PPRD Q & A 2....

How much do you already know about fashion?

I studied both GCSE and A Level Textiles although both were quite fashion based. I thoroughly enjoyed this course – obviously I suppose or I wouldn’t be on this course! I learnt a great deal of the academic, construction side of the industry as well as how to develop my own designs and collections.

I’m very aware there are many different areas involved in the fashion industry, some of which I know very little about but I’m keen to learn. I was lucky enough to work for Topshop for several months and this gave me a brilliant opportunity to see different aspects of the retail side of fashion. I was most inspired by the merchandising side and I’m keen to learn more about it as well as buying!

I feel my knowledge is lacking when it comes to fashion designers, I think simply because I haven’t been exposed to enough of them! I have worked to improve my knowledge and feel it has and continues to do so during this course.

What do the clothes we wear say about us?

Does what we wear define us?

I strongly believe that the idea that the clothes someone wears relates to their self confidence, security and how ‘open’ they are only applies to a certain extent.

Firstly, there are so many aspects to self confidence. In some cases an all round confident person is happy to wear more individual, eccentric clothing. They’re self assured and happy with who they are.

Similarly, it is possible to find less confident and shy people who wear more bland, less individual clothing as they feel they want to blend in with the background as they are not confident to stand out.

These are the two extreme ends of the spectrum. In the middle, I feel there are other scenarios.

Sometimes a confidence is within someone and may not show through to others. These people can still feel confident to wear whatever they choose to and wearing these clothes maybe a way of showing people they are confident and self assured.

Who dictates fashion?

Where does it start and go?

Firstly, consider the ‘trickle down theory’:

· Designers design a collection.

· They show the collection on the catwalk.

· Designer’s for the high street see new trends set by the high end designers and try to emulate particular parts of that catwalk collection in high street designs.

· A while later those designs are displayed and sold on the high street.

Looking at this sequence it would seem designer’s, trend spotters and fashion forecasters dictate fashion. As high street consumer’s we buy what we see to be fashionable. This is often what is available on the high street as we tend to trust the high street stores to be selling what is current and on trend. As well as this, we pick up what is current and fashionable from magazines and celebrities etc.

On the other hand is the idea that we, the public, decide what is fashionable. A design that has come from the catwalk may be very popular to the high street consumer and soar. This particular fashion may then continue for some time or designer’s may try to develop the design further.

Also, individuals who are keen to stretch the boundaries, be different and not conform may also set the trend. Anyone who wears something that has never been worn before or something in a different way may set a trend themselves.