Tuesday, 28 April 2015
COMPETITION ENTERING REFLECTION
Competition 2 : CINDERELLA DRESS DESIGN
"To mark the release of the new live-action film based on the classic fairytale CINDERELLA starring Lily James, Cate Blanchett and Richard Madden, Disney is running an exclusive competition. Fans are being encouraged to submit the design of their very own dream fairytale dress. The winning entry will be presented to the chosen one with their own dress brought to life, during afternoon tea at the Langham Hotel”
http://londontheinside.com/2015/03/11/disneys-cinderella-dream-dress-competition/
HERE IS MY ENTRY WITH A MYTHICAL FAIRYLIKE TWIST :
http://londontheinside.com/2015/03/11/disneys-cinderella-dream-dress-competition/
HERE IS MY ENTRY WITH A MYTHICAL FAIRYLIKE TWIST :
COMPETITION 1 : ALICE IN WONDNERLAND FOR DEBENHAMS
“ MOODBOARD COMPETITION GUIDELINES" : http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/debenhams-moodboard-competiton-win-300-debenhams-voucher-and-tickets-to-attend-the-uk-blog-awards/
HERE IS MY MOOD BOARD FOR THE COMPETITION , BLOGGED AND HASHTAGGED AS ASKED:
Monday, 27 April 2015
‘ interviewing a fashion professional '
“ I recently interviewed my manager at Next retail Ltd in Plymouth, Mandy is head of womenswear and is a key member of the team at Next"
How did you get into managing the Clothing store Next?
ANSWER : I got into management in next by walking into the store and handing in a cv! I then got asked in for an interview. A lot different to how we recruit now but I've been working for next for nearly 10years now. Fortunately I had previous supervisor experience from my other two jobs and luckily next had a position as a senior sales (another name for a supervisor) over the years I've worked my way up through another 4management levels, which I had interviews for. Obviously positions had to be there to apply for in the first place. I've been incredibly lucky, and my hard work has been recognised.
How did you get into managing the Clothing store Next?
ANSWER : I got into management in next by walking into the store and handing in a cv! I then got asked in for an interview. A lot different to how we recruit now but I've been working for next for nearly 10years now. Fortunately I had previous supervisor experience from my other two jobs and luckily next had a position as a senior sales (another name for a supervisor) over the years I've worked my way up through another 4management levels, which I had interviews for. Obviously positions had to be there to apply for in the first place. I've been incredibly lucky, and my hard work has been recognised.
What would you say are your 3 main advantages and disadvantages in your job?
ANSWER : Advantages 1) training and working with lots of different individuals and seeing them grow. I've had 3 of my staff start with me as sales assistants and go on into management positions. 2) everyday is different, there is always something that makes it interesting, enjoy planning and organising 3) working with in a team, to create a team takes a lot of perseverance and to see it achieve makes me smile, and to see it pull together in stressful situations makes me feel like part of a family.
Disadvantages: 1) dealing with the public!! 2) your day is re prioritised all the time so you can feel you haven't achieved. 3) a lot of deadlines you must meet whatever happens during the shift.
Is visual merchandising something you have to consider as a manager and how does this element of the store effect you as a manager ?
ANSWER : visual merchandising is constantly your main priority. You have to consider every detail from can those items create an outfit? Down to the standards of how it is displayed i.e cleanliness and cubing. You want the customer to enjoy shopping with us, so you need to make it as easy as possible for them to find what they are looking for whilst showing them how them can create other options at the same time to put those link sales through the till. Through reports which are analysed in detail on a Monday and reviewed daily, you can make commercial decisions to increase sales. This element of the job is a daily task as a manager.
do you get much say in the visual merchandising + look of the floor ?
ANSWER : we have guidelines which we have to follow. And photos which we follow to place the stock. These come from head office where we have mock shops and the stock is put together through a team which then gets signed off by the directors. You get told how much space each colour way (stories) should have, as a manager you need to create a plan which is going to show case these outfits/clothing options to there best. Obviously not every shop floor/store is the same shape or size so you need to sometimes adapt to make it work for your store. Not every store will have the same stock or the stock might not arrive in time to create the look the photographs say, this is where we as managers get our say in the merchandising, and showcase the stock to its best. It's all about reacting to the sales and making commercial decisions to reflect this.
