Fashion Assessment

Learning Assesment Roles and Responsibilities The primary settings in which I developed my skills and knowledge have included my educational institution, factories, and in the offices of business. These three settings offer unique features that make learning take place in distinct ways, using different methods and modes of interacting with material. The social learning aspects also differ in each of these settings, related to my different roles within each. Moreover, some of these settings involve more cognitive processes and critical thinking skills vs.

those that offer greater opportunity for hands-on skill development and other technical learning. The combination of multiple settings has allowed for a holistic development of my skills and knowledge. In school, I have worked primarily as a student but also as a tutor and mentor to my peers. My role as student calls upon my critical thinking skills, my ability to manage my time wisely, and my ability to communicate effectively in oral and written media.

Course readings, including multimedia presentations, have provided the foundation for which I developed an understanding of theory, marketing research, history, and cultural contexts of fashion. Each subject area has enhanced my understanding of fashion as an art, as an emblem of culture, as psychology, and also as business. In my role of student, I am actively engaged with the subjects and encouraged to ask questions. Although theory comprises the bulk of the school-based setting, there have been some opportunities for hands-on learning.

The role I play as student is also to become a leader in my classroom, to stimulate discussions, and encourage my classmates to succeed. Participating in group projects, forming study groups, and keeping in touch with my colleagues are a few of my many responsibilities in the school setting. I am also responsible for my own time management and discipline, especially when it comes to studying for exams, and balancing the demands of multiple classes.

Although I have academic advisors serving as my guides, it is ultimately up to me to be steer the course of my future. I have found myself also in the role of being a leader and coach to peers. Several of my classmates had shown signs of discouragement when course load was heavy or when the demands of work and family placed external pressures. In school, I believe that all students are responsible not just for themselves but also for being effective and proactive members of the student community.

All other relevant settings to my learning have taken place under the rubric of my business. My business has entailed a diverse range of settings, and correspondingly, a diverse range of roles and responsibilities. Prior to my entering school, I taught myself how to work with fabrics, and how to transform my own sketches into the finished product. This meant relying on trial and error, patience, and self-discipline. My role then was a hobbyist, but now, my role is as a professional.

I am accountable for my business and my brand, and to the various stakeholders now engaged in the business. Being tenacious has helped me assume the greater responsibilities of being a formal business owner. My company, FRANZISKA FOX, involves multiple settings in which I serve in the role of leader, creative director, and chief coordinator. Communications is also one of my key responsibilities, as I am responsible for interacting with each individual along the entire supply chain from suppliers to customers, and of course, with my employees as well.

My social role in my business is primarily as a leader, and I am responsible for maintaining the reputation of my brand, for developing new designs and evolving new lines, and for creating a supportive working environment for everyone. When I visit factory settings and work directly with the materials, my role assumes a more technical dimension and at times I am more of a technician than a businessperson.

I have also been cast into the role of business manager and even accountant, as I am responsible for my own financial management. Yet my role as a creative director is always supreme, as I am a designer who envisions a thriving future for my business. As creative director, I am in charge of all new designs and design development as well as the consistency within each season's collection. I take into account the input of others, while relying on my skills and visions as a designer.

I am responsible for coming up with new ideas, inspired by culture, other people, nature, music, or works of art. Being creative director entails mastering the materials and methods for creating new designs, including strengthening my understanding of different fabrics, their costs, their textures, and their behaviors. I am responsible for attending fashion industry events, visiting fabric showrooms, attending conferences, and networking. Creative direction also entails mastering the methods of design, ranging from sketches to design software.

My role is also to be continually on call, drawing inspiration from what I see around me in my daily life. As chief coordinator, I am in the role of mediating between various levels of the supply chain and coordinating the timing of design delivery to clients. Coordination efforts call upon me to build trust and remain accountable for the actions of my business.

