2-3 milestone

FMM 325: Final Project Guidelines and Grading Guide

Overview The final project for this course is a professional production challenge which will be submitted as a PowerPoint presentation. This project will require students to develop a comprehensive, sustainable apparel collection as a fictitious private-label manufacturer. The student will research and create concepts to produce the garments as detailed in the design brief. Students will also merchandise the collection. Students will acquire the capability to act quickly to solve manufacturing and production challenges as they arise. This will also give students an opportunity to learn how to properly document recommendations with a specialized standard in mind. The final product represents an authentic demonstration of competency because students will emulate a collection based on a design brief, which are currently used by professionals in the apparel industry. The project is divided into four milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Three, Five, and Seven.

Guidelines The Design Brief: An Organic Planet Season: Spring/Summer

Directions: Seeing a radical change in our global climate, we are forced to think differently and act more responsibly in our approach to design. We need to simplify, be more resourceful, and understand more clearly what our impact on the planet is based on the decisions we make. For this season, we are going on a journey to Bali, a place closely connected to the Earth, where people live in balance with the land through their resourcefulness and spiritual reverence. Be mindful and respectful of the Balinese people and their customs. We choose to blend in with our surroundings while still retaining a sense of self. Clothes that can be tied or wrapped and layered, almost sculptural in effect, are preferred. Minimize the use of hardware, and if it is absolutely necessary, make it meaningful. All fabrics are either organic or recycled, with an absolute minimum of waste left over. Zero waste is ideal.

Colors: Reflecting the Balinese people and their respect for the connection of all things natural, we will use the four elements as our guiding inspiration for color, creating a sense of balance and harmony in the collection.

• Earth: warm browns such as cinnamon, teakwood • Air: white, glass or metal, ice • Fire: tangerine, saffron, fuchsia • Water: aqua, oceanic blue

Your role: designer, merchandiser, sales, marketer, buyer

Milestone One: Paper: Targeting The Sustainably Minded Customer In task 2-3, you will submit a short paper of 2–3 pages. Determine your target market category and how and why these consumers embrace fashions that are made of environmentally friendly fabrics. You should research and define your product’s targeted customers and describe their characteristics.

Description of a Target Market: Occupation, gender ratio, average age, geographics/location, psychological shopping habits, demographic, and lifestyle preferences. Gauge the importance of sustainable products to this customer. For example, if you are creating for kids’ wear, indicate age(s) of child; however, you will need to think of a profile for the primary caretaker of the child (parent, grandparent, guardian) so that you can market to the caretaker properly.

By Module Two, you should have an idea of the market category you are choosing for this garment line, and you may choose ONE of the following: women’s, men’s, juniors, petite women, plus-sized women, or kids’ wear. Indicate the subcategory/style description, for example, sportswear (everyday wear), activewear (such as yoga wear), playwear, or sleepwear. Remember, you will be using sustainable fabrics, so keep in mind which target market would benefit best from eco- friendly garments.

Keep in mind the size range of this collection. Choose the appropriate size range for your market category. For example, if you are doing kids’ wear, you may choose to target toddlers (size range is 2T-3T-4T). An example of junior girls’ sizing range is 0–15.

The format should be a short paper. This milestone is graded for the quality of the research/data you uncover and validate (cite all information), compilation of the information, the content of the descriptions of each the features of your specified target customer, and the way the data is expressed as it applies to this project. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone One Rubric.

Milestone Two: PowerPoint Presentation #1 In task 3-3, you will submit a PowerPoint presentation of approximately 5–10 slides. Students will determine fabrics to be used for the market category they choose. Referring to the design brief contents, the recommended fabrics include organic cotton knits, hemp (wovens), and organic and cruelty-free wool. Fabrics to avoid: synthetics (exception: materials that are either recycled and/or have a low impact on the environment). Include pictures of swatches of fabrics with a description of the fabric, source, cost, and care instructions. Explain how these fabrics are better than conventional fabrics and safe for the environment and healthier for people to wear. Include images of the garments in this collection.

Market Category: Choose ONE market only: women’s, men’s, juniors, petite women, plus-sized women, or kids’ wear. Indicate the subcategory/style description, for example, sportswear (everyday wear), activewear (such as yoga wear), playwear, or sleepwear. (Create a mood board of visuals that express the direction of this collection).

Construction/Description: For this line, you will conceptualize the garments (six tops and two or three bottoms and two pieces of outerwear). Think and work like an artisan. Every piece should have an element of hand detail such as embroidery, appliqués, or carved buttons from wood. Create a mood board of visuals on a slide or two that express the direction of this collection for the specified customer.

You may find pictures/photos or create your own illustrations of the garments in this line. You will not be graded on your drawing abilities (or lack thereof).

The format should be in a PowerPoint presentation. This milestone is graded for the quality of the research and compilation of the information and the way it is expressed as it applies to this project. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Two Rubric.

Milestone Three: PowerPoint Presentation #2 In task 5-3, you will submit a PowerPoint presentation of approximately 5–10 slides. Students will determine the location of production, the packing required, how distribution will take place, and the retail price of the garment. Students will also re-evaluate the garment collection and ensure that it has been properly merchandised and is marketable. Students will describe each step of production and evaluate its impact on the environment.

Production: Think about location of production/manufacturing. If produced domestically, indicate where and why. If garments are produced off-shore, indicate where and why. Remember, you are producing an eco-friendly, sustainable product, so make sure your choice is the best when it comes to sustainability.

Packing requirements: Think about sustainable packing requirements. (Example: Will you use hangers in packaging?). Source for all items that will be necessary for packing and shipping.

Delivery: Be sure to indicate by what date production has to be completed and how and when delivery of goods will take place. How will the products be shipped?

Order total: 4,000 pieces (break this down per sizing—will you want more of larger sizes than smaller sizes, or vice versa? Remember to keep your target market profile in mind).

Retail price of each unit: Be sure to keep in mind the costs of the garments (wholesale costs) and what the profit margin will be (retail prices).

The format should be a PowerPoint presentation. This milestone is graded for the quality of the research and compilation of the information and the way it is expressed as it applies to this project. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Three Rubric.

Milestone Four: Final Presentation In task 7-3, you will submit your final PowerPoint presentation of approximately 15–30 slides. Combine all of the milestone projects as well as the additional information as set forth by the final milestone assignment. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the main elements of the final product. The contents should reflect all of the components from each milestone that you have submitted throughout the course. If feedback suggested that you change, update, and/or modify any component, those changes should be incorporated or addressed. Present a step-by-step PowerPoint presentation about how you would meet the challenge of having this order produced, having it in-store for the season specified, marketing it successfully to the primary target audience AND secondary market, and producing it as sustainably as possible.

Other things to consider including in your presentation:

1. What key information would you need to supply to the manufacturer about this sustainable collection?

2. Could any of the steps be expedited in order to speed up the manufacturing process, all the while not losing sight of maintaining transparency of the sustainability of production?

3. How will you merchandise these garments and promote the benefits of being an eco-friendly collection? How will buyers and other retailers respond to these sustainable garments?

Include any images, URLs, or other documentation to support your findings. In addition, your presentation must include the following: title, your name, and references. This milestone will be graded using the Final Presentation Rubric (below).

Things to keep in mind: Think of the styles you are creating/purchasing for the target market and the number of outfits you can create from the collection. You want to make sure that you create balance that can be merchandised by color, grouping of fabrics, and, ultimately, the overall end function of the outfits.

Deliverable Milestones Milestone Deliverables Module Due Grading

1 Paper: Targeting the Sustainably Minded Customer

Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric

2 PowerPoint Presentation #1 Three Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric

3 PowerPoint Presentation #2 Five Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric

4 Final Presentation Seven Graded separately; Final Presentation Rubric

Final Presentation Rubric Format: Written components of project must follow these formatting guidelines when applicable: double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and discipline-appropriate citations. Final project should be 15–30 slides, not counting the title page/slide and references.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Development: Fabric, Production

and Retail

Concepts effectively demonstrate good design development and most of the main milestone topics as they apply to the sustainable theme. Cites multiple examples to validate each choice

Concepts adequately demonstrate good design development and many of the milestone topics as they apply to the sustainable theme. Cites a few examples to validate each choice

Concepts demonstrate somewhat of an understanding of the design development; some of the milestone topics as they apply to the sustainable theme are met. Many improper choices were made for the final result

Concepts demonstrate little or no attempt at the design development of the design brief. Milestones are not met. Poor research and inadequate understanding of the sustainable theme

30

Target Market Exhibits an exceptional knowledge of the target market and intended audience. It is clearly explained and reflects understanding of the customer’s needs and lifestyle

Displays knowledge of the target market and intended audience, but has not done enough research about the necessary production or buying patterns

Displays limited knowledge of the intended audience and has not completed enough research with regard to production or buying patterns

Displays no knowledge of the intended audience, nor is there any understanding of the necessary production or buying patterns

25

Layout and Format Excellent format and layout attract the reader and present collection with continuity, balance, and visual emphasis

Format and layout attract the reader; acceptably present collection with continuity, balance, and visual emphasis

Some understanding of format and layout is demonstrated, but overall the collection is not presented with continuity, balance, and visual emphasis

Format and layout show little to no understanding of continuity, balance, and visual emphasis

25

Overall Presentation Presentation is nearly flawless, neat, concise, and professional; it is an example of research that is portfolio-worthy

Presentation is clean, neat, concise, and somewhat professional; some content must be corrected to be deemed portfolio-worthy

Presentation has content that must be corrected. A good attempt was made in the overall presentation, but improvements must be made before it can be deemed professional and portfolio-worthy

Presentation had no clear course and was not well prepared. Work was carelessly put together

20

Earned Total 100%