Fashion Design ManagementCornell

Certificate Program

What does it mean for something to be "on trend"? In fashion, trends guide everything from design to consumer behavior, evolving and changing over years and even decades. Trend forecasting is how industry experts predict what new trends will become popular with consumers and how existing trends will evolve over time. A knowledge of trend forecasting is necessary for staying relevant in fashion, whether you are working for an established fashion house or starting your own line. This course will guide you through the trend forecasting process so you can create a relevant trend forecast, be it for your own fashion brand, a large industry brand, or a trend forecasting service.

You will research current fashion trends using primary and secondary sources to determine what trends will be prominent with consumers. This research will be used to choose a trend for your trend forecast report. You will then gather the data from your research and, using the GRAB method, interpret your findings around a target market of your choice. Once your data is collected and synthesized, you will use your findings to complete your trend forecast report.

When you think about fashion, you often imagine a fashion line displayed at a store or coming down a runway. The development of the fashion line is a process that begins long before clothing is constructed and placed on a model. Product line development involves a significant amount of planning on the part of the designer as well as the other fashion professionals involved in the process.

In this course, you will develop a fashion product line, either for your own brand or for a brand of your choice. You'll start by identifying the target market, brand, and product type toward which you will design. Once you establish this foundation, you will develop the concept for your line and get feedback from your peers. You will use this feedback to conceptually design a six-piece fashion product line and an accompanying line sheet.

You are required to have completed the following course or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

• Fashion Trends and Forecasting

The quality of your product is integral to managing a successful fashion brand. When fashion garments are created in a factory setting for a brand, every element of the garment's production cycle must be planned. Forward thinking in garment production ensures that every piece is completed to your specifications in a timely manner and that the manufacturing facilities you choose will be the best fit for your product line.

In this course, you will explore the process of production planning used to create a fashion product line. You will begin by creating a bill of materials that can be used to communicate the fabric needs of each product in manufacturing. You will then consider how stitching, construction, and fit are used by manufacturers to create a garment that will appropriately fit your consumer. You'll conclude the course by examining how factories and manufacturers operate and filling out a time and action calendar that you can use to plan the manufacturing timeline of your product line.

You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

• Fashion Trends and Forecasting
• Fashion Line Product Development

Fashion is made to be worn, and consumers must have access to it in order to make that happen. Successful fashion product lines are not just well designed; they also meet sales goals, whether those goals are set by a larger fashion brand or by an independent designer. Distribution and marketing are the methods that fashion brands use to get product lines into stores and into the hands of consumers. Every element, from your sales plan and retail pricing scheme to your selected distribution channels, can be used to help reach your target customer.

In this course, you will begin by setting a sales goal and creating a sales plan using resources such as the apparel retail calendar and assortment planning. After you create your sales plan, you will examine how fashion brands set a retail cost for their products and establish a retail cost for key products. You will then design a marketing strategy using distribution and promotion methods to ensure that your products are accessible and appealing to your target consumers. By using this process, you can create an appropriate targeted marketing and distribution strategy for any fashion retail space and product assortment.

You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

• Fashion Trends and Forecasting
• Fashion Line Product Development
• Production Planning