Issues related to inventory, availability of fabrics and other materials, and the timing of collection releases will all come into play during the course of my work. I need to coordinate the various people and stakeholders during the production stage. Finally, as the owner of the business, I am in the role of maintaining brand awareness and promoting my brand. In the future I may hire a specialist in a newly created marketing department, but for now, all marketing is my role and responsibility.

Summary of Skills and Knowledge The skills and knowledge I have acquired can be divided into three main categories: business administration skills (including social learning); creative learning; and technical learning. As a fashion designer with business acumen, each of these three areas is critical to future success. Business administration and Social Learning Time Management and Self-discipline: Time management and self-discipline are interrelated skills that derive from dedication to vision and goals. As a student in school and as the proprietor of a business, self-discipline is the key to success.

Managing time means applying self-discipline to how I use my time, to ensure that each minute of the workday is being used effectively. Distractions that keep me from my work need to be ignored or minimized. I have had to carve out leisure and social time in a strict schedule. Because the creative industries do not operate on a Monday through Friday, 9-5 basis, this does not necessarily mean that I will have two days in a row each week to spend time with friends and family or watch movies.

Instead it might mean 16 days in a row of working, followed by five days of rest. Regardless, it is up to me and only me to develop the self-discipline to manage my time, energy, and resources. Self-discipline is also related to the need for me to continually upgrade my skills, and develop myself professionally and personally. I can never rest on my laurels if I want to become a successful designer.

Coaching: Coaching and mentoring others shows how my work remains a continual learning process, because teaching others provides new lessons for myself, and new directions of growth. The process of coaching has taught me how to be patient, how to communicate effectively, and how to engage people on their level regardless of differences in gender, age, or personal background.

I have learned how to be an effective coach from my own mentors, both in school and in the professional sector, in developing the underlying skill set that a good coach should have. These skills include compassion, integrity, patience, and a sense of humor. Money/Financial Management: In managing my own business, I have learned the importance of effective financial management, and I have also learned how to manage my business's finances.

Costs of materials and other supplies have a huge bearing on my productivity and outcomes, and as I bring my products to market, I will need to become more knowledgeable about pricing and other marketing issues. For now, my learning has consisted of remaining on budget, managing all the costs of running my business including taxes, leases on spaces, staff, and materials. This includes the technology tools that I use to create my designs. In the future, I may evolve the business so that I require professional accounting help.

Yet I will still be able to rely on my own learning on how to manage my resources and remain on budget. How to Work with Suppliers: Working with suppliers involves communication and coordination skills. I need to give my suppliers enough time for them to accommodate me, but also need to be aware of the current state of the market when designing.

This means being aware of new fabrics, trims, and other accessories on the market, knowing what other designers have been using, and communicating regularly with suppliers about fluctuations in availability or cost. Some suppliers are better than others with communication, and I have learned how to remember each of my suppliers to maintain a healthy working relationship.

Ordering fabrics and other materials has involved a greater learning curve than expected, because not only have I had to navigate through the dizzying array of materials available, but also how to negotiate and order in bulk when possible. Organization: I have learned how to keep all aspects of my business organized, including administrative details but also my creative work. Software helps tremendously with both. The software used to organize my business and accounting has included Excel and QuickBooks.

Although I have not mastered either one, I have learned enough about how to use these tools to promote the needs of my business. The software used to manage and organize my design work includes Illustrator, Photoshop, and websites like Pinterest. These tools allow for the visual organization of my work, both in terms of finished projects and also in terms of works in progress. However, traditional organizational tools like pin boards, sketchpads, and filing systems are also effective and necessary for my line of work.

Attention to Detail and Diligence: Diligence has become a cornerstone of my success. I have no interest in cutting corners, which is why I have learned how to be more of a perfectionist in my work. My clients are not going to want substandard products. I have learned that my vision is to provide the best quality possible, and that entails attention to detail. From visiting different factories, I have learned how to effectively train employees in proper use of special materials.

