This SWOT analysis based on facts from Vaughn and Schmit Design and Fashion in the Australian TCF industries report, I have factored in aspects I find fundamental to my design practise.
STRENGTHS
-Bachelor Degree in Fashion design
-Strong views on sustainability
-Enthusiasm and desire to contribute to Australian culture through fashion
-Creating a Unique Selling Point [USP] through innovation, pushing boundaries to reach success and recognition in the Australian fashion industry
-Variety in market sectors/ranges within our collection due to Australia’s diversity in consumer needs
-Making my practise 100% Australian made, promoting on-shore production and more Australian jobs. Enforced by consumer wants and needs for Australian products.
WEEKNESSES
-High labour costs, initially financially challenging to start up and maintain fashion business
-Australia has a lack of production and quality craftsmanship
-Personal finance
-Limited production houses, which is a high cost, making outsourcing seem the best and most profitable option
-If production is outsourced higher profit margin, but loses Australian made labelling, which could result in loss in consumer loyalty
OPPORTUNITIES
-Understanding all areas of production, employ new people in house, due to the lack of production in Australia
-Creating an Australian identity in fashion and targeting Australians needs and desires in clothes for our climate and country, rather than follow overseas trends
-Drawing inspiration from Australian culture and landscape.
-Consumer supporting and are in demand for Australian made products
THREATS
-Lack of on shore production and no likely outcome for the future
-Ratio of trained designers to jobs available in Australia
-High cost for onshore production
-Funding
-Not having “contacts” in the industry
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Contemporary Designers
A 10 minute presentation on new designers in Paris
I should consider the following contexts: inspiration, influences, influence on other designers, affiliations with design schools, affiliations with other designers, industry/ manufacture base, market, creative process, basis of design practice, etc
Due Week 10 April 30
ill keep you updated on my presentation as i work on it :)
CHINA
China is the leading force in fashion production, it feels as if every product we pick up today is made in China. There is no doubt in my mind that China is the leading force in technological innovation, advancement, and production offering cheap manufacturing costs in a short turn around time.
China production feels as if it’s taking over Australia, and I am not exactly sure how as designers we can keep production in-house, and not be tempted to outsource to china to save on costs. I feel as if china has bigger problems to face as a nation.
China, culture? Traditions? Identity based fashion? Where has it gone?
In Australia our culture consists of a relaxed fashion and BBQ’s, where as China has such a rich culture and strong traditions.
China, especially the cities have pushed aside there beautiful traditions, dress, culture and mannerisms. These cultural aspects have had designers envying and seeking inspiration for centuries. China is slowly abandoning there culture to fit into western society ideals.
I feel China has a bigger issue to face which is soon to be a loss of identity, China’s youth is growing up with westernised ideals, and slowly but surely is abandoning its own values and culture. Simply because of there need to meet western standards.
China might been seen a an dominating force in fashion production but personally I feel loosing your identity as a culture is the biggest issue of them all!
China production feels as if it’s taking over Australia, and I am not exactly sure how as designers we can keep production in-house, and not be tempted to outsource to china to save on costs. I feel as if china has bigger problems to face as a nation.
China, culture? Traditions? Identity based fashion? Where has it gone?
In Australia our culture consists of a relaxed fashion and BBQ’s, where as China has such a rich culture and strong traditions.
China, especially the cities have pushed aside there beautiful traditions, dress, culture and mannerisms. These cultural aspects have had designers envying and seeking inspiration for centuries. China is slowly abandoning there culture to fit into western society ideals.
I feel China has a bigger issue to face which is soon to be a loss of identity, China’s youth is growing up with westernised ideals, and slowly but surely is abandoning its own values and culture. Simply because of there need to meet western standards.
China might been seen a an dominating force in fashion production but personally I feel loosing your identity as a culture is the biggest issue of them all!
Sustainable Fashion
Sustainability has been a hot topic for many years, I personally feel that the consumer has started to enforce environmental and ethical concerns since the government from all parts of the world acknowledged climate change along with how we as people and consumers have impacted the world in a negative and harmful manner. Consumers have now become more conscious of companies ethics, use of fabric, impact on the environment, location of production, transportation/ postage, sustainability and carbon footprint.
It is unfortunate that chain companies have associated sustainable fashion with literal slogans in big green font that say “green thumbs up” or “I’m sustainable” on over sized tee’s that have no shape and incorrect proportions, which consumers will not buy, and stereotyping sustainable fashion to potato sacks.
