Fashion Merchandising Introduction: Product development is the very first stage of introduction of new style. The concept of new style or design is developed by fashion designer which is merely a design or sketch on the paper. Product development is. the process where that sketch or design is converted in to a 3D form garment, with all technical and aesthetic approach keeping in mind. The first stage is of organizing the thoughts and collecting images (Mood board) from designer. It captures the mood or flavour of the design project, as well as reflects the target customer, sometimes designs are developed target costumer keeping in mind. The in-depth study & close examination as well as market forecasting of the costumer stimulates the ideas about colours & textures which influence choice of fabrics. Colour palette is selected with the important shades and identifying the market and customer taste, historic data from marketing team and saleability of the developed product. Methods such as dyeing, printing, applique & manipulating the fabrics convert the stimulated ideas info required textures & drape of the garments. At the stage of developing fabrics for ‘Swatch Board, practicalities of achieving the effects hardly matters whereas innovation is highly demanded. Designing a collection is concerned with decisions of taste, choice and sensitivity and relies on the market forecast. In present global scenario and fast fashion era product development becomes the business strategy for the whole supply chain of the fashion industry. Now a day's product development is done at every stage of the fashion industry. Typically product etd development is done by following institutions. one Peres Proto type poring Sample eres Garment DUCT Og res poate Bribe en Tats TiCo LeU Cie a) studio eo ” c o = % & a BS o a} Pe 2) Ss i} ) 2 Ay Product development process starts after market forecast, itis the process of creating each individual style within the line, After the research phase of line Product development by global buyer: development is completed, silhouettes are developed, From the buyers point of view the product fabrics and trim selected, prototypes made, and development is the creating individual style within the specifications are created. The resulting styles are line. The typical product development process at analysed to determine manufacturing costs. These buyer's stage can be given as steps are all part of the product development phase Shetty /of the line development process. The first steps of silhouette development and fabric selection are approached in different ways by different designers and companies. Many companies base their lines around fabric and print designs. Their designers start by selecting fabrics and then create silhouettes for those fabrics. These designers are fabric driven, Other designers are sithouette-driven. They design silhouettes and then select fabrics that are compatible with the sihouettes. Both processes achieve the same end result-unique garment styles. This type of product development is done either by buyer along with buying house. Product development is the essential part of the line development after market forecast is done. Without product development line cannot be developed. The essential parts of product development are Fabric selection: fabric selection is done based on aesthetics as well as technical demand of the garment. Following things need to consider while selecting the fabric for product development. © Fibre content. © Fabric construction-basic structure © Texture and engineered effects created by weave configurations and ® Yarn selections. © Prints. © Colour range © Performance characteristics-wear factors, care requirements, sewing ‘© Compatibility and drape. © Versaiilty for use in multiple styles. © Price and terms. © Availabilty, © Minimum order quantities For fabric selection designer Visits textile mills, fabric studio, design studio. Silhouettes: Silhouette + development involves transforming garment ideas into final garment Sketches or technical drawings, which are +. hand or CAD renderings of the front and back of a garment, including stitching details. + Technical drawings usually do not include body silhouettes and are used where + construction and styling details, are critical to the design. Proto type development: + after Silhouette is developed, tech pack is developed and development sample are developed. Objective is to see the aesthetic and manufacturing abilty of the so batangesr + Yardage /sample trims are developed with supplierand de sample with yardage fabric Fit and photo-shoot samples ‘are prepared Fashion Merchandising proposed style. Costing: Costing is done at the stage of sample development to see the market feasibility of the product for sales and to decide the profit margin. Advantages of product development by buyer! buying specification: ‘© Buyer makes the market forecast, hence the Understanding of market is better © The recent trends are decided by buyer. ‘© The colour, prints and pattems are developed by byer which is based on market forecast. © Buyer is totally responsible for the success of developed style. Disadvantages product development by buyer! buying specification: ® The process of product development is long and tidies process for buyer;ifouyer doesn't have in-house production capability ‘® Buyer noods to depend on either buying house or garmentitextile manufacturer for development of lab- dip, strike-off, and samples © The cost of product development at this stage is higher. ‘® Though buyer does the market forecast but buyer, may has limitation on technical knowledge and production feasibiliy of the style. Product development by garment manufacturer Product development is the business policy of the organization which includes the development of the new designs and styles within the organization, This activity brings the more business to organization, by showing pro-activeness in design development buyer also impress. The role of production merchandiser in this activity is plays very important role. Production Production merchandiser asks design studio to develop some styletfabrics/ print design Lab-ip/ desk-loomistrike-oft! ‘embroidery pattern ualty checked and costing is lopment ‘done by merchandiser, = Presentation with buyer when buyer visits to factoryor sent to buyer office. Costing proposed to buyer Buyor selects style ‘Order conformation -_ 48merchandiser must keep update to buyer timo to time about the product development done by organization. Motivate the buyer to give the design development to the organization instead of doing themselves. Whenever buyer visits to the organization, presentation of new colour, prints, embroidery patterns and desk loom developments is done by production merchandiser. Presentation of new designs developed by PD department. Try to convince the buyer to select the designs from presentation. A very good presentation and ‘convincing ability of production merchandiser brings more business to the organization, Role of production merchandiser in product development ® Product development is become business policy of the organization, as merchandiser is the bridge