You will learn about merchandise planning, retail strategy, operational marketing, network science, costings and sourcing. You will learn how to create a balanced collection using a professional range plan, taking into consideration both historical evidence and trends. In addition you will analyse Trend Forecasting and the techniques needed to guarantee successful product development and profitability. You will be introduced to all the levels of retail: Mass-market, Ready-to-wear, Couture and Bespoke. You will also learn about the Luxury market, how avant-garde is relevant to the fashion industry and have an overview of fashion futures and retail innovation.
For the first assignment you will have the opportunity to create your own trend boards as part of the buying and product development process. For your second assignment you will plan a balanced product offer using a Range-plan, as if you were working as professional buyer or designer for a Retailer or Boutique.
This is a challenging unit, which will provide you with an immense amount of knowledge and will serve as an excellent grounding for a career in fashion. You will acquire a level of expertise which will enable you to apply for professional roles or internships.