When necessary, I do some of the detail work myself. Developing a sense of detail also comes from my school learning, which taught me critical thinking. A keen eyes, and ability to critically analyze my work, rank among the most important things I learned while in school. I have also learned how difficult it can be to balance the need for diligence and conflicting time constraints. Communication: I have learned communications skills in school and in my professional environment.

Communication skills require situational awareness, and sensitivity to the needs and interests of others. It means being aware of the need to negotiate, and also the development of god negotiation skills. I have applied newly learned communications skills to both my educational and professional environments. While at school, I learned how to communicate in written and oral projects. Improving my writing and grammar will make my professional communications more effective. Likewise, improvements to my written and oral communications have helped me to network with suppliers and potential clients.

In my office, I have developed the communication skills befitting a leader or manager. I have learned how to delegate authority, how to empower my workers while still remaining in charge, and how to settle conflicts and disputes with confidence. Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity: Studying the diversity of fashions from around the world, and the history of fashion, I have increased my knowledge about the role of culture in fashion. I have learned about the wide range of men's and women's fashions in various cultures, and throughout the ages.

I have also learned about the differences in fashion between people with positions of power vs. The general populace. Therefore, education has been instrumental in helping me to develop cultural awareness and sensitivity. My school has helped me learn about the different social and political functions of fashion, which I might not have paid attention to otherwise. Reading literature related to fashion, its role in identity, its function with regards to gender and power, I have also been inspired to use my fashion in artistic as well as political ways.

Moreover, I have learned cultural sensitivity by working in multicultural classrooms, multicultural factories, and other diverse working environments. I have learned that cultural awareness has as much to do with being aware of my own cultural background and feeling empowered by that background, as it does about understanding others. Finally, I have learned that the world is too diverse for me to ever stop learning about different cultures. I intend to travel much as a part of my research on fabrics, dyes, beading, lace, accessories, and styles of dress.

Patience: Patience is a critical social tool, and also a tool that promotes productivity. It may seem counterintuitive that patience promotes productivity, but certainly, if I take my time with something requiring attention to detail, then I need patience. I have learned patience by being patient with myself in school, being patient with others while waiting for materials to arrive, or waiting for specific work to be done, and I have also been patient with technology that can be difficult to learn.

I have learned how also to be patient with the creative process. Timing: Good timing is an art I believe I have learned during the course of developing my business. It refers to being in the right place at the right time, taking up difficult matters when the time is right rather than rushing things. Good timing is critical in fashion, which is reliant on consumer trends and interests that may fluctuate over time.

Even if I hope to develop several classic collections that are less dependent on trends, those collections will still vary in terms of fabric selection and color. The lessons on timing I have learned have also depended on watching others who seem to have an innate sense of time, and whether they need to speed up or relax. Confidence: Confidence is a skill that can be learned, contrary to what I had believed prior.

I used to think that people were born with confidence, and one either has it or not. Perhaps some people genuinely are born confident, but many are not and have to learn it. Developing confidence often entails becoming tough and resilient. We need to become thicker skinned as creative people, and not be as susceptible to the opinions and attitudes of others. I have learned to ignore negative comments, while recognizing constructive criticism from mentors and others who care about me.

Likewise, I have learned how to eradicate negative self-talk and to practice positive thinking and self-empowerment. Getting out of my own way, I have learned how to become a more effective leader and creative designer. Creativity: Design depends on creativity, which is the backbone of the business. I have learned several personal tricks to stimulating creativity on a regular basis, so that my well never runs dry.

It is essential to inject new creative energy into the business every day, so that ideas are never stagnant and my designs continue to flow and inspire others. One of the tricks I have learned has been to take notes throughout the day. When something inspires me, I write it down or take a photo.

Sometimes I will take video The practice allows me to see the world with new eyes, and to see how the most seemingly mundane element like an ant or a flower can become inspiration for an entire design. I have learned that studying human and animal behavior, as well as the behavior of elements like water and air, influence my designs and always will. Paying attention to the world around me in a deeper and more meaningful way, I have learned that creativity is like a muscle.

