How the Housing Crisis has affected Home Fashion Retail

The housing crisis has definitely started to affect home fashion retail industries. As most of you know we are currently in a recession and this is a big cause of why home fashion stores aren't doing so well. For example, Linen-N-Things just recently went bankrupt and they hope buy promoting half-off sales during the holidays will pay off their debt.

Another reason home fashion stores are not doing well is because people are now in need of just the basic necessities. They don't have that extra money right now to go buy a fancy rug or brand new bedsheets. For now, most people will use what they have because of the recession affecting their spending choices. Probably, grocery stores are benefiting the most because people will always need food.

As you can see, the recession has definitely come to affect home fashion stores. People are more in need of the basic necessities to get them through this difficult time. Home fashion goods are not the top priority right now and can be found at cheaper stores, like Wal-mart instead of Bed-Bath & Beyond for example. Hopefully, during this time of the year, since Christmas is around the corner, sales of the home fashion industries will start to increase.

Guest Speaker

I really enjoyed Elyse Mullis, the guest speaker, we had that came and spoke with our class today. It was nice to hear an example of a job you could get in the consumer, apparel and retail studies major. Also, I found it interesting that Elyse majored actually in English and minored in consumer and apparel.

However, she really knew what she was talking about. She taught me a lot about what I need to do before I graduate. I know now, that I need to look for as many internships as possible and not only look for one. Doing as many as I can would only offer me a better opportunity for different jobs throughout the field. Hopefully, I will find a internship where I get paid though, since she was unlucky in that aspect. Through hearing her speak on internships really showed me that they are really important and if it wasn't for her internship at the Greensboro Coliseum she wouldn't have been able to get a job at Westminster Fabrics in graphic design.

Overall, Elyse Mullis was a great speaker and thankfully we had the opportunity to hear her speak to us. She was very interesting, fun, and really showed us how much she loved her job now. She explained that it starts out not exactly how you want it to after graduating, but will turn into something great after a little hard work and effort. She seems really happy working for Westminster Fabrics and hopefully will continue to be. I really found this speaker interesting and fun. It was a good learning experience.

Picture from Westminster Fabrics.

Stop Sweatshops!

When your out shopping and see a really cute outfit hanging in a window, you usually go into the store and try it on. If it fits and looks cute you will probably buy it without hesitation. But, not a lot of people think of the workers who make the outfit and the conditions they work in, do they?


Well, most clothing you see has been made from a sweatshop. "From the clothing we wear to the toys our children play with, store shelves are stocked with goods made in sweatshops where workers labor in unsafe conditions and are paid wages so low they must struggle to feed and shelter their families"(AFL-CIO 2008). Also aisles we all shop down are filled with products that promote child labor and promote abuse to workers by firing and harassing workers when they try to help their selves by forming unions (AFL-CIO 2008).

Sweatshops need to be stopped. I think this is a sick practice the United States continues to be fine with and something needs to be done to stop it. The United States has opened the American marketplace to goods from other countries where hard working people are being abused. This shouldn't be allowed unless the working conditions of sweatshop workers and their wages are drastically improved. The use of sweatshops should ONLY be allowed if workers are being treated fairly and getting paid a wealthy salary. Sweatshops are being more and more overlooked each day, and this should not be happening. People need to put up a stand against the use of sweatshops.

http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/stop/

Fashion: Art or Usability?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/fashion/shows/27REVIEW.html?_r=1&ref=shows&oref=slogin


Milan Fashion Shows are usually very artistic and tend to view fashion as a form of art more than usability, unlike the New York Fashion shows. However, this years Spring 2009 RTW Milan Fashion show surprised me. The Milan Fashion Show viewed fashion more as usability than they ever have before. The show featured many designs that people could wear in their daily lives.

The designs Milan showed were very transparent, and full of geometry. They could still be viewed as art, but they also could be worn by people. They were not as artistic as in previous collections from Milan. The designs featured clothing that could be worn as business attire. For example, "Gucci was all business and very little play"(NY times). Some people viewed the collection as more merchandised than designed. In other words, people viewed the collection as more usable and wearable than before. Gucci provided clothes that shoppers will probably purchase next spring.

On the other hand, when looking at the New York Fashion shows, we usually always see the show as being more usable than artistic. New York Fashion Shows always tend to be very extravagant, unique, but at the same time wearable, like the Milan Show was this year. Overall, fashion in general can be seen as both art and usability, especially when viewing any fashion show. As for me, Fashion will always be a mixture of both art and usability.

If I could have a dress designed...

I'm not inspiring to become a fashion designer, but instead a fashion buyer. So, if I could have a dress designed it would definitely have to reflect my style and personality. I would love to have a dress designed to go to MTV music awards or any other celebrity event.

