Buying and Merchandising deadline

Today I handed in my Buying and Merchandising assignment. I've been working really hard this last week to pull the assignment together and to make a really good go of it. I still have not been able to connect with this assignment and I still feel most of what I learnt in class did not have any relevance to this final piece of work.
I based my project on H&M as it is a store that I feel is different from a conventional high street store. They are very much up on trend like New Look, Topshop, River Island etc but the way in which they promote themselves means that they encourage customers to have their own personal style and not follow high street looks.
Just got to wait for the results now........fingers crossed :)

The verdict......

The toile review....

So after the first meeting when the final design was established I wanted to make sure my design showed the true potential that my illustrations had originally.

I was both excited and nervous for the feedback. I was really happy with my toile but I can not wait to get started on my final design so the colour theme can bring life to the design.

I was happy with happy with the comments that were made about my design in the toile review. We agreed the concept of my design worked well but that a few areas needed tweaking and I was given some inspiration on how to tie (hehe get the pun) up the top and for it to continue the theme throughout.


xxx

I'm loving it, loving it, loving it......

AWESOME and FAB would be just two words I would use to describe my time at westfields assisting in 'The greatest fashion show on earth'.

After a very exhausting and thrilling 3 days its all over and I am really sad that I will not be going back tomorrow to still be a part of it.

I loved every minute of it...even when we had to run out to Morrison's to get lunch for all involved I loved just being in a working environment that was keeping me busy. I just thrived on the experience and I want more....


BRING ON WORK EXPERIENCE!!!


I met some lovely people that I will definitely stay in contact with and I also got a contact of a girl who is also at AUCB studying Events Management which may be a great help when we come to do our own Fashion show next year so overall a very successful and enjoyable time and I just didn't want to come home....... :(


xxxx

The greatest fashion show on earth......

So on Tuesday (just two days ago) I found out about an opportunity to go up to London and be a dresser for a Doll event called 'The greatest fashion show on earth' at Westfields.
When I found out about the opportunity I just knew I had to do it as I had not had the opportunity this year to be part of London On:Off fashion week. Luckily I was up to date with my toile and had only a few bits left to complete so that was not a worry and all I needed to do was to sort out accommodation, which is where my best friend in London came in.....so I was set.
After a day of rushing around like mad I drove up to London ready to start my experience today.....Oh and what a day! I am so glad I came up to be a part of the show.
Its only been a day but yet I love it....The other dressers are lovely and so is the model I am dressing. I just loved the buzz of being backstage and even after a 12 hour day I am not tired as I am still high on all the adrenaline. I love being able to work but what I love more is having the chance to work in a fashion environment even just if it is a few days.

:) I am one happy lady :)

She's gone and done it again......

Apologies.....again.......I can't believe I've left it so long again to post! Life seems to pass me by without letting me know!

So what's been going on since my last post.......well......

3rd February - Buying and Merchandising

I am really enjoying the Buying and Merchandising Class. I feel it is teaching me a lot about this particular area of fashion as well as giving us the hard fact that its not an easy job.....I'm ready for the fight in the industry though!
I love that in each class we have the opportunity to get involved and we regularly have debates which also fuels my interest.

5th February - Lectra

I am thoroughly enjoying Lectra lessons. I have found I have been able to pick up the system relatively quickly and I can see the benefits from using the system to create a pattern.

I think throughout my further design projects I will consider using Lectra to complete my patterns as it could prove useful when making necessary changes.

8th February - Design

In our design class we are working on 100 designs for our manifesto project. 

I began my design process by researching upcoming trends from the Peclers trend forcasting book. From the upcoming trends I was able to find around 8 looks that I could develop for my own designs. My designs used the concept from the trend forcasting mixed with my colour themes. 

Currently I am halfway through my designs but I am starting to find it difficult to complete the requested amount. I feel I have reached a block as I originally began to draw my designs in great detail rather than just sketches to develop from. For the further designs that need to be completed I am planning to use what we have learnt in our concentrated Illustration lessons and Illustrate my favourite designs ready for my final presentation of 6 designs.

18th February - Jersey Workshop

Today I used the class to construct my Jersey T-shirt. I found working with Jersey very easy. The construction of the garment proved to be very simple and quick and I was finished within a few hours.

28th February - Choosing a design

Today was D day for our design presentation.

I was ready and prepared with my 6 designs and one being my particular favourite. I was really happy with my the outcome of my designs but I was also nervous what would be made of my concept now visualised through designs.

My final design came from our assignment where we had to select 3 designs (naming them A, B &C) and collaborate these designs together to develop further designs. I found by collaborating designs I was able to come up with better concepts than I could have thought of off the top of my head.

My tutorial went really well and my favourite design was approved to be taken on to be constructed with a few minor alterations which will actually enhance my design.

26th February - Lectra

Today was the final deadline for our Lectra project which consisted of a pattern being created through Lectra and then a Jersey T-shirt made from the pattern piece. 

I had already finished my T-shirt a week before so for the rest of my lessons up until my deadline I focused on taking in all I could with Lectra so that I could use what I had learnt to create a pattern for my design for my Manifesto project.

1st March - Final Design Construction

This week I began to construct the toile of my final design. This was proving quite difficult as my design is made up of second hand ties and scarves so to create the effect of using ties I had to cut tie shapes out of material to construct together so I am able to recreate the look I want so this can be assessed properly in my review.

10th March - Buying and Merchandising

Sooo I finally got down to writing my Buying and Merchandising Assignment last week, after being so inspired with the classes so far I thought I would take to this project and be able to create a great piece of work. However once I got started on the work I soon found that I felt deflated as all that had interested me  in this subject was missing from the assignment. I had been so inspired with our lessons and felt that this would lead to us being able to use all of our knowledge in the assignment unfortunately this was not the case and I found none of what we had learnt really held any relevance. 

16th March - Final Design Construction continued...

My main focus this term was my Manifesto Project. I am very keen to make sure my toile shows off my design in the right light.

I have been spending every spare minute in the studio to ensure that my garment is not rushed and corners are not cut. This week is the final week before toile review. I have continued working on my garment and I am very happy with the results so far just hoping I can pull it all together and I can present it well next week.