Seasons:Spring/Summer

Autumn/Winter

Different parts of the textiles product industry work to different deadlines:Colourists: 24 months aheadFabric designers: 18 months aheadDesigners (clothes): 12 months ahead

Typical work activities include:•resourcing colours and producing mood boards for designers to work from;•producing colour stories indicating the directional colour trends for fashion and textile ranges expected in the future;•adding specific expertise to forecasting the future trends of textile and fashion styles - such predictions are then published in prediction books for the fashion industry;•working alongside the fashion predictor.

Design starts as an open process and develops into solving defined

problems.

Is concerned with:•Aesthetics•Ergonomics (applied to fit and fabric)•Construction method (stitch and seam types/ fusible resins)•Cost•Selling prices

Designers may undertake all or some of

these activities, depending on the size of

the company.•Forecasting•Range planning•Designing•Pattern drafting•Sample making

A designer needs to understand:•Characteristics of fabrics•Source and use modern fabrics•Adapt styles for different sizes•Develop a product to a price point (budgeting)

•Taking into consideration the trends for;•Fabrics, colour and texture•Silhouette•Styles

Knowing and understanding the difference between:

•Staple products. (men’s underwear or school uniforms)•Classic products (men’s shirts or jeans) •Styled products (colour or fabric is frequently change)•Fashion products (fads)(Frequent and extreme change short runs, quick response to the market)

Understand and applying knowledge to:

•Fulfil design briefs•Using mood boards•Sketching initial ideas•To develop an idea•Testing the feasibility of designed product against the spec•Draft working drawings

Understand and applying knowledge to:

•Draft flat patterns using blocks and styles•Producing a working pattern to trial the style•Drape/ model or toile a design concept•Adapt a pattern and test it•Produce a final pattern

Understand and applying knowledge to:

•Work to a specification sheet•Produce a sample garment

Haute Couture sets the trends with the fashion shows twice a year such ‘London fashion week’. These styles are then translated into products which will actually sell and are affordable.

•Very high cost•High quality•Fashion RTW

Sets and follows trends

Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends, value issues, performance fabrics, new materials

£500-£5000

•High cost•High Quality•Ready to wear (RTW)

Sets and follows trends

Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends, value issues, performance fabrics, new materials and technology

£100-£500

•Medium cost•High quality•Fashion RTW

Sets and follows trends

Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends, value issues, performance fabrics, new materials

£50-£250

•Affordable•Good quality•Fashion RTW

Follows trends

Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends

£19.99-£75.00

•Affordable•Good quality•Fashion RTW

Follows trends

Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends

£250.00- £ 5000How long is a

piece of string?

•Reasonable cost•Range of qualities•Defined target markets•Range of styles

Follows major marketable trends

Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends

£5.00- £ 50.00How long is a

piece of string?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtrwTLuoAI CAM application fabric cutting machine