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COUNTERFIETING! A COMMON AFFAIR…

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Counterfeiting as a business is a question in itself, whether it is a success or a failure. But if we analyze it technically the process has it’s own wide sector in the world which is moving on day by day basically with a success because at some point it is taking place as a substitute. In this fashion world, we have designers who work hard to get their names and fame in the society. As these aspects of their lives grow, the prices of the products grow as well with the class.

Counterfeiting plays an important role for the people as the consumers who want to buy with the affordability counterfeiting2are okay with a bit change. On the other side this process also gives the kick to the other designers to develop the original idea more and showcase it with their name. This connection between both the designers increases the zeal where they have to invent more out of the box ideas to maintain their place in the society. So basically there are two types of the designers we have in this society. The one who is the ‘inventor’ , creates it all with the mind he has and the other who is the ‘developer’ who finds out what could be added or subtracted in it to make it  his own idea. This situation creates a business in it’s own at the time when the developer enters as the consumers also get new options and the creator has the challenge to prove himself again on the next stage and this cycle goes on and on.

Counterfeiting might sound wrong as a business but if we look in depth it is an everyday kickcounterfeiting3 for the society to move   ahead in this business. We cannot term anything right or wrong in business as for an entrepreneur this is the main     challenge that if he is able to find any benefit for the business in that wrong side as well that day will be when the   tables will turn to the right.

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Coco Chanel  was once asked if she is afraid that the world is copying her designs and her business can be in trouble and that day with a smile she replied,

“ I’ll be afraid the day when people will stop copying.”

The meaning behind the line was, the people will only stop copying it when they will stop liking it and thinking that now it is not worthy enough for them and their business. So the whole concept is not bad for anyone, it is only us who take it in an offensive manner because we do not realize that this is our biggest achievement that we are growing and giving a path to grow others also and even they cannot deny it. A situation where you rule your sector efficiently.

Ritika Raj

BBA-FE (2017-2020)

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Role of Adaptation in Fashion…

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The fashion industry has a wide range of trends which change every now and then and people always adapt to them. Moreover, in some countries, there are different scenarios in fashion and the adaptation levels vary. This activity of adaptation in our lives keeps us growing in a certain manner and we feel updated and a part of the society.It is a common affair but yet important to be discussed because of the increasing speed of trends.

Every creative person such as designers, journalists, writers, bloggers, photographers and the like are making efforts to meet the brief and get the adaptation parallel to the growth of globalization. The aspect of globalization in a certain manner opened the doorway to meet and greet the ideas of different cultures. The businesses are spreading widely and fashion is taking its place on a higher scale everyday.

Some brands like Levi’s, Coco Chanel, Mc Donald’s and more faced challenges when they moved to other countriesrole3and looked at their cultures, rules, convenience, comfortability and affordability.

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So there is not only design which needs adaptation but also the aspects of life and the country where the business is planned or about to be settled. Taking the example of Levi’s,  the weight of their denims in New York City and in India is way too different as people in India are not comfortable with the ones available in New York. So, their businesses in different countries have different production criteria and rules set by the government as well for the dyes, tags, labels, packaging and fabrics and the business has to be molded accordingly.

Therefore, Levi’s productions runs on different rules for separate countries with different preferencesrole5 and that is how  adaptation proves it’s existence in today’s world. It is as important as the profits of a business and proves that it is an important aspect for businesses to run effectively and on the other hand, for the consumers to greet the change.

 Shubhi Goel,

BBA-FE (2017-2020)

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Trip to Jaipur

Recently, we, the students of international college of fashion, along with our faculty, went on an educational trip to Jaipur.
Jaipur, also known as the pink city, is full of visitors’ attractions, including the famous Amer fort, Hawamahal, Jal Mahal etc. Jaipur also offers a wide range of learning opportunities for fashion students like us, including educational workshops on block printing techniques, anokhi museum of hand painting, handicraft markets, etc.