Like confidence, creativity is not necessarily something we are born with but something that we cultivate regularly. I have attempted to impart my vision of creativity on those I work with and my classmates. Openness to New Ideas: Being open to new ideas is a trait I have developed while in school, as well as in my workspace. The more social my life becomes, the more ideas flow my way.

Engaging with classmates and colleagues, I am exposed to ideas that I would have never been able to come up with on my own. Hearkening back to the learning on cultural awareness, I believe this is because people from different backgrounds see the world differently. Gender, race, socio-economic class, nationality, and upbringing all impact the way a person solves problems or communicates with others. Being open to new ideas has taught me the value of listening and also of remaining open-minded and tolerant of differences.

I have also learned how to be open to the suggestions of others regarding my designs, such as when a colleague or sometimes a model will point out the weaknesses of a design or the fabric selected. I have learned how to balance the helpful opinions of others with knowledge that ultimately it is my name on the garment and I have to choose the direction of each design. Being open to new ideas means listening and digesting, but not surrendering my own convictions.

Coming up with cohesive and season-appropriate collections: The development of cohesive collections can occasionally be challenging, as I have learned during the course of my business. When I started, I focused mainly on individual pieces rather than on whole lines. As it developed, my business grew stronger and it became apparent I would need to act as a standard design house by developing collections with common elements and features.

In school and in my encounters with other design professionals, I have learned that coming up with collections can be relatively straightforward and involves selecting a few anchors or themes. The anchors or themes can be related to emotions like feeling free or feeling lighthearted. They can be lifestyle oriented such as casualness vs. formality. Or, the anchors can be tangible, such as bold prints, innovative fabrics, primary colors, and other elements of design.

Once I started thinking in terms of collections, my inspired designs each became the springboard for an entire season. It did not take long before my brain worked in collections, as I have learned to evolve men's and women's collections alongside one another. Drawing from multiple cultural traditions, too, I have learned how to diversify my portfolio while still retaining a sort of house character that will make my brand recognizable.

Envisioning finished looks complete with accessories: Occasionally, I would become bogged down by the minutia of design and would forget about the finished package in its completeness: someone actually wearing my clothes to a party or to the office. To get to the place where I would envision finished looks, I had to think more in terms of accessories. This meant that I learned how to shop more for accessories, looking at them more often in stores instead of overlooking them.

I have observed other people and the ways they wear their accessories to receive inspiration and ideas. Envisioning accessories helps to envision entire collections of clothing. Sometimes, a piece of clothing will build itself around the accessory. This is especially true for shoe collections, which is why I have learned especially how to pay attention to what shoe designers are doing. How situational variables affect design: When designing my collections, I need to take into account geography and culture.

I have learned that geographic and cultural environment cause me to create styles that are appropriate here, but perhaps not as relevant elsewhere. I have had to learn that to expand my business and target audience, I need to travel more and experience multiple climates, lifestyles, and needs. Climate has a strong bearing on fashion design and specific collections. Exposure to the unique variables like heavier vs.

lighter fabrics, or color families, has helped me to become a more effective and flexible designer that can appeal to a wider geographic range. Similarly, understanding the needs of specific cultures will allow me to custom-create fashions for special niche markets. The impact of body types on design: Although I have learned primarily how to design fashions for specific models, I know that my models are not representative of the general population.

Therefore, I have learned how to visualize my designs on all types of people of all shapes and sizes. In some cases, this has had no bearing on my choices of fabric, print, or design. In other cases, it has. It is important to design for a range of bodies, but I have learned how to make compromises and focus on the finished images that I want to see in my collection. I learned that I can be flexible without worrying too much about creating a one-size-fits-all approach.

Technical Skills and Knowledge Sketching: I first started to design clothes by sketching on my own. Later, I learned that if I were to become a professional, I would need to hone my sketching skills. With effective sketches, I can transform core ideas into strong patterns, and from there, create the finished product. Learning.