The dress would have to be very classy, but at the same time over the top and very unique. I would love for the dress to be a mixture of a hot pink and barbie pink. Pink has always been my favorite color and I think it looks so feminine. I would also like the dress to be very form-fitting and strapless. I would love for the top to resemble a corset and have swarovski crystals filling the bust area. Then I would like a silk black bow to be tied around the waistline. After the silk black bow around the waistline I would like the rest of the dress to be poofy with ruffles.

Betsey Johnsn's style would inspire me to have the dress designed this way. I have always admired her and she would be the one who I would want to design this dress. I know she would make it very unqiue and one -of- a -kind.


picture-(Betsey Johnson) (Cosmogirl.com)

Ethnic Influences on Apparel Design.

Cultural influences have became a big part of the fashion industry today. Many centers of fashion influences include Paris, Milan, Tokyo, London, New York, and of course Los Angeles. Designers are traveling to these cultures for inspiration for their designs.

Also, designers have began to explore the world's ethnic minorities and have stepped back on looking to the future for inspiration. They have realized that every culture has something valuable to offer. The fashion industry would be nothing like it is today without taking ideas from other ethnic influences.

More designers have been incorporating different elements from other cultures in their lines and have really came to succeed in the fashion industry. Ethnic trends have been flooding the fashion runways for quite some time now. Ethnic diversity has become more and more evident in the USA and will only continue to excel. Today we can all tell that fashion comes from everywhere including various ethnic groups, looks from the street, and etc.

Trends of the New York Fashion Week!

During the New York Fashion week many trends came about. Ruffles, bows, florals, layers and lots of metallic trends were shown. I personally liked the use of florals and bows. It created a very feminine look. Overall, I was very impressed with the upcoming spring 2009 trends.

I admired Oscar de la Renta's spring 2009 RTW collection. I loved the use of floral prints in his glamorous dresses and also loved some of his sleek gowns. Oscar de la Renta always seems to have an outstanding collection. His designs are always so rich and elegant.

One collection that surprised me during the New York Fashion week was Betsey Johnson's. Her spring 2009 RTW collection came as a shock to me. Usually I love how loud, vibrant, and crazy her designs are, but this collection didn't do much for me. Although I did like how she used more black than she usually has before. Overall, New York Fashion week was full of great new trends for spring 2009 to come. All the collections were outstanding and really showed you what fashion is about!

http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/

Organic and Environmental Friendly Clothing

I am a big fan of organic and environmental friendly clothing. I love how organic clothing is so much safer for the environment and your health. Regular cotton has been known to cause many health problems for people such as birth defects, reproductive disorders, and weakened immune systems. Thankfully, organic cotton is produced without the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers, unlike regular cotton.

Also, organic clothing is becoming more and more popular these days. Target is now carrying Rogan Gregory's designs known as GO International. His designs are organic and made out of eco-friendly fabric. Also,his designs are very reasonable in price which is good because a lot of organic clothing is expensive. I am a big fan of his clothing because it is very attractive, safe for the environment, and safe for others.

In the long run, organic clothing is the way to go. It will help eliminate toxic pesticides hurting are environment and will benefit your own health. Thankfully going green is now finally becoming popular. As you can see,organic and environmental friendly clothing only has positive benefits. Go Organic!

My favorite fashion designer and why.

First of all, my favorite fashion designer is Betsey Johnson. She is best known for creating "her own set of rules" which I highly admire. Her designs are very feminine, bold, and daring. They tend to catch your eye in a second. Also,I love the bright colors and uniqueness of her designs, especially on her line of handbags. Ever since I purchased one of her handbags, I've been hooked since. Not only do I admire her handbags, but also her jewelry and shoes. Betsey's line of shoes are one of a kind. Her shoes are over the top and very feminine. I love how I can tell what shoes are designed by Betsey when I walk into a department store. There uniqueness catches your attention. Betsey's jewelry is also great. Her earrings, bracelets, and rings are adorable. They usually are big, flashy, and glitzy, and perfect for a night out on the town.

I also admire Betsey Johnson's fall 2008 ready -to- wear collection. It's ironic to me that Betsey is going very dark this fall but I'm sure her sense of style will prevail. Additionally, I admire Betsey because she is a survivor of breast cancer and continues to be a strong advocate to fight against the disease. She has created many one-of-a-kind items to raise funds for the breast cancer charity.

Betsey Johnson will probably always be my favorite fashion designer. Her designs bring out my personality and will continue to rock the fashion industry. I really love the quote one journalist said "If Betsey Johnson didn't exist, we would have to invent her, simply to remind ourselves that fashion can be fun. She's the original wild child and set to paint the town pink!"