Our trip was scheduled from 25th of March to 28th of March. On 26th we attended a workshop on a block printing technique called Dabu print, which involves use of a specially prepared mud mix with ingredients like babool tree gum, lime water and mud, etc. It is prepared in advance and is quick dried with the help of finely grated wood remains to speed up the process. All the students made their own products like stoles, scarves and dupattas through Dabu. A special feature of Dabu is that in the dyeing process, we only use natural dyes, no chemical dyes are used. Most widely found color is indigo, since it’s the most commonly found natural dye. In the workshop we had a hands-on experience of Dabu printing, which was an enriching learning experience as a fashion student.

On 27th we visited the Anokhi museum of hand printing. The museum is home to the history of various forms of hand printing and block printing, including techniques like Bagru print and Sanganeri print. The museum has on display different examples of historic clothing of India and parts of now Pakistan, the reasoning of why people wore what they did, in what areas, what season, etc.
All combined, this trip was full of new learnings, and we have now gained knowledge that is going to prove useful to us as students in the future. This trip to Jaipur opened new gates of opportunities and possibilities for us in the industry in future.

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KEY TO SUCCESS: A BUSINESS PLAN

The Business Plan is the blueprint for your business. It describes the products and services, financing, operational model and other aspects of a Business.

Why Write a Business Plan?

We often make the mistake of thinking that a business plan is something you just tick off your ‘to do’ list and then never look at it again. But in reality, the business plan of any business changes over time as the business grows.

Writing a Business Plan is a good way to test if your idea for starting a business is feasible. Having a plan in place can help you accomplish a great deal of work, identify your strengths and weaknesses. It also helps in keeping you focused on your goals.

If you’re looking to raise funds from investors, it’s extremely essential that you write a Business Plan.

I will take you through the steps that one should follow before writing a Business Plan

• Research – It’s very important that you research about your Business Industry, Market, and Competitors which you’re entering in.

• Know your Audience – In the end it’s all about your customers; they’re the ones who are going to buy your product. Research, research, and research about what they like, how they talk, who makes their decisions and a lot more.

• Have a Clear Goal – While writing a business plan you want to keep in mind if it’s a self -funded or a bootstrapped business. It’s going to have different goals if you’re looking to attract investors.

BUSINESS PLAN MUST INCLUDE 

• Company Overview –This Section includes a description of your business and what you’re planning to do. You can include information about your industry, your vision, values, short and long term objectives, your team, their salaries, etc.

• Products & Services –A description about your products and services is mandatory. You can include points like what problem do they solve, why is there a need for your product or service.

• Market Analysis – Market Analysis is a key section of your Business Plan. Have a clear idea of your target market. Competitive analysis can help you plan how to be better than your competitors. SWOT Analysis will help you analyse your Strength & Weaknesses, so you can use your strengths to your advantage and look for ways to improve in the areas where your Business is weak.

• Marketing Plan – Your marketing plan would depend on your target audience, their likes and dislikes, what are their needs, what would urge them to buy your product and so on. Focus on the ideas that fit your ideal customer. For example: If you’re planning on investing in Facebook ads, you must research if your target audience is actually using the platform. Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing are some of the ways you can include in your Marketing Plan.

• Operations –Operations include the work you need to get done to get your ideas turned into reality. Your Inventory, Suppliers, Shipping Partners, Equipment, etc. are all a part of this Section.

 • Financial Projections – If you’re planning to attract investors or writing a business plan for yourself, Finances of a company are the most important part. Finances can make or break a company. It is important that you include and work on your Income Statement, Cash Flows, and Balance Sheet.

• Executive Summary – It’s an overview, snapshot of your Business. This should be the last section you write in a business plan. Highlight the key points like a brief description of your business, goals, vision, product description, audience, marketing plan, financials, team etc.

Having discussed why a business plan is important, what is more important is taking ACTION! Taking action to turn your ideas into reality.