between buyer and manufacturer, merchandiser can understand the buyers know-hows of the market and new development can be done accordingly. © Merchandiser not only follows the export order but, he/she must be aware of the new trends in market related to fabric, colour, patterns, style, dosigns etc. © Cost calculations are the main role played by the merchandiser. At product development and sampling stage only cost is calculated and quoted to buyer. ® Merchandiser must insist in-house design studio(if available)or product development team to ‘come up with new ideas and designs and style. © Al the same lime merchandiser should convince buyer to give development to the factory if capacity is available. ® Merchandiser knows what buyer wants hence at the time buyer visit to factory, merchandiser can present the new developments i.e. desk looms, lab- dips, strike-offs, newly developed design in garment in front of buyer or send to buyers office for selection purpose. ® Merchandiser must use convincing ability to make sure that buyer will accept some designs. © The important role of merchandiser plays is follow-up of buyer as well as sampling department to make sure that development should go smoothly. Advantages: ® Production merchandiser can control product development process in better way. ® Pro-activeness of merchandiser can bring the more business to the organization © The cost of product development is lesser when it takes place in manufacturing organization ® Manufacturing organization may not charge the ‘cost of product development to the buyer if buyer is, regularly giving orders to the organization that is the benefit to the buyer. Disadvantages: ® Merchandiser may not aware fully about the buyer's requirement of style and designs for that Fashion Merchandising particular season. If itis so then whole work will be wasted. © The quality requirements of the buyer nay not match. © There may be capacity of sampling or product development department to produce the new style, but there may be possibility that production floor may not be able to handle the style © Merchandiser may have limited knowledge of the market, trends, running style, sales background of the buyer, brand image. Hence there are limitations for merchandiser to go for product development. Product development by design studio: In globalization era product development process is, also outsourced by buyer. The typical product development process by design studio can be given. ‘The process of product development is similar to what buyer is doing but only third party or individual design studio is involved in the process. Buyer asks design studio to develop the new designs, sketches, style and colour. Design studio develops designs according to market forecast of buyer, by kee brand image in mind Byer gives enquiry + Research for product, development + Fabric, silhouette, colours, Quality decided trims are selected approvals from buyer + Proto type preparation and presentation to buyer + Style selection sample development + ing with buyer and ly analysis and costing +s ‘Adoption by buyer Order con Costing Is done formation = Advantages of the process: © Buyer gets the advantage of expertise in design studio. © Buyer need not to see the sourcing part for the product development. © The risk is transfers to the design studio. © With involvement of third party product development sharing of knowiedge is happens. © The resources can be combined © Increasing the speed of product development process as design studio does that job. 49Fashion Merchandising © Buyer gots the advantage of latest technology in design studio. Disadvantages: @ More cost is incurred for buyer. © Dependency is more on design studio. © Design studio may not be able to understand the buyer's perception about market though buyer shares, data. @ There is reduction in knowledge gain about technology, new trends and technical aspects of product development. Conclusion Globalization makes product development process heart of fashion industry. The apparel product developer is involved through the entire process from In Focus concept to delivery.Since the product developer works in tandem with the merchandiser, having a strong background in forecasting and mathematical skills is a plus. The costing is estimate at product development phase hence; itis very easy for buyer to estimate the MRP of the garment. Accordingly marketing plans can be developed. For manufacturers point of view product development is a business tactics. To sustain in the business manufactures takes active part in product development process. For design studios or third party product development organization it is opportunity to work globally. With product development entrepreneurship can be possible as standalone design studio are run by single person or group of persons who are expert in the field. Victory is warm cloth distribution Mey Bangladesh University of Textile (BUTex) Winter has arrived; the perfect season for sitting in the balcony with a cup of hot coffee. But the scenario is not the same for everyone. For many people, winter is the synonym for misery. The shelter-less people suffer for extreme cold in silence. They cannot afford to buy winter clothes to keep them warm, Apparently, the educated and affluent people of the society manage to overlook their misery. ‘On the 16th December, "BADHAN" (a voluntary blood donar's organization) unit of Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTex) decided to observe the victory day in a different way. They took an initiative to spread the warmth of humanity among those in need. They distributed warm clothes among the homeless people in different areas of the capital. Hundreds of shelter- less people of Farmgate, Khamarbari, Asad Gate, Mohammadpur, Bijoy Shoroni, Karwan Bajar, Panthopath and Hatirpul were given winter clothes to protect them from the cruel claw of cold. The volunteers worked relentlessly from 11 p.m to 5 a.m and helped the poor people. Countless people in Dhaka live below the poverty line. Itis a challenge for them to arrange two square Sista meals a day. Buying warm clothes is nothing but luxury for these penniless. people. They are left with no choice other than waiting for the mercy of Mother Nature. It is easy to imagine how pleased these helpless people had been when they were put out of their misery. Lately, the whole nation has fallen victim to political Violence. In this situation, this effort by the under- grad students of BUTex is really praiseworthy. It restores our faith in humanity. It makes us believe that we truly are the best creation of the Almighty. The hard work and benevolence of these volunteers have definitely made many people smile, They might not be paid for this noble act, but surely they were all rewarded with the blessings of the homeless people. In this winter, when some people are thinking of getting new jackets or sweaters just because the old ones are “out of fashion’, a huge number of people are struggling to keep their body and soul together. Today, when our world revolves around ourselves, this effort is really an eye opener. It reminds us of that one thing which makes us human-humanity. 50