The Highs and Lows of a Fashion Geek: April 2010

11/04/2010

Amazing.

‘fashion wears out more apparel than the man’ Shakespere

> how true!

Best Tree Hugger = People Tree

Recently named Company Magazine's 'Best Eco-Retailer of the year' > PEOPLE TREE

Mission Statement

People Tree's mission

To support producer partners' efforts towards economic independence and control over their environment and to challenge the power structures that undermine their rights to a livelihood.
To protect the environment and use natural resources sustainably throughout our trading and to promote environmentally responsible lifestyles and environmental initiatives to create new models to promote sustainability.
To supply customers with good quality products, with friendly and efficient service and build awareness to empower consumers and producers to participate in Fair Trade and environmentally sustainable solutions.
To provide a supportive environment to all stakeholders and promote dialogue and understanding between them.
To set an example to business and the government of a Fair Trade model of business based on partnership, people-centred values and sustainability.

People Tree manufacture garments made almost entirely by hand, reducing our earth's carbon footprint and emissions. They also promote natural and organic farming.

They are members of the World Fair Trade Organisation and work with 50 fair trade groups in 15 groups.

The garments, designed in the UK and Japan, make use of the manufacturers local skill (handwoven fabrics, hand/screen printing, and embroidery)

Harry Potter star, Emma Watson (the celeb I'm most envious of - gets to kiss ron weasley :( ) has just launched a new collection for men and women, all looking completely gorgeous and with People Tree's amazing work ethic.

Sounds easy being green doesn't it?

Sadly I don't believe a brand based on fair trade will be as successful as other who don't prioritise being eco-friendly. However, People Tree's policies should be focused more into businesses that I would like to work for one day.

Will eco-friendly fashion be the future? I predict not. People are more interested in getting catwalk looks a week after they've been released, rather than it being fair.

Forward Thinking Fashion. That Greenhouse Thing Again.

“There is no strong difference between summer and winter anymore,” Milan Fashion Week founder Beppe Modenese told The New York Times. “The whole fashion system will have to change.”

Uh oh.

The fashion industry and the way we manufacture and clean our clothes is a contributing factor to global warming. As the processes of manufacturing our clothes is getting quicker and quicker, the energy costs of turning raw material into fibres into yarns into fabrics into clothes into transporting them all over the globe, are getting fairly out of control.

E.g. 60% of the greenhouse gases produced produces over the life of a simple T-Shirt comes from the typical 25 washings and dryings. A typical washer machine emits 160 lbs of carbon dioxide each year and a dryer emits 700 lbs.

This sort of pollution will damage the environment forever, irreversible damage. As a self-confessed 'clean-freak', this is not good.

It's Business Time.

I have wanted to be a buyer since I was about 15. It's amazing really. I'm completely fascinated by my

Here's what I will be doing day-to-day when I've reached my first major goal and will therefore in career heaven!

The priorities of a fashion buyer are;

to liase with suppliers. Building relationships with the suppliers of the garments is important in order for the buyer to ensure that the best quality garments are manufactured on time, and at a negotiated price that suits the business
meeting with suppliers and seeing new designs
to work with designers in creating the perfect product.
to attend regular meetings with the buying team and merchandisers so that i can identify best and worst sellers within the current range.
to keep in the know of fashion and market trends
to identify customer demand be it based on price, quality or availability of the garment.
review old stock when making decisions in order to keep up with competitors, as well as keeping an eye on their products and store policies.
reviewing the performance of a product and initialing the sales or reductions
attending trade fairs/shows to source new products all over the world (at a higher level)

Skills needed to be a fashion buyer;

A fashion degree (nearly there!)
Gain retail experience working on a shop floor (3 years worth)
Well-organised
Enthusiastic
Motivated
Creative vision
Strategic, analytical
Numerate

The main thing that I think I need to work on is my maths skills, just simple additions that i have lost track of slightly since school. But I am so ready for this. Bring it on.

10/04/2010

Red Circles.

Buying Jobs

DRAPERS

For me, Drapers is my number one. Okay so I don't buy the magazine EVERY TIME but the website, blogs and twitter is a host to the real information that the fashion industry needs to know regarding fashion news, trends and job vacancies within the industry.

Drapers does not specialise in one area of the industry, but its in depth coverage on the retail sector appeals to me the most because it reports useful information about stores performances and new updates from fashion companies.

It is helpful for me because it keeps me on my toes and aware of what my competitors are doing. Also, with the use of Twitter, I get the information before any other similar fashion sites, which is crucial in making smart decisions. I find that Drapers is good for me at this time too, when preparing for interviews, I can show some inside industry knowledge to enhance my potential as a candidate.

Right now is a busy time for any fashion student hoping to get a job next year, and Drapers is certainly here to help fashionistas seize fantastic job opportunities at the click of a button. Drapers showcases thousands of job vacancies for you to get a detailed job description and salary, which allows you to upload a copy of your CV and a covering letter. I would certainly go down this route when looking for a job in the fashion industry. It's clear, easy to use and open to all candidates.

