Professional Development Journeys
Even before COVID, the design industry has been evolving faster than many of us can keep up with. Our Professional Development Journeys connect you with influencers from across the design industry to ensure that you, as educators, are as informed and up to date with new industry trends as possible.
PAST PROGRAMMES
“The Impact of COVID on the Fashion and Design Industry”
Since the pandemic began, the fashion industry has been in the midst of a hyperspeed evolution. With populations following shelter-in-place orders around the globe, the need to wear much beyond casual clothing has plummeted - decimating every touchpoint of the industry, from retail through to manufacturing. The industry and everyone within it has had no choice but to evolve.
This 5-week programme explores the specific impact COVID has had on different facets of the fashion industry, and how professionals around the world are evolving to not only survive, but to thrive. Through live discussions with industry professionals, we explore how people are rethinking supply chains and processes through which clothing gets made, shifting sales to e-commerce platforms; focusing on new social behaviour and what this means for product development and adjusting store layouts and procedures. We also look at what these changes mean for sustainability efforts and the future of couture.
Cost: USD500 (USD435 with ITAA Member Discount)
Duration: 5 Week Programme
Dates :
Winter Course - Feb 4th to March 4th, 2021
Spring Course - March 18th to April 15th, 2021
Sample Programme
Week 1
Manufacturing with Sylvie BCN
Sylvia is the Founder and CEO of Sylvia Calvo BCN, an eco-friendly and ethical fashion brand created and located in Barcelona. Working mainly with originally used coffee bags, the brand applies Circular Economy principles to transform them into garments. Together with five colleagues, Sylvia also co-funded the non-profit Association "Moda Sostenible Barcelona" (MSBCN), the first association of this kind, in order to promote the benefits of sustainable fashion, its creation, production, and sale, and to bring it closer to consumers.
Sylvia will run this session live from factories in Catalonia, exploring the impact of COVID-19 on manufacturing and supply-chain assurance.
Week 2
Couture vs Fast Fashion with Prudence Millinery
Prudence is a leading couture millinery in London, making hats in the classical manner using only traditional millinery techniques. Prudence designed her first collection for spring 1991 under her own label, Prudence Millinery, and has since worked with Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Julien MacDonald, Biba and many others. Prudence currently designs and makes the hats for the Couture Collections for James Lock & Co., the world's oldest hat shop located in Mayfair, London.
Are fashion’s wildest imaginations capable of pragmatism? The legendary Christian Lacroix allegedly once said: “Haute Couture should be fun, foolish and almost unwearable.” In the year that has been anything but fun, does the world still have room for haute couture showmanship? Prudence discusses the impact on COVID on high-end fashion and the future of couture within the emerging socio-economic landscape.
Week 3
Retail with Andrew Witts, Head of Retail at Maharashi
Maharishi is a London-based streetwear label, founded by Hardy Blechman in 1994. The label is defined by its ‘pacifist military design’ aesthetic, as camouflage is a common motif in their overtly military-themed designs. They have also maintained a strong ethos of respect for nature, while utilising the latest technology. Andrew Works with Managing Director and other Heads of Function to influence the creation and communication of company strategy, business priorities and targets across physical retail and ecommerce.
Andrew will shed light on how the retail industry is responding to the realities of COVID, from new approaches to contactless shopping and the acceleration of e-commerce, to virtual showrooms and new product development.
Week 4
Digital Transformations with Patrick McDowell
Patrick has been turning heads since graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2018; from gracing the cover of the September Issue of Elle UK to being featured in publications including Multiple Vogue’s, Dazed and many more, to becoming a favourite of singers Rita Ora and M.I.A on and off stage. But its sustainability that is at the core of Patrick’s practice, as he strives to reinvent luxury through a sustainable mindset. Anna Wintour and Vogue USA nominated Patrick for the Stella McCartney Today for Tomorrow Award in late 2019.
Patrick will discuss the impact of technology on the fashion and design industry. Drawing on his most recent example of creating his first fully digital fashion collection, Patrick will explain why he believes a lifelong approach to learning and moving with technological shifts in society is critical to success; “We have to realise that it will be in our ability to unlearn, relearn, re-evaluate and change that will hold the key to all our creative futures”.
Week 5
Sustainability with REDRESS
REDRESS are an environmental charity with a mission to prevent and transform textile waste to catalyse a circular economy and reduce fashion's water, chemical and carbon footprints. They also host The Redress Design Award, the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition. Working to educate emerging fashion designers around the world about sustainable design theories and techniques in order to drive growth towards a circular fashion system, the design award is open to students from all of the world.
As fashion brand’s struggle to survive, how will this impact their commitment to sustainability? With consumer spending taking a hit, will buyers continue to favour sustainable ethos over cost? REDRESS will explore changes in social and consumer behaviour, and what companies can and should be doing to reform themselves in order to make sustainable fashion the norm.
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