I feel Mandy’s responses have given me a great insight into how hard you have to work to ‘climb the ladder’ in the industry and she has clearly put in a lot of hours into achieving her career goal! Knowing the best sellers and the favourite pieces is key and merchandising the stock in a way that captures the customers eye is definitely something that Mandy has stressed in her answers, this is something I have considered in my VM internship application process!
VISITING LECTURER PATRICK FORD :
"On the 11th March, PCA fashion week, Patrick Ford came in and do a talk about his photography career and what you need to know to become a successful photographer, making it clear that it’s all about the connections you have in this industry which play a big part in being a successful photographer. Patrick started making connections with the industry at his last year of uni, going to internships and work experience placements taking photos for free !!
In the lecture he also showed us his new website that he’s been working on informing us that having a strong looking website is also key when you can showing your clients and it also helps with making connections. Over the years he has has worked with Kate Moss, The Darkness, Rita Ora etc…
He explained that sometimes his favourite shoots happened by accident or with him just ‘making do with what he has at that moment’ he said that one of his best collections of images is when he just took pictures of Eminem posing and crouching infront of a basic red board as a backdrop behind stage!"
MOOD BOARD WORK FOR Extended Visual Communication BAFS201
INSPIRATION :
- PLEATS
- LOGO NUMBERS/ LETTERING
- OVERSIZED
- BOXY SQUARED SHAPES
- METALLICS
- ZIPS
- RAW SEAMS
- MESH / NET
JOB REASEARCH : BUYER , STYLIST , VISUAL MERCHANDISER
“I have taken the time out to research the fashion proffesions I am most interested in so I can help relate my findings through my research tasks to my future career!
What does a Fashion Stylist do?
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Visual merchandiserJob description
Visual merchandisers develop, deliver and communicate visual concepts and strategies to promote retail brands, products and services in-store, in catalogues or online. They may also work with museums and galleries or create visual concepts for events.
The majority of visual merchandising personnel are employed in retail stores, the lowest level being assistant visual merchandiser up to visual merchandising/image controller, employing a staff of fifty plus in a large organisation.
Visual merchandising designers who work in head office collaborate closely with other departments to create annual visual strategies and promotional events in order to entertain, excite and maintain the interest of the target markets.
Some visual merchandisers work on a freelance or consultancy basis and create visual concepts for clients or deliver training to retail teams.
Typical work activities
Day to day activities will vary depending on the employer and on the level of visual merchandising work being undertaken. Visual merchandisers working at higher levels can be based within head office teams, with regional teams, or at larger or flagship stores.
Activities typically include:
- liaising with teams such as buying, design and marketing to create design themes and plans, often months in advance, including window and in-store displays, signage and pricing concepts;
- conducting research on current and future trends in design and lifestyle, and associated target market features;
- meeting with business, sales managers and retail managers to discuss sales strategies;
- identifying and sourcing props, fabrics, hardware and lighting;
- maintaining a budget and negotiating with suppliers of visual materials;
- working with architectural features of stores to maximise the available space;
- using artistic skills or computer-aided design (CAD) packages, such as AutoCAD, Mockshop or Adobe Creative Suite, to create visuals and plans;
- if head office based, creating visual merchandising packs to communicate visual guidelines including layout principles, visual dressings and signage;
- visiting braches to coach in-store visual merchandising or sales teams to interpret the guidelines and training them in the execution of the visual concept;
- assembling or dismantling visual displays in windows or in-store;
- carrying out 'comp (comparison) shops' to maintain awareness of other retailers' visual merchandising concepts;
- leading and motivating teams to complete displays to tight deadlines;
- seeking feedback from colleagues and customers on the visual impact of displays and implementing changes.
Potential candidates should ensure they understand the difference between visual merchandising, retail merchandising and shop-floor merchandising. The latter two are concerned with volumes and allocation of stock and its location and functional arrangement on the shop floor, rather than the visual and creative impact it makes. There are interfaces between the roles and teams may work closely together to achieve maximum sales and profitability.
Retail buyerJob description
A retail buyer is responsible for planning and selecting a range of products to sell in retail outlets. The buyer must consider the following factors when making purchasing decisions:
- customer demand, including price, quality and availability;
- market trends;
- store policy;
- financial budgets.