09/04/2010

COMPANIES HOUSE

Here's an exciting little find... Companies House.

Companies House is a business that registers companies in order for them to be made available, by law, to the public. They are officially named the Registrar of Companies.

Companies House;

incorporate and dissolve limited companies
examine and store company information delivered under the Companies Act and related legislation; and
make this information available to the public.

All limited companies in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are registered at Companies House, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). There are more than 2 million limited companies registered in Great Britain, and more than 300,000 new companies are incorporated each year.

What does it offer me I hear you say? Well as I mentioned in my 5 year plan, I would like to one day have my own fashion company. Companies House takes care of all the restrictions that I may come up against, making the business secure and legally available to the public. Without this, you are subject to copyright issues and legal battles that I will probably never be aware of. The website also offers free information about how to start up my own business and also gives me information on over 2 million companies, here I can view a company's filing history and purchase copies of document images, as well as a selection of company reports, all online. Sounds pretty dangerous but like Mintel, an invaluable source of information.

Stay one step ahead.

MINTEL.

A company that I refer to ALL the time is Mintel.

Mintel is an independant company provides market research, analysis and general overviews of the state of business in most industries.

You can search;

By Business Need
By Product
The research given is mainly aimed at retail sectors, but also researches for finance and leisure companies.

Ok so it might sound boring, but Mintel just makes good sense. In this competitive world that we live in, Mintel offer individuals but better still, business' information on how their competitors are performing, what strategies are working for them and find out information about what the public think about it. They insist on being ahead of the game and the only way to achieve that is by updating their market intelligence and have been supporting high profile clients for 38 years.

So why is it helpful for me? A future fashion buyer?
Simply, Mintel is the best at delivering facts and figures about my competitor, and they are available at any time. They also may have information on the company that I am working for and also, keep the business aware of where it;s going wrong and how it can make better decisions in the future. I have used Mintel in my essay and have used it in my professional project. Mintel does all the hard work for me. I used it because, I can get a hold of up-to-date secondary research. The website is easy to navigate round, instantly being able to narrow down your search into 'Competitive Intelligence', 'Market Intelligence', 'Trends and Innovation' and 'Product Innovation'.

Like all smart companies, you can follow Mintel on Twitter for up to the minute updates on www.twitter.com/mintelnews

08/04/2010

Fab Fab Fab Photoshoot

Well, I suppose my work will be under scrutiny eventually, why not rip the plaster off now eh? Here are but a few of my photo's from the shoot for my Fab Frocks brochure. FYI my photographer is local bloke Adam Eff. A seriously cool guy.

All the directional stuff was done a la yours truly....

07/04/2010

This is not JUST advertising, this is Marks and Spencer's reinventing advertising

“The curious thing about M&S is how much we know and care about it. It’s more than just another department store. We follow its ups and downs almost as if it were part of our extended family” Justin Picardie, The Telegraph, April 14th 2006

Current issues that fashion companies have to face is 'Re-Branding'. No other retailer has come under massive scrutiny in the UK. 2 years ago, Marks and Spencer was in desperate need of a shake up, with rumours of Phillip Green set to take over the diminishing sales and share prices.

This autumn however, it reported profits rise of 32% to £405 million-it's strongest result in over a decade. It's official, 'Marks & Sparks' has recaptured its consumer confidence once more. This time, a younger audience is in on the magic.

Marks and Spencers facinating turn around has been assisted by a number of celebrities in their fashion campaigns;

Take That

Twiggy

Lily Cole

Myleen Klass and Noemie Lenoir

In 2006 the super-chain launched 'Your M&S' a powerful, colloquial and

symbolic handing back of the rightful ownership of the brand to the British public.

Also, M&S had led the high street in terms of responsible retailing. However, it

appeared to the public that this giant had been sleeping of late; following instead of leading

and failing to really push the boundaries. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the

‘Look Behind the Label’ print campaign sought to re-establish M&S’s ethical credentials

by highlighting the extra lengths that this retailer goes to, be it in reducing the harmful dyes used in clothing production.

In every way, Marks & Spencer have re-invented themselves. Highlighting their stance on ethical policies, and taking new risks with their fashion labels was M&S reinventor, Sir Stuart Rose (knighted in 2007). He is credited with refocusing and re-energising the business investing more time and money into Per Una, giving it cachet among younger, more fashion-savvy customers and making it more profitable.

I think that this is an important story for me to know, one day I may be required to help, 're-brand' something. Be it a clothing department, or company. Every company is looking for more profits and a fresher image and the lesson that Stuart Rose has taught us is that it CAN be done. As a fashion buyer, I need to understand different forms of advertising and PR, and Marks and Spencer is a fantastic example for me to know about. I'd like to re-invent something, lots of stress, lots of fun!