Dream It & Do It: A Look at the Online Apparel Business Market for Entrepreneurial Designers

With an incredibly dense online market existing and expanding, the capability of an entrepreneurial designer to sell their work and stand out from the crowd is an ever-growing problem. A small self-owned business can be easily lost in the web’s plethora of ads, get-rich-quick schemes, and content in general. Through case studies, secondary research, and visual research, the graduate student has attempted to thoroughly explore this online realm before executing what she believes to be a prosperous route to success. The word “success” here is referring to the creation of an appealing brand and designed products within the brand. Various online platforms allowing for a sole-owned business have been examined, among which the student believes she has found the best option that also allows for individuality. In concurrence with the written portion of the thesis, the student will produce the following: a brand identity for an online business, a social media marketing presence, a wide range of designed products, and a designed platform on which to sell products featuring the student’s designs

Omnichannel fashion retailing: examining the customer decision-making journey

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the customer decision-making journey of high involvement female fashion consumers in the context of omnichannel fashion retailing. Design/methodology/approach – The research is qualitative in nature, using a multi-method approach consisting of focus groups, semi-structured interviews, online diaries and follow-up interviews, with grounded theory applied to analyse the data. Findings – The results of the study include a framework to outline the stages of the omnichannel customer decision-making journey for young high involvement female fashion consumers. The findings also reveal that an omnichannel decision-making journey is the one that predicated on risk and that consumers employ specific strategies to avoid such risks. Research limitations/implications – Due to the nature of this research, the sample size is limited and may not be generalised. Data collection was confined to Manchester, UK. Practical implications – Customer journey mapping enables practitioners to view the entire shopping experience through the eyes of the customer and enables retailers’ fault-find issues within the customer and brand experience. Originality/value – The paper advances knowledge about fashion and consumer behaviour. The customer decision journey framework maps the emotional experiences, devices and channels encountered by high involvement fashion consumers across each stage of the omnichannel journey

NikeiD: Case study on footwear customization

The relation between companies and consumers has never been so close, and consumers are claiming more responsibility and more transparency from organizations. Successful companies are leveraging these demands by incorporating consumers into their enhanced network. With this, the amount of interchangeable feedback between the two increases exponential, aiming to reduce the gap between the final product and the consumer’s demands. Plus, in the last years consumers have started to vocalize the need for unique products, that give the opportunity to express their own sense of style without the freighting idea of being copied. This new paradigm is called co-creation, in which consumers are part of the creation process, either by giving feedback to companies or actually designing the product/service that suits them the most. Therefore, customization platforms have become very popular solution among fashion companies, an option that tries to give the opportunity to consumers to design their own piece of fashion. Back in 2000, Nike unveiled its customization platform – NikeiD – as part of its innovation commitment. Nowadays, this digital platform has transformed into the leading brand, yet showing some fragilities, in areas like service and experience. The case study offers the authors point of view over Mass Customization, NikeiD offering and market competitive analysis. Furthermore, the case study aims to give the best tools to readers, so they are able to investigate further possibilities and outcomes for the future.A relação entre empresas e consumidores nunca foi tão estreita, já que estes exigem cada vez mais responsabilidade e transparência por parta das organizações. Empresas bem-sucedidas estão a tirar partido destas mesmas exigências, incorporando os consumidores nas suas redes de comunicação. Com isto, a quantidade de informação intercambiável entre as duas partes tem crescido exponencialmente e consequentemente o aumento da capacidade das empresas em servir eficazmente a procura. Para além disto, nos últimos anos tem havido uma crescente procura por ofertas únicas, uma vez que permitem que cada consumidor seja capaz de revelar a sua própria personalidade, sem o receio de ser copiado. Algumas empresas cientes desta necessidade, criaram canais de comunicação, para que os consumidores transmitam comentários às empresas, ou até participarem no processo de criação. Como tal, plataformas de customização têm-se tornado populares entre as empresas de moda, uma opção que visa criar oportunidades ao consumidor de desenhar a sua própria peça. No ano de 2000, a Nike lançou a sua plataforma de customização – NikeiD – como parte do compromisso de ser uma empresa inovadora. Nos dias que correm, esta plataforma digital é a marca líder, ainda que mostre algumas debilidades, nomeadamente em áreas como serviço e a experiência. O caso de estudo oferece o ponto de vista acerca dos desafios do mercado de customização através da plataforma NikeiD, assim com uma visão sobe as tendências do mercado. Para além disto, visa oferecer as melhores ferramentas para que os leitores sejam capazes de investigar possíveis cenários futuros deste mercado

Forming Cleveland: A Visual Arts, Craft And Design Industry Study: Full Report

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” - Pablo Picasso Art, as illustrated by Picasso’s quote, possesses the unique ability to cleanse our souls of everyday monotony. Given the transformative capabilities of art, we wondered how the arts could help revitalize a city, and, perhaps, revive an entire region. Can the same then be true for the “souls” of our cities, or even the collective soul of a region? The Visual Arts, Craft, and Design (VACD) sector, encompassing a wide spectrum of creative endeavors, has an impact on all of us in often surprising ways. When we speak generally of the “visual arts,” names like Rembrandt, Cassatt, Warhol, and Bearden may come to mind; however, the Cleveland VACD sector, including all of Cuyahoga County for the purposes of this study, reaches well beyond conventional definitions of art to encompass a variety of consumer products such as jewelry, furniture, and even homes

Abstracts & Author Biographies for Textile Society of America, \u3ci\u3e15th Biennial Symposium (2016): Crosscurrents: Land, Labor, and the Port\u3c/i\u3e

Dr. Heather J Abdelnur, Ph.D. Reena Aggarwal Patricia Alvarez Cecilia Anderson Emily Anderson Lynne Anderson Jaiya A Anka Adebowale Biodun Areo and Margaret Olugbemisola Areo Margaret Olugbemisola Areo and Adebowale Biodun Areo David Arrellanes Jenny Balfour-Paul Suzi Ballenger Ruth Barnes Jody Benjamin Carole F. Bennett Julie Berman Noga Bernstein Medha Bhatt Amy Bogansky Elaine Bourque Laurie A Brewer Carrie Brezine Donna Brown Sarah S. Broomfield Susan Brown Heather R Buechler Shelby A Burchett Tara R Bursey Bonnie S. Carter Nynne J Christoffersen Laura Cochrane Lia Cook Françoise Cousin Jamie Credle Maria Curtis Pamela I Cyril-Egware Sonja K Dahl Mary Lou Davis Virginia Davis Deborah Deacon Alejandro B. de Avila Corinne Debaine-Francfort Amanda J Denham Sophie Desrosiers Sophie Desrosiers & Corinne Debaine-Francfort Sudha Dhingra Textile Crafts of India Katharine A. Diuguid Sharon Donnan Frances Dorsey and Robin E. Muller Sharmila Dua Maximilien Durand Mercedes Durant Philippe Dwyer and Rebecca. A. Zerby Eiluned M Edwards Benjamin Ehlers Catharine Ellis Deborah L Emmett Emily A. Engel and Maya Stanfield-Mazzi Leila Eslami Shirazi Faegheh Sarah E. Fee Andrea V Feeser Blenda Femenías Chriztine Foltz Cynthia Fowler Kate Frederick Gao Xia Carolina Gana and Lynne Jenkins Amalia Ramírez Garayza Jenny Garwood Alison A. Gates Surabhi Ghosh Rachel Green Gaby Greenlee Anu H Gupta and Shalina Mehta Thea Haines Louise Hamby and Valerie Kirk Karen Hampton Michaela Hansen Donna Hardy Joan G Hart Kimberly Hart Andrea M. Heckman Sandra L Heffernan Jan Heister Sarah Held Angela Hennesy Ines Hinojosa and Laurie Wilkins Memory Holloway Sylvia W Houghteling Kate Irvin Carol James Janis Jefferies Janis K Jefferies and Barbara Layne Lynne Jenkins and Carolina EunKyung (E.K.) Jeong Donald Clay Johnson Susan Kaiser and Minjung E Lee Jean L Kares Anjali Karolia Hiroko Karuno Alice Kettle Rebecca J. Keyel Valerie Kirk and Louise Hamby Jeana Eve Klein Sirpa Kokko and Riikka H Räisänen Studia Vernacula Deborah E Kraak Sumru B Krody Wendy S Landry Eleanor A Laughlin Minjung E Lee and Susan Kaiser V Margaret L Leininger Margaret L Leininger Tasha Lewis and Helen Trejo The Cultivator Transactions of the New York Agricultural Society The National Wool Grower American Sheep Industry Christina Lindholm Christina Lindholm Mary A Littrell David Loranger and Eulanda Sanders Shannon C Ludington Joanne Lukacher Caitrin Lynch Suzanne P MacAulay Louise M Macul Jane A Malcolm-Davies Kathleen Mangan Lavanya Mani Diana Marks Dawn G. Marsh Christine Martens Marcella Martin Bettina L Matzkuhn Suzanne H McDowell Julia McHugh MacKenzie Moon Ryan Anu H Gupta and Shalina Mehta Karina R Melati Perette E Michelli Eric Mindling Kate Mitchell Rebecca J Summerour and Dana Moffett Robin Muller and Frances Dorsey Hiroshi Murase Vasantha Muthian Willian Nassu Jeff Neale Sumiyo Okumura Fannie Ouyang Ava B Pandiani Slit Tapestry Red/Green Raksha Parekh Teresa A Paschke Pooja R. Pawar Karin E Peterson and Leisa Rundquist Amanda H Phillips Everyday Luxuries Paul Pressly Amy Putansu Riikka H Räisänen and Sirpa Kokko Uthra D Rajgopal Annie Ringuedé Kirsty M Robertson Lesli Robertson Regina A Root Nancy B Rosoff Ann P Rowe Leisa Rundquist and Karin E Peterson Katie M Sabo Stephanie Sabo Shohrat S. Saiyed Eulanda Sanders and David Loranger and Donna R. Danielson Laura I Sansone Joan Saverino Jessica L. Shaykett Jess Sheehan Lacy M Simkowitz Ruth Katzenstein Souza Carmela Spinelli Jeffrey C Splitstoser Maya Stanfield-Mazzi and Emily A. Engel Kathleen A Staples Laurie Carlson Steger Brooks Harris Stevens Cathy Stevulak Rebecca J Summerour and Dana Moffett Maleyne M Syracuse Helen Trejo and Tasha Lewis Kelly Thompson Linda J Thorsen Lynn C Tinley Tomoko Torimaru Helen Trejo Marta D. Turok Deborah Valoma Lisa M VandenBerghe Storm Janse van Rensburg Pauline M Verbeek-Cowart Belinda J. von Mengersen Lisa Vinebaum Yoshiko Wada Mary E Walker Sera J Waters Melinda Watt Marcia Weiss Susanna White Namita Wiggers Laurie Wilkins and Ines Hinojosa Robin B. Williams Liz Williamson Kathleen Curtis Wilson Christine A Wiltshier Charlotte Wittmann Sarah J Worden Ayşem Yanar Rebecca A. Zerby and Philippe Dwyer Callen Zimmerman Stephanie Zollinger Martha Zunig

Include 2011 : The role of inclusive design in making social innovation happen.