Sustainability drives consumer education and innovation one of the key innovative factors is fabrics such as bamboo and hemp which originated from sustainability issues. As designers we are continually striving for innovation and our own point of difference to stand out in the industry, I personally feel a great starting point into the industry is to beak this stereotype and introduce sustainability to luxury.
As a student there are several aspects I can change to my design process that will assist in sustainable clothing.
It is unfortunate that chain companies have associated sustainable fashion with literal slogans in big green font that say “green thumbs up” or “I’m sustainable” on over sized tee’s that have no shape and incorrect proportions, which consumers will not buy, and stereotyping sustainable fashion to potato sacks.
Sustainability drives consumer education and innovation one of the key innovative factors is fabrics such as bamboo and hemp which originated from sustainability issues. As designers we are continually striving for innovation and our own point of difference to stand out in the industry, I personally feel a great starting point into the industry is to beak this stereotype and introduce sustainability to luxury.
As a student there are several aspects I can change to my design process that will assist in sustainable clothing.
- Using natural fabrics, silk, bamboo, hemp, soy bean etc.
- Using natural dyes
- Using positive/negative space in fabric, zero wastage
- Minimising seasonal trend based fashion designs
- Transeasonal designs
- Creating an emotional engagement between the consumer and garment.
As for our in class debate I was on the “for” sustainability team, as a designer I strongly feel that, sustainability is the positive and correct way to head for fashion in today’s global society.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Mens wear
Men’s wear it was fabulous to focus on males for a change, the topic was broken down into looking at men’s fashion and uniform. Jen book on uniforms brought a great realisation and made me open my eyes I had never thought about looking into the history of uniforms for men’s fashion trends. Guys always wear cargo pants which are camouflage or khaki, and this topic finally opened my eyes to men’s fashion trends and where they have derived from.
A uniform shows that you are a part of a organization bigger than yourself, every person wearing that uniform is expected to express ideological characteristics of that organization eg. Behaviour, mannerisms, law, etc.
There are a variety of uniforms, school, local scout, lifesavers, army, police, navy, air force, fire fighter the list goes on. As a part of a fun mini task we got into groups analysed and re-designed from our perspective a uniform for a particular organization.
AFP was our organization of choice, here are our final idea’s:
A uniform shows that you are a part of a organization bigger than yourself, every person wearing that uniform is expected to express ideological characteristics of that organization eg. Behaviour, mannerisms, law, etc.
There are a variety of uniforms, school, local scout, lifesavers, army, police, navy, air force, fire fighter the list goes on. As a part of a fun mini task we got into groups analysed and re-designed from our perspective a uniform for a particular organization.
AFP was our organization of choice, here are our final idea’s:
Gender + Sexuality
Gender and sexuality such an interesting topic! I can talk for hours on our reading where females actively work just to be seen as feminine, our impeccable grooming, make up techniques, diet, exercise, body manipulations etc. All these aspects take up many hours of our time which for many people in today’s fast paced society is very precious, the big question is why! We put in SO much effort and so many hours to look feminine, only to walk outside and to appear beautifully effortless, and portray that we simply “wake up” looking this good. In discussion Kate had brought up the case study done on women in job interviews, and the amount of women that got turned down from the employer because they weren’t wearing enough make up and there wasn’t to a good standard, or wearing to much make up.
Another interesting aspect of Gender and sexuality is of those who completely break the rules, Drag queens! One of my regular clients [who doesn’t want his name mentioned but he wants his picture shown!] Loves to break all the rules of masculinity and femininity! This short interview gives a great inside to his mixed gender lifestyle!
Q: Mixed genders a male from mon - thrus and a female fri – sun what are the pro’s and cons?
A: Oh! It’s super exciting, pushing the boundaries. Men’s fashion can only be tolerated 4 days a week! Men have limited variety in work clothes, unless yours a village man, you are wearing suit pants and a shirt, different varieties in fabric and colours but not much else. Women’s clothing is extremely beautiful as the lead female singer in a band, and because I love to look good I constantly am shopping for something new, there is so much variety dresses, sparkles, shirts, hot pants, fitted pants the list goes on and on, what also excites me is make up and hair, it takes me hours to look perfect, I can literally change every thing about myself when I’m a woman.
Q: Challenging your gender and sexuality there has to be some pro’s and con’s!
A: bloody boobs and a waist! I do workout because that is important, I generally wear a corset for shape, cause my body is like a bloody ruler, and with how tight my corset is it gives my pecks cleavage which I love. Being a male not much has to go into it, a lot more effort goes into being a woman.
