Seasons: Spring/Summer Autumn/Winter Different parts of the textiles product industry work to different deadlines: Colourists:24 months ahead Fabric designers:18 months ahead Designers (clothes):12 months ahead

Typical work activities include: resourcing colours and producing mood boards for designers to work from; producing colour stories indicating the directional colour trends for fashion and textile ranges expected in the future; adding specific expertise to forecasting the future trends of textile and fashion styles - such predictions are then published in prediction books for the fashion industry; working alongside the fashion predictor.

Design starts as an open process and develops into solving defined problems. Is concerned with: Aesthetics Ergonomics (applied to fit and fabric) Construction method (stitch and seam types/ fusible resins) Cost Selling prices

Designers may undertake all or some of these activities, depending on the size of the company. Forecasting Range planning Designing Pattern drafting Sample making A designer needs to understand: Characteristics of fabrics Source and use modern fabrics Adapt styles for different sizes Develop a product to a price point (budgeting)

Taking into consideration the trends for; Fabrics, colour and texture Silhouette Styles

Knowing and understanding the difference between: Staple products. (men’s underwear or school uniforms) Classic products (men’s shirts or jeans) Styled products (colour or fabric is frequently change ) Fashion products (fads) (Frequent and extreme change short runs, quick response to the market)

Understand and applying knowledge to: Fulfil design briefs Using mood boards Sketching initial ideas To develop an idea Testing the feasibility of designed product against the spec Draft working drawings

Understand and applying knowledge to: Draft flat patterns using blocks and styles Producing a working pattern to trial the style Drape/ model or toile a design concept Adapt a pattern and test it Produce a final pattern

Understand and applying knowledge to: Work to a specification sheet Produce a sample garment

Haute Couture sets the trends with the fashion shows twice a year such ‘London fashion week’. These styles are then translated into products which will actually sell and are affordable.

Very high cost High quality Fashion RTW Sets and follows trends Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends, value issues, performance fabrics, new materials £500-£5000

High cost High Quality Ready to wear (RTW) Sets and follows trends Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends, value issues, performance fabrics, new materials and technology £100-£500

Medium cost High quality Fashion RTW Sets and follows trends Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends, value issues, performance fabrics, new materials £50-£250

Affordable Good quality Fashion RTW Follows trends Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends £19.99-£75.00

Affordable Good quality Fashion RTW Follows trends Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends £ £ 5000 How long is a piece of string?

Reasonable cost Range of qualities Defined target markets Range of styles Follows major marketable trends Influenced by fabric, colour and market trends £5.00- £ How long is a piece of string?

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