Buyers source new merchandise and review existing items to ensure products remain competitive. By fully understanding customer needs, they are able to maximise profits and provide a commercially viable range of merchandise at competitive prices. Keeping up to date with market trends and reacting to changes in demand are key elements of the role.
Retail buyers have a considerable amount of responsibility and autonomy in what is often a pressured environment.
Typical work activities
Typical work activities can vary according to the season. This is particularly true for those working in fashion. For example, out of season, the majority of time will be spent in the workplace (in the office and on the shop floor), and during the buying season, a significant amount of time will be spent away from the workplace in order to assemble a new collection of merchandise.
Throughout the year, tasks typically involve:
- analysing consumer buying patterns and predicting future trends;
- regularly reviewing performance indicators, such as sales and discount levels;
- managing plans for stock levels;
- reacting to changes in demand and logistics;
- meeting suppliers and negotiating terms of contract;
- maintaining relationships with existing suppliers and sourcing new suppliers for future products;
- liaising with other departments within the organisation to ensure projects are completed;
- attending trade fairs, in the UK and overseas, to select and assemble a new collection of products;
- participating in promotional activities;
- writing reports and forecasting sales levels;
- presenting new ranges to senior retail managers;
- liaising with shop personnel to ensure supply meets demand;
- getting feedback from customers;
- training and mentoring junior staff.
Purchasing managerJob description
Purchasing managers are responsible for buying the best quality equipment, goods and services for a company or organisation at the most competitive prices. They work in a wide range of sectors for many different organisations.
The purchasing manager oversees supply chain management and procurement, possibly on a worldwide scale.
They need to be good at negotiating, networking and dealing with numbers, as well as dealing with other factors such as sustainability, risk management and ethical issues.
Purchasing and supply management is an important role for any business or organisation. More than two thirds of revenue can be spent on buying the company's products or services, meaning the purchasing manager can make a real difference in cost saving and profit.
Typical work activities
The duties carried out by a purchasing manager depend largely on the business functions, size and location of the employing organisation.
The level of responsibility held by the purchasing manager will also influence responsibilities. Tasks typically involve:
- forecasting levels of demand for services and products to meet the business needs and keeping a constant check on stock levels;
- conducting research to ascertain the best products and suppliers in terms of best value, delivery schedules and quality;
- liaising between suppliers, manufacturers, relevant internal departments and customers;
- identifying potential suppliers, visiting existing suppliers, and building and maintaining good relationships with them;
- negotiating and agreeing contracts and monitoring their progress, checking the quality of service provided;
- processing payments and invoices;
- keeping contract files and using them as reference for the future;
- forecasting price trends and their impact on future activities;
- giving presentations about market analysis and possible growth;
- developing an organisation's purchasing strategy;
- producing reports and statistics using computer software;
- evaluating bids and making recommendations based on commercial and technical factors;
- ensuring suppliers are aware of business objectives;
- attending meetings and trade conferences;
- training and supervising the work of other members of staff.
GFW
“ as a student I get into GFW for free!! Of course il be attending on the 30th of this month! reflective review of the show coming soon
Alexander Mc queen Exhibition V&A : upcoming event
“ On the 6 Th of May Im travelling up to london to see the Savage beauty exhibition in the V&A museum so I will have a review to follow next week ! "
“ anthropologie internship - FLORIDA FORT LAUDERDALE "
“ My 2nd cousin lives in fort lauderdale, Florida, I have applied for many internships in London but haven't had much luck with responses! But I was looking on internships.com and found a opening advertisement for a visual merchandising/display intern for Anthropologies store in Fort Lauderdale! I spent and hour and a half on my application and have had a hopeful response from head of merchandising! Here is my creative board and well fingers crossed !! I visited in London and did a shop report on it in my first year the enchanted displays and plantation is just amazing!!
KELLY ANNA LONDON - INTERNSHIP INTERVIEW
“ In January I travelled up to London to Sophia Websters studio in Shoreditch for an interview with Kelly Anna, a digital print designer who designs for illustrated people ( a concession in Topshop) and who has currently teamed up with Sophia Webster for her SS15 shoe collection producing the print designs for the shoes! She was so lovely and down to earth and super quirky which I loved I presented her with some of my photoshop prints and illustrator designs and she said that I was clearly capable of helping her out and being her hands whilst she had all of her other jobs to do!! She said to email her about dates in May! Below are some images of her own work and her collaborations with clothing/shoe companies:
Cover Letter - Internships
“ When applying for internships I have added a cover letter explaining , my goal in achieving a job and the skills and experience I have for them to want to employ me as a fashion intern this summer. Id like to achieve a internship in styling or visual merchandising/displays as this is something I feel am good at and drawn to as a creative !
‘ Development of Illustrator designs and pay plans '
“ I have progressed so much this year compared to last, through my pattern cutting ; taking notice of sewing and seaming techniques and having to do a module where I wasn’t allowed to overlock anything really made me push myself to explore french seaming , binding and lining ect! One of the main areas of every creative module Is CAD work , including illustrator! When I look back to Septembers illustrations I can see the progress I’ve made from then to now so clearly! Practice sure does make perfect and here is a little example" :
WORK EXPERIENCE WITH VINTAGE SHOP
“ I have recently began working with local vintage shop ‘Continuum Vintage’ the store is based just off north hill! I began my work enquiring about maybe reworking any items that he’s received that are either unsellable or faulty! Working together looking through fashion bloggers Instagrams and pintrests we found inspiration for designs and Joe (the owner) has been giving me briefings for alterations and customising garments ! Here are a few bits I have worked on and that he now has on sale and has blogged about! I have a project that I am currently working on , customising some 80s runner shorts ! I feel this is a good opportunity for me and every time I take on a new task I learn something new about pattern cutting and reworking garments”!
MODULE REFLECTION BAFS201 : Extended Visual Communication
“ When i first got given the brief for this module I was happy with the team That id been selected to work with,working with Ali and her knowledge of fabrcis, trends and ‘whats already been done’ has helped me so much as a designer, she’s broken down a lot of walls I had as a designer which includes my closed mindedness and my instinct to be a individual when working as a team! I have yet to toile up my second outfit and am pretty stressed as y organisation skills have let me down this year ! butttt , I have made a scheduled time table for this module now allowing to make time for later cutting and printing in the fab lab and portfolio work as well as the 2 final garments themselves! Ive used the fab lab and have been exploring more hardwearing , better quality fabrics , both things I never did in my 1st year at PCA , these 3 months I’ve really pushed myself to try new things and bring my crazy designs to life! Here are some of the prints I’ve designed for my groups logo and my first toile without my leggings that I’m making" :
1 st outfit : Tabbard with front pleated panel + logo printed on the back + unitard with detachable zipped pockets
2nd outfit : Oversized quilted tshirt dress
+ one leg leggings with sublimation logo printed
‘ MY PUBLIC FASHION BLOG '
TUMBLR : http://strut-artpcaam.tumblr.com
I USE MY TUMBLR BLOG AS MY MAIN BLOGGING PLATFORM , I BLOG IMAGES OF MY WORK AND DOCUMENTS IVE SUBMITTED FOR PREVIOUS MODULES AND MY REFLECTIVE EVALUATION OF THEM SO I CAN LOOK BACK AND REFLECT ON MY PROGRESS!
‘ MY FASHION TWITTER PROFILE'
TWITTER : https://twitter.com/aimeem_pca
I use my twitter account to follow upcoming designers and follow fashion bloggers for design inspiration and promotion ideas!
I tweet about up coming events in the industry and any links to my blogs publishing my progress as a fashion student!
‘ MY FASHION PINTREST '
FASHION PINTREST : https://uk.pinterest.com/aimeemeatyard/
WHERE I RE- PIN IMAGES THAT GIVE ME INSPIRATION WHILIST DESIGNING OR FOR PATTERN CUTTING TECHNIQUES AND TREND FORECASTING!
FASHION PROMOTION TASK + GROUP POWERPOINT
The I company i researched for this particular task was the St Lukes Vintage shop on Ebrington street Plymouth, by doing the research on this store and how its chain promotes offers and deals and exploring whether they have an online presence really helped me to paint a picture of how they attract their target audience and how selling works when promoting products. I looked at sales , business cards , offers e.g 2 4 3 and the visual merchandising of the store to attract customers! These are the sides we as a group produced for our 3 individual stores in Plymouth:
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