Include is the biennial conference held at the RCA and hosted by the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design. The event is directed by Jo-Anne Bichard and attracts an international delegation

World textile: selected peer-reviewed full text papers from the 20th AUTEX World Textile Conference

This volume contains selected papers from the 20th AUTEX World Textile Conference (AUTEX 2021, September 5-9, 2021, Portugal, online). Collected articles present to readers' attention a series of research on actual issues of development of the textile industry and the modern status of fashion design. Particular attention is also devoted to some issues of organisation of textile industry engineers' and fashion designers' education. The presented collection will be helpful for specialists whose activities are related to the textile industry and fashion design

Environmentally friendly and sustainable bark cloth for garment applications: Evaluation of fabric properties and apparel development

Ugandan bark cloth has been recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’, to protect the knowledge, traditions and livelihoods associated with its production. Bark cloth is a non-woven, fibrous textile that has been produced from the wild fig or mutuba tree (Ficus natalensis) by the Baganda people of southern Uganda for hundreds of years. A typical bark cloth has a rich, terracotta colour and is worn by kings and chiefs during coronations, religious ceremonies and cultural gatherings, as well as for funeral shrouds. Due to the growing awareness and the need to reduce the environmental impact of textiles, there is a pressing rationale to use natural materials or fibres in fashion clothing in recent years as designers and practitioners embrace environmentally sustainable raw materials and promote traditional craftsmanship. Various properties and significance of bark cloth from cultural, ethical, technical and aesthetic perspectives to determine its feasibility as a sustainable fashion textile was explored. The potential of bark cloth specifically in relation to the characteristics of luxury fashion (craftsmanship, quality, rarity, heritage and storytelling), through using techniques that include embroidery, appliqué, gilding, laser cutting, natural dyeing and fusing is highlighted. The bark cloth was investigated for its practical suitability for apparel end use. Various fabric tests were conducted to determine its performance including fabric drape, stiffness, surface morphology, and tearing strength. The bark cloth was subjected to CO2 laser etching and sublimation printing to incorporate surface patterns and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [ATR-FTIR] was used to monitor the loss of fibres. Based on the trials, an optimum set of parameters were identified to use laser and sublimation printing. Raw bark cloth was stiff when heat-pressed, so it was fused with various fusible interfacing fabrics [A,B, and C] to enhance drape, texture, handle and strength. Results indicated that bark cloth when fused with woven interfacing [C] improved its strength [warp direction aligned with fabric grain] by approximately six times [330 N] the strength of bark cloth [57 N]. Fabric drape increased marginally [1.0–3.0%] when fusing with the interfacing, however it offered better handle when making the garment. A basic test garment (size 12 female full-sleeve top) was developed with the fused bark cloth that offered good drape and its shape and fit were evaluated on a mannequin. Outcomes indicated that bark cloth could be satisfactorily developed into outer garments with specific treatment

Sustainable Supply Chains: The Source Of Our Ethics

The paper, broadly, explores ethical sourcing, meaning the environmental, economic, and societal impacts considered in a company’s sourcing process or value chain. Recently, the topic has gained traction and an influx of research, seen in the increased release of research articles and the increased purchasing of ethically-sourced products. Companies currently face significant external pressures from NGOs and customers to adapt to the changing sustainability landscape, but many are unsure of where to start. I will first address whether ethical sourcing is important to customers and companies before analyzing six case studies from the coffee, apparel, and technology industries. From the cases, I will evaluate whether companies can produce sustainable products at a fair price to consumers and have tangible impact on the environment and society. By assessing commonalities among the case studies, I will recommend key success factors applicable to a wide range of companies seeking to implement ethical sourcing initiatives

Volume 28

Transorganic Flower by Gillian Brinnand-Nannestad / Hagios by William Kozloff / Alice Walker's "Everyday Use": A New Historicist Examination of the Black Muslim Movement and the Connection between Group Mentality, Superficiality, and Interpellation by Joseph Selmont / Not for Sale: A Survey of Attributes and Beliefs on Ethical Purchasing by Louis Velasco / Soviet and Post-Soviet Delusions in the Prose of Vendedikt Erofeev and Viktor Pelevin by Connor Wall / The Invention of Bushido: A Warrior's Guide to Surviving Times of Peace by Heather Ezzell / Hedda (The Not So Horrible) Gabler by Barbara Horman / Other Conference Presenter