Shivani Pikhan,
Founder and Director, Semessta

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MYTH TOWARDS DESIGNING

It has been always said that designing is something which is related to arts and our Indian parents always assume it to be a cakewalk. Doesn’t it seem familiar to read? Well, this story is happening since forever no matter what our history says. It’s time to figure this out practically and wake people up to the real world and know how slippery it could be to walk over it.

Designing is a very huge aspect in itself and contains a lot of knowledge to grab in mind. Its not only about sketching our thoughts over a paper; everything has to be correlated to make a story in itself which could be sold with a sense. But, what people think is that one should have hand skills to become a designer.
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What does the whole designing process contains?

It’ a never ending process and have so much in it like a thought, an inspiration, skills to put your thoughts on paper, skill to express, skill to make the thoughts real, skill to visualize it with the techniques, the sense to the right colors, the right fabric, right forecast and tremendous presentation.

And still it’s not done! The technical part what we are not aware of is how to  sell it and how to expand it as a business to earn.

So a designer has to keep in mind the technical factors such as how to reach the customers, how to get order and clients, what presentation, what budget, what rules and regulation domestically and internationally, what type of contracts, what terms and conditions, how to get more people in the business, how to promote, how to advertise, how to make profits.

In this 21st century this isn’t now just a designing, it’s the whole business going on out there and to run the business you don’t have to be only active with your hand, anyway and in every way it requires mind and knowledge towards the business.

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To run the business and stick to it one should hold interest towards business, have knowledge of design, fabrics, business laws & strategies, be active towards forecast, possess good promotional skills, communication and dedication.

What we should basically understand is that fashion industry has got work profiles in abundance and we can go for anything what we want not just only designing. Instead of designing there are many other profiles like  merchandiser, blogger, vlogger, photographer, editor, stylist, journalist, motivator, speaker, entrepreneur and so on.

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As a personal opinion we all are the racers aiming towards the identity, profits and growth with our various fortes we have in us but we all belong to one field, one race and one direction in a stylish way. As compared to others, we are much better to express ourselves, to show up and moreover we are liberal and proud to be  in the race where it’s written that we can actually find ourselves with our skills.img8

Shubhi Goel,
MBA-FE(2017-2020)

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JOB ROLES in FASHION INDUSTRY

The Fashion Industry has evolved significantly! Over the last 20 years, the industry has seen rapid growth, not only in terms of production, revenue and design but also in terms of the kind of career avenues that have opened up. Gone are the days when one could think of being in the Fashion Industry only as a Fashion Designer. There are countless careers in and related to the Fashion Industry today and the roles are ever-evolving.

It’s not just Glitz and Glamour, Fashion Industry is one of the most hard – working industries in the world. Living up to the constant demand and need of the changing times, it will keep you on your toes.  If you have a creative mind and you come up with interesting ideas, this industry is a great place for you. Let’s look at some of the career options one can explore in the industry.

1.      FASHION DESIGNER – Fashion Designing is an integral part of a Fashion House. Everything starts with a design. Being a Fashion Designer can be challenging but if you can live up to the constant changing dynamics of the Seasons then you should definitely explore this career. If you’re fresh out of a fashion college, consider interning at a reputed Fashion House to learn the nuances of design.

2.      STYLIST– From Editorial Styling to Celebrity Styling, the Styling Career has evolved over time. If you have a keen eye for detail, if you can communicate and understand who your client is and what they want, you should consider getting into Styling.

3.      FASHION TECHNOLOGIST – Fashion Technologists work on the creation of Fabrics. They ensure the fabric is made using the most cost effective and efficient methods. Today we see companies coming up with Sustainable and Eco Friendly Fabrics. Students with Science background can opt for this Career.

4.     FASHION E-COMMERCE – Coming from a Fashion E-commerce industry, with an experience of almost 6 years now, I can safely say that it’s one of the fastest evolving industries out there. It’s exciting and cut throat at the same time. Today almost every Brand has an e-commerce Website. There are e-business MBA programs. If you have a Fashion & Business Background, you should definitely look at starting an e-commerce website. If that’s not possible financially, you can start with selling your Designs, Merchandise on E-commerce Marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart etc. Consider interning at an E-commerce Company before starting your own to gain Business experience.

