The Challenges of the Home Fashions Industry

With today's economy it is very hard for businesses to do well. The real estate market especially is having trouble with the way the economy is going. With this decline in the real estate market comes a decline in the home fashions industry. The home fashions industry includes cushions, rugs, pillows, curtains, etc. With people buying less houses, there are less houses to decorate and turn into "homes". Also, many people don't really want to spend money on new home furnishings because they last for such a long time, and they need to save their money. Another challenge the home fashions industry is facing is that there is only a turnaround twice a year, so it's not always changing as much. It is hard to attract consumers and it keep things interesting in the industry. The home fashions industry is having a very rough time right now due to economical situations but since this is all part of the cycle and soon they will be back on track.

Guest Lecture

In today's guest lecture I really learned a lot about the quilting industry. Elyse Mullis was knowledgable and has a very exciting career. I also learned quite a bit about the textile industry and how things work related with fabrics and fabric design.
Westminster fabrics is a very popular company that designs new fabrics. The process is very interesting. First a design is sent in, and then they continue the design by matching and cutting a pasting until it becomes a whole page. Then they send the design sheets with swatches of colors to a company to produce the fabric, and then they send a strike-off to make sure that it is what they were asking for. It was very cool to see those things right in person, and to have someone talk about it that had so much enthusiasm for what she did, especially because she graduated from UNCG and to see what she is doing with her degree.
It was also interesing to see how the quilting industry is not really talked about, but can be very cute and just as exciting as looking for a dress. I also learned a lot about how important it is to try to do well in school and to go for internships no matter where they may be, because you never know where they might take you. I really hope for the best for the future wherever it takes me.

Sweatshops

Sweatshops are a very important part of the apparel industry. They provide a way for businesses to have products made at cheaper prices and ultimately the consumer also recieve the goods for cheaper prices. However the reality of them is horrifying. The conditions under which these people are working for the pay that they recieve is shocking. Sometimes children are also used in these sweatshops to be able to make these products for the cheapest prices possible.
"Corporate greed and global competition to produce goods at the lowest possible price are the main reasons for the existence of sweatshops" (coopamerica). This answers the question of why there is a necessity for sweatshops. Yes it is true that the retailers are coming off as greedy, but ultimatley it is business, and if you're job is to find the cheapest and fastest way to make a product why not do it? Sweatshops are vital to the apparel industry because it helps to all around give people cheaper prices. Also the people working in those sweatshops desperately need those jobs and it helps them to be able to provide for their family.
The downside to sweatshops is that people here in America are losing their jobs due to outsourcing. They also treat their employees very badly. The employees work under harsh conditions, working long hours, and recieving very little pay. I think that the working conditions could be made better. I dont' have a problem with sweatshops but I think that something definately has to be done to make it better for everyone. Even though the labor is cheap, it is not right to exploit them.

Fashion: Art or Useability?

It is no surprise that Milan is known for its' fashion and making it an art form. This season it was noticeable that that Milan laid back a little and acutally had more usuable clothing than in past seasons. However, the designers were still very inventive.

I really enjoyed Versace's collection and how she used the hearts with the zippers on them. It was very different than what is normally seen, and it added a nice touch to the pieces. However, I thought that the collection was very wearable. Useablitily is important in fashion because the consumers need to feel that they can actually wear something to buy it and express themselves. Consumers need to be able to see something and see themselves in it.

However, the art aspect of fashion is just as important. Art is important for the designer to express their vision. Fashion is a way of communicating to others and sometimes it's okay to be a little bit crazy and a little bit inventive when it comes to clothing. I think Versace got to express her vision with the hearts while still being very wearable. Fendi also put on a great show, and I found that one to be more arsty as opoposed to wearable. I loved the simple belts with the hole in them so that it coudl be more transparent.

From the hair, to the make up, to the clothes, to the shoes, everything is important in creating the look the designer wants and taking their clothes and turning them into art forms.

Design: My Inspiration

A lot of time and thought goes into the process of designing just a single dress. Designers use many sources to find inspiration. They can look back historically, colors can be inspiring, and even retro fashion can be inspiring. Designers have to always be thinking about what will be the next hot thing.

I designed a nice long dress that could be worn to a special event or like a prom. I got my inspiration from the Ancient Greeks, as shown from the empire waist and the braiding. I chose to do an empire waist because since I designed this dress for myself, the empire wasit helps to emphasize the bust. I also used a sweetheart top for the same reasons. I think that the front is very flattering, and not only does the empire waist help the bust, but it helps to look leaner and taller. For the back of my design I wanted it to be a nice surprise by making it different than usual. I made the two straps from the front join to become one and connect to the braiding in the back.

I started designing this dress one day in my Tragedy, Togas, and Television class. We were discussing the book The Mask of Apollo, and I just started thinking about what the women would be wearing in that day and I just started drawing. I really love the grecian feel to most clothes anyway. My own prom dress was actually very reminiscent of a greek goddess.

When I was designing this dress, I really had to think about the knowledge I had of this era and try to match it, but also make it new to the best of my abilities.Designing this dress actually wasn't as bad as I had in mind because I am not very creative or really a designer. Doing this assignment made me realize how much work goes into designing.

Ethnic Influences on Clothing

Everywhere around the world there are different cultures and different influences on how people dress. Even through western dress, it is easy to see how different cultures have influenced it. Some examples of this are the use of scarves, head wraps, and some grecian influences. Another style that came from Japan is the kimono. The kimono became very popular was very trendy.
The kimono is a popular form of tradititonal dress worn by the women of Japan. They used to be worn more often, but now they are only worn for special ocassions. The kimonos are made with very bright, vibrant pattersns, and the colors or patterns can have meanings behind them.
Today, the kimono inspired tops are flowy, with lots of different colors and patterns. They are not as long as the traditional kimonos, they have been modified into short dresses or tunic tops. The sleeves are the same, they are wide and long, and flowy. They also have the emphasis on the waist.
I really like the kimono style shirts. I think they are very pretty, and I like how the look is different. The patterns and florals are very similar to what could be seen in Japan. The kimono is only one example of how other cultures have influenced modern western dress.
Sources: http://www.forever21.com/

New York Fashion Week

The Spring 2009 fashion week in New York has just ended. All of the clothing had a main theme of "optimisim" and "freedom". The designers were showing upbeat, fun clothing with lots of color. Michael Kors even said himself that he doesn't ever do polka dots or bold prints, but he went with it this season which I feel is very important considering the tough times the economy is having. I think that is a great change from the Fall 2008 collections which were very dark. Hopefully the clothes for the spring will bring hope and the colors will make customers smile as was the intention from some designers.

My favorite designers for Spring 2009 were Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, and Vera Wang. Cathy Horn said in one of her reviews that, "The collection felt repetitive and in need of more color and surprise." I think that compared to all the bold colors all the other designers were showing it does need more color in that sense, but other than that I have to disagree. It's obvious that Donna Karan knows a woman's body I just love the silhouttes and the feel of the clothing. The colors were very junglesque, and I thought the draping was absolutley beautiful. Oscar de la Renta is just a classic. All of his clothes are always elegant, chic, and clean. As Rachel Zoe said in the video, everyone of all ages wants to wear Oscar. Carolina Herrera's dresses were also very beautiful. Her clothes look expensive and I loved all the dresses she had. The reds in her line were very bright and just attention grabbers. Red is normally assosicated as a seductive color, but she made it look very elegant. The look she was going for was romantic and I think she did a great job capturing that. As with Vera Wang, I love the simplicity of the foundation of her garments, and then how she goes and makes a color neckline, or belt that has a certain pop to the outfit. It makes the garment stand out so much more and it looks very nice and crisp.

As for designers I didn't like, I wasn't a big fan of the Calvin Klein show. Francisco Costa was showing "soft geometry". I didn't really like the shapes and how they stuck out. I appreciate his directions and his ideas, but I just wasn't feeling it. I also thought the colors were a little too soft, there was only like one or two blue dresses and the rest were white or really light pastel colors. I would've liked to see more pop in his collection. The Rodarte show was very interesting, but it was very out there. The only thing I really liked was the dress that swirled into different colors. I thought they way they made blue, purple, orange, and black work together. Other than that the collection will have to take some thinking outside of the box for me.

Overall, I thought the fashions for Spring 2009 were phenomenal. I'm hoping that the optimism shown in the clothing will really go through to the consumers and help us in our time of need of some kind hope. Maybe the clothing will reflect new beginnings in the Spring, and boost our morale as a country. Seeing these shows I can't wait till Spring, but i have to get through Winter first!

Organic and Environmental Friendly Clothing

I think that the movement for organic and environmental friendly clothing is a great thing. Environmental issues are very important for our generation, and it is great that companies are raising awareness. A lot of times at work, I see people coming in with reusable bags to put their clothing in when they go shopping, instead of getting shopping bags. At first it was strange, but now I see it a lot and just based on the bags, I think consumers would be willing to pay extra if they knew the clothes that they were wearing were all natural.
Many companies and designers are trying many things to ensure that their products are all natural. They invest billions of dollars and really are grabbing the attention of the consumers. I think that we should support the Sustainable Style Foundation for what they do to help designers keep up with the latest sustainability trends. Fibers such as organic cotton can be used for ear swabs all the way up to clothing. It is hoped that this will be used more in the future, and that enough consumers will be involved in making the difference for clothing made in years to come.
The only main issue with using environmentally safe methods of producing clothing is that the price will increase. Some people are all for the natural and organic movement, but they don't realize the cost that clothes will be. To naturally dye a product, the price of the good would increase 10 to 40 percent. With gas prices sky rocketing, and being a broke college student, it's hard to say if many people would sacrifice more money on clothes and less on other things they may need. For now, the movement to organic and environmentallly friendly clothing is starting slow, but is gaining speed and in the future, I think a big difference will be made.

My Favorite Designer

My favorite designer is Valentino. I chose Valentino because I did a project on him when I was a sophomore in high school and I really liked his collections and the kind of clothes he made. Valentino is a haute couture designer with a very distinguished classic look with elegance. He also designs shoes, handbags, and sunglasses. He uses very delicate fabrics and his known for the beautiful gowns he designs.

Valentino is very famous for the wedding dress he designed for Jaqueline Kennedy Onasis. The dress Valentino designed was a short lace mini dress. In 1968, it was not popular to have a short dress. Valentino's dress was photographed in magazines all over the world, and it instantly made him an iconic designer.

Valentino is now leaving the business. He is retiring and leaving his business in the hands of Alessandra Facchinetti. Valentino's last collection is his Spring 2008 collection. I just love the silhouttes of his clothes, and how they fit on the female body. He has a very good sense of what is luxurious and elegant, and whenever i look at his clothes all I can think is that I want this dress, this coat, this outfit, and these shoes. There isn't really one design I haven't liked by Valentino. His work is just very classic and elegant, and I don't think any designer could go wrong with that.