Sustainable Approaches to Fashion Business

MATS22702 Sustainable Approaches to Fashion Business 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 5 Lisa Taylor Kelly Unit coordinator Department of Materials 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 The unit provides an understanding of the decision-making process required to ensure product expectations are met in a timely manner, balancing the desire for increased profitability along with the ethical and environmental factors which relate to global sourcing and distribtion practices. The unit provides an understanding of the decision-making process required to ensure product expectations are met in a timely manner, balancing the desire for increased profitability along with the ethical and environmental factors which relate to global sourcing and distribtion practices.The unit looks in detail at the principles of sourcing, purchasing, distribution and logistics management, introducing you to established and emerging strategies within trading relationships employed in the fashion and clothing industries.You will develop a strong foundation of knowledge of the criteria important to businesses and industry professionals when involved in the sourcing of products, linking these strategies directly to the decisions made in range planning, with consideration of costing and production volumes alongside ethical practices to enable you to develop the key commercial skills required in fashion buying, merchandising, product sustainablity, sourcing and supply chain management.  <div> This unit aims to: <ul> <li> Promote an in-depth understanding of sourcing and distribution theories and processes in the context of the buying and merchandising cycle. </li> <li> Provide an opportunity to explore the importance of supplier selection, trading relationships and ethical sourcing considerations that need to be made for fabrics and garments to get quality products into store or online at the right time and place.</li> <li> Develop an understanding and critical appreciation of different configurations of inbound and outbound business systems in a global context.</li> </ul>  </div>  A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections:<ul><li>Knowledge and understanding</li><li>Intellectual skills</li><li>Practical skills</li><li>Transferable skills and personal qualities</li></ul> Understand relevant sourcing, supply and distribution theory relating to range and product planning for buying.Demonstrate knowledge required for fabric and garment sourcing.Contributing to the programme learning outcomes:A8.     Articulate the processes, procedures, and practices of the global fashion industry.  A9.     Demonstrate an understanding of product requirements, innovation, enterprise, and cost issues in relation to textile and garment production.  A10.     Evaluate the development, management, and exploitation of IT systems within organisations, particularly those involved in financial planning and management.Contributing to the programme learning outcomes for BSc Fashion Buying & Merchandising:A11.     Analyse the process and stages of fashion product development with specific emphasis on the role of the buyer and merchandiser.  A12.     Critically analyse fashion buying approaches and fashion merchandising techniques within strategic product development, having the ability to recognise trends in fashion adoption and consumer purchasing habits.  A13.     Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the use of fibre, fabric, and garment technologies within the buying critical path and how it is used in the product development process and supplier management.  Appraise current and emerging practice in sourcing and distribution.Synthesise numerical data and information relating to sourcing and distribution planning. Contributing to the programme learning outcomes:  B1.     Identify and conceptualise appropriate theories, applying them to the fashion and textile industry.  B2.     Synthesise, assess, and evaluate information and data from appropriate sources and use these to make informed, independent judgments and decision making in relation to technical product and/or business contexts.  B5.     Communicate mathematical and technological information with clarity, logic, and accuracy.  Apply sourcing and distribution theory to case study examples.Evaluate information relating to the fashion, textiles and retail industry and use this to make informed judgements about sourcing and distribution challenges.Contributing to the programme learning outcomes:  C1.     Select, apply, and evaluate appropriate numerical, statistical, and physical testing methods for complex and open-ended tasks.  C2.     Select, evaluate, and use relevant software applications, including spreadsheets, CAD (Computer Aided Design) software, business applications, etc., for different tasks such as data analysis or design communication, within the context of Fashion and Textiles industry.  C4.     Identify and employ appropriate sources of information. C5. Plan, implement and interpret results of research or experimental studies.  Synthesise and organise written material and numerical data from a variety of sources.Communicate key concepts orally and in a written format.Contributing to the programme learning outcomes:  D1.     An ability to act ethically and communicate appropriately in a variety of complex and unpredictable contexts.  D2.     An ability to plan, manage and evaluate the investigation into and acquisition of new knowledge.  D3.     Clear and effective communication, using a range of styles and employing various media appropriate to the context.  D4.     Effective engagement in problem solving, academic discussion and presentation of arguments in a professional manner to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.  D6.     An ability to apply information technology, computation, and numerical techniques in a range of appropriate contexts. D7. An understanding of factors that enhance group processes; leadership, negotiation and team working, evaluating own effectiveness with a team, and modifying own behaviour as appropriate.  <div> <div> This unit will make use of a variety of learning and teaching processes including: lectures, discussions, group activities and independent study. The lectures will introduce topics and develop the theoretical subject knowledge, with directed reading and personal research encouraged to provide depth of understanding. Some lecture sessions will involve the use of worked practical exercises. The seminar exercises and group work will develop the skills and evaluate the importance and application of techniques. Blackboard will be used to present lecture notes, guided reading, articles and other supporting material. A factory visit will be included, where practical, to support the unit.Sourcing and Distribution will be examined within the context of Buying and Merchandising and how this informs the decision-making process for business and industry. Crucially, we will examine what, where and when? <ul> <li> What garments are we sourcing?</li> <li> Where are we sourcing from?</li> <li> When and where do we deliver?</li> </ul> We will explore the relationship between where we source garments and how these choices affect retailers in terms of import buying, brand buying, and wholesale buying, expanding understanding of how we distribute and allocate garments throughout the business using corporate policy  and management strategies. The unit counts for 10 credits and comprises 12 lectures and 6 seminars, supplemented through private study and guided reading. </div></div>  1 Written exam 100% Written and verbal - Following the June Exam Board N Students are not required to purchase any textbooks for this module. The following are recommended reading and are available in the library:Connell, D. (2010) A Buyer’s Life: A Concise Guide to Retail Planning & Forecasting, Fairchild, New York.Davis Burns, L., Mullet, K.K. & Bryant, N.O. (2011) The Business of Fashion: Designing, Manufacturing, and Marketing, 4th Edition, Fairchild, USA.Diamond, E. (2006) Fashion Retailing, A Multi Channel Approach, Pearson/Prentice Hall, USA.Elliott, F. & Rider, J. (2007) Retail Buying Techniques, Mercury Business Books.Wolfe, M.G. (2002) The World of Fashion Merchandising, Goodheart-Wilcox.Goworek, H. (2009) Fashion Buying 2nd Edition, Blackwell Science, London.Grove, V. (2011) Basics Fashion Management: Concept to Customer, Ava Publishing.Jackson, T. & Shaw, D. (2001) Mastering Fashion Buying and  Merchandising Management  Macmillan Master Series.Jones, R.M. (2006) The Apparel Industry 2nd Edition: Blackwell Science, London.Keiser, S.J. & Garner, M.B. (2008) Beyond Design: The Synergy of Apparel Product Design. 2nd Edition, Fairchild, New York.Marshall, L. & Rowland, F. (2013) A Guide to Learning Independently.  5th Edition, Open University Press, Buckingham.Saunders, M. (1997) Strategic Purchasing And Supply Chain Management, 2nd Edition, Financial Times Press.  Lectures 12 0 88