5.      LUXURY BRAND MANAGER – Major responsibility of a Luxury Brand Manager is to cater to a Specific Clientele. Understanding Consumer Psychology plays an important role in this career. One must understand the vision of the Luxury Brand and implement Strategies accordingly.

6.     FASHION BLOGGER – From Blogging Part-time to taking up Blogging as a Career, Blogging has come a long way. The Popular Content Creators/Bloggers are now known as influencers because of their reach and the impact they have on their audience. They’re now Celebrities & Brands in their own right. One should have a voice because there’s a plethora of Bloggers out there; you don’t want to get lost.

7.     DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST – With almost every individual on social media today, companies are hiring professionals to manage and create content for their social media handles. If you love creating content, you should consider this career option.

8.     FASHION SHOW PRODUCER – For a 10-15 minutes runway show, the planning and work starts almost a year in advance. A Fashion Show Producer is in charge of every aspect of a Fashion Show. The responsibilities are both creative and business. Scouting Locations, Budgeting, assisting in selecting the designers are some of the aspects. Making decisions quickly and communicating effectively are one of the most important skills for this job.

There are many other career opportunities in fashion industry which includes Fashion Illustrator, Fashion Business Management, Fashion Photography, Fashion Retailer, Trend Forecaster, Retail Buyer, Fashion Editor and many more.

Shivani Pikhan,
Founder and Director, Semessta

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WHO IS THE FATHER OF FASHION?

It’s Charles Frederick Worth…..A fashion designer of note, born on the 13th of October 1825, who founded a leading fashion house in the 19th century called “The House of Worth” in 1958.

Charles Fredrick Worth is considered to be the father of “Haute Couture”

He began sewing dresses to match the shawls. Initially, these were simple designs, but his skillful tailoring stood out for his clients to notice.

His Fashion Innovations……

Worth transformed the connection between a client and the couturier. Earlier there were seamstresses who would visit the client’s residence for a one-on-one discussion on the client’s design requirements; but with Worth, clients mostlyvisited his store for a consultation, which also became a get-together place for the who’s-who of the society.He was the first to use live models to show his collection to the clients.

Worth’s garments were well-known for their extravagant textiles and accessories and for including features from historical clothing. Amongst his many significantrevolutions in women’s fashion were to the lineup of dresses and their lengths.

Silhouettes….

He transformed a very popular trend…….the crinoline. By the way, a crinoline is a structured petticoat designed to hold out a woman’s skirt. Originally, crinoline was a stiff fabric made of horsehair (“crin”) and cotton or linen which was used to make underskirts and as a dress lining.

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Worth’s Innovation….

Now because crinoline was ever more huge and bulky in size, it made it hard for women to walk through doors, sit, takecare of their children and even hold hands. Charles Frederick Worth designed a new practical silhouette and thus transformed the crinoline into a narrower piece moving the largest part to the back, hence freeing up the front and sides. His new crinoline was a huge success.img2

Progressive Innovation….

In due course, Worth gave up the crinoline in all, and created a straight gown shape without a defined waistline that we now know as the princess line……”Princess line” describes a woman’s fitted dress or other garment cut in long panels without a horizontal joint or divisionat the waist. Instead of relying on darts to shape the garment, the fit is achieved with long seams and shaped pattern pieces.

FUN FACT: Alternative name for the Princess line was French-dart-line dress.img3

Shorter Hemlines…..

Worth also fashioned a shorter hemline; interestingly this was done at a suggestion of Empress Eugénie who loved long walks and hated long skirts. Thus calling it “A Walking Skirt”. This was primarily seen as very drastic, even scandalous, since it was at ankle length, but it’s practical benefits wereembraced over time.

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Gulbash Duggal, 
Associate Dean, ICF

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Fashion Designing Courses in Delhi: Part-Time

Fashion Designing Courses in Delhi

Fashion Designing Courses in Delhi: Many continue to look at vocational courses with a raised eyