How has the housing crisis affected home fashion retail?

With the current recession in the economy, many no matter what the industry are suffering. This suffering can be seen dramatically in the home fashions industry. Because of the possible financial instability people arent buying new homes and creating reason to buy furnishings for them. The clothing industry is also suffering from the recession but not as much as the home fashions industry. During this time of year the industry usually booms because people have more reason to stay inside. Depending on their location the colder weather will push them inside. This effect then causes them to want to decorate the inside of their homes because they will be there more often and even hosting guests for different reasons. Holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas also play an essential part to the home fashions biggest revenues. Hopefully when the recession sseems disappear, houses will begin to leave the market and people will start decorating again. I would love to see this industry revive in the coming years.

Guest Speaker- 11/14/2008

The guest speaker in todays class inspired me a lot. To see a recent graduate of UNCG excelling in the work world really caused me to engage into her presentation. To find out that she was an english major and not a CARS major with her current position in the fashion industry was interesting. I was surprised to know that she didnt find out about the CARS program until her junior year. As a CARS major i just assumed it was a well known area in the school. I also enjoyed her enthusiasm and interraction with us. She grabbed my attention and kept it. Another reason I was interested was because her topic related exclusively to my concentration, constuction. The example fabrics she presented were cool and it was also interesting to learn she helps produce them. In general the things she dicussed helped heighten my perseverance for wanting to work in the apparel industy.

Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Sweatshops are one the most prominent topics to dicuss in the apperal industry. Its hard to have a biased opinon concering them because without them the industry would suffer greatly. In my opinion the biggest subject to talk about are the amoralistic traits sweatshops possess. I feel as if the hazordous and unhealthy conditions the workers are placed in are very unecessesary. Working in a sweatshop could be considered a job like any other. The workers are just recieving very low wages because manufacturing companies are trying to make a greater profit for the merchandise produced. In reality the options for sweatshop workers are very slim. Theyre either working on farms, in sweatshops or resort to prostitution. The majority of sweatshop workers are female. If sweatshops were to cease on their bad notions of treating their workers and treated them more properly, the subject wouldnt be so jaded. It shouldnt be a stigma to work in the apperal industry. Sweatshop workers are regular men, women and children trying to support their family. It is terribly sad to see a human treat another human in such a way. Sometimes it makes me feel as if human rights arent appreciated by all humans.

Milan Fashion Week: Art vs. Usability

High fashion, european clothing is known to be extra and over the top. European designers create garments with unusal shilouttes and innovative structures which in turn create walking works of art. This season european "power houses" such as Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Dries Van Noten showed breath taking designs on their runways. Dresses from Dolce & Gabbana's collection were eccentuated with circular and blocked sleeves. They also showed beautiful evening and wedding gowns covered in flowers. Designs that show on european runways are examined by other designers in the industry and dulled down for the commercial market. Europe is also home to many couture fashion houses. Couture fashions are the ultimate subject to discuss among art versus usability. These designs are constructed with many hours of labor and after showing on the runways, moved to storage. These garments are created to show the supreme aspects of creativity in a designer.

A Piece Of Me

This sketch is from the portfolio I submitted to the Fashion Institute of Technology. Its one of seven and in my opinion the best one. Inspiration for this jacket came from many different sources. During the time I was working on the portfolio, I was constantly buying the newest issues of every fashion magazine catering to menswear fashions. I was greatly inspired by Dolce and Gabbana. Their slim cuts and fitted looks are very appealing. I also wanted the jacket to have an urban feel but to appear high fashion at the same time. The sketch shows the jacket having a military styled look with the 6 cargo pockets on the front and a pocket on each sleeve. In my opinion, details on garments are most appeasing when they're functional. Having a lot of pockets allows for storage of different sized objects or whatever the person wearing this jacket may carry. Inspiration for this sketch also came from various trips to the fabric store. At the time fabrics for the fall season were jus starting to come in and I noticed a group of plaids thats were very interesting. When viewing them I had no idea how much work would go into making a garment of this particular style. The swatch I chose to work with had bright orange contrasts in it and this inspired me to find a way to emphasize them. I decided to find ways to draw attention to the contrasting stripes by adding a solid color fabric of the same color to the jacket. Often times when I'm drafting a new design or just sketching in general, I always rely on my personal style to get me rolling. It's always about what I think is hot, "in", and trendy. While keeping with the trends I like to produce a classic garment. Sometimes I look at different colors for inspiration. I personally favor bright and bold colors. Also when Im looking for inspiration I turn to current and past looks from Ralph Lauren. My favorite designer. Ralph's looks are preppy, chic, sophisticated, youthful, and classic. His style is one that I like to take and mix with others to create my own. A jacket from his collection contained a plaid similar to the one I chose and that assured me it was a great choice. This jacket possesses many details which make it unique and desirable. This picture shows the jacket as a finished garment. From concept to creation.

Designers I admire and aspire to compete with

As an aspiring high fashion designer I often times find myself oogling over the pages of fashion magazines. I not only buy them to read but I also collect and archive. Amongst the stacks on the racks, my favorite magazines are Details, Gentlemen's Quarterly, Men's Vogue, Esquire, British GQ, Vogue, W, and I also read an industry luxury tiltled DNR. I personally favor menswear fashions. In my opinion mens fashions are very complex, interesting and artsistic. The fact that mens clothes arent as simple in concept to creation as womens, designers have to be more innovative and artistic to thrive in the industry. My favorite designers include Ralph Lauren, Domenico Dolce & Steffano Gabbana, Dean & Dan Caten, Marc Jacobs, and Gimmo Etro. Ralph Lauren has been my top designer of choice for as long as I can remember. His brand epitomises the concept of the american prep lifestyle. Lauren's style is classic, elegant, and full of luxury. The "Polo" brand is a compilation of over 50 years of experience, talent, and compassion from Ralph Lauren. I adore Ralph Lauren because he works hard to keep his company striving and thralling. Lauren started his fashion design career early in life and i can relate by watching my aunt sit at her sewing machine and bring pieces of fabric to life when I was younger. I like how Lauren designs his garments. Most being fitted and enhancing the looks of one's shape. Ralph Lauren is someone I one day plan to work with and if not that, to atleast have him view my work and and critique it positively.