Q: The mardi gra being an annual event and a massive hit, you always participate in the parade and for as long as I have known you, you choose to be a female why?
A: its simple more choice when you’re a woman! It takes longer to prepare with hair/make up, which adds to the hype we will experience.
See why I love this topic! So many questions and different views and topics that branch off gender and sexuality. As I mentioned before I could go on for hours.
Another interesting aspect of Gender and sexuality is of those who completely break the rules, Drag queens! One of my regular clients [who doesn’t want his name mentioned but he wants his picture shown!] Loves to break all the rules of masculinity and femininity! This short interview gives a great inside to his mixed gender lifestyle!
Q: Mixed genders a male from mon - thrus and a female fri – sun what are the pro’s and cons?
A: Oh! It’s super exciting, pushing the boundaries. Men’s fashion can only be tolerated 4 days a week! Men have limited variety in work clothes, unless yours a village man, you are wearing suit pants and a shirt, different varieties in fabric and colours but not much else. Women’s clothing is extremely beautiful as the lead female singer in a band, and because I love to look good I constantly am shopping for something new, there is so much variety dresses, sparkles, shirts, hot pants, fitted pants the list goes on and on, what also excites me is make up and hair, it takes me hours to look perfect, I can literally change every thing about myself when I’m a woman.
Q: Challenging your gender and sexuality there has to be some pro’s and con’s!
A: bloody boobs and a waist! I do workout because that is important, I generally wear a corset for shape, cause my body is like a bloody ruler, and with how tight my corset is it gives my pecks cleavage which I love. Being a male not much has to go into it, a lot more effort goes into being a woman.
Q: The mardi gra being an annual event and a massive hit, you always participate in the parade and for as long as I have known you, you choose to be a female why?
A: its simple more choice when you’re a woman! It takes longer to prepare with hair/make up, which adds to the hype we will experience.
See why I love this topic! So many questions and different views and topics that branch off gender and sexuality. As I mentioned before I could go on for hours.
pic: abc.com.au
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Subcultures
Subcultures are people who have formed a distinctive network of behavior, beliefs and attitudes to what is classed the "norm". When mentioning subcultures automatically punk rolls off the tounge.
Working as a make up artist, subcultural trends influenced each era with great dramatical changes, one of my favourite subcultures in regards to make up are The Mods, the pic on the right is a typical make up look, this look was popularised by iconic model Twiggy and has been replicated over and over in the fashion circles. Here is a little insight of my favourite subculture:
A Mod was a product of working class British youth of the mid-sixties. They portrayed an image of being stuck up, emulating the middle classes, and acting snobbish. The Mod boys dressed in suits, neat narrow trousers, and pointed shoes. The girls displayed a boyish image, they darkened their eyes and wore their hair short to fit a unisex type of culture.
The Mods were essentially from London and the South East and were complete followers of the latest fashion. Each had to have a Lambretta GT 200 or a Vespa GS 160, scooters that they rode as part of their stigma that connected them to being a Mod. Like most gangs of their time, The Mods had a very distinct, yet common interest in music. They adopted to modern jazz, which was a style of music originated in Black America. Through the jazz music of Black America, the Mods appeared to distinguish themselves from mainstream society. They seemed to be attracted to the "cool" demeanour and elegant clothing possessed by jazz musicians, and strived to emulate their style.
I feel in todays society especially in multicultural australia we have come to accept all nationalities, cultures, and subcultures. In the past subcltures shocked society because they were not the "norm" and stood out, in todays society so many people stand out, we dont look differently apon them, well at least i dont, its a look of acceptance of there culture, of their lifestyle choices and self expression.
luxury
Week 1
Luxury it’s a representation of high aesthetic values, quality patternmaking + craftsmanship, its high exclusivity makes the pieces highly sought after for those people who can afford them, and a dream for those people who cant. Daslu this week’s reading topic was a perfect example of luxury in the fashion industry, it’s over the top “shopping villa” provides everything a shopper needs under one roof. Its luxuriousness is alluring and captivating, and if you have the money to spend then why not spend it in style. The debate that arose today in class was that these people who shop at places such as Daslu should pay more attention to the poor economy in Brazil and not be so over exuberant about spending thousands on shopping!
I understand the cultural importance of putting money into the economy, but my personal opinion on this topic is that, these socialites work hard and have a high percentage of disposable income, why not spend it on the luxuries companies like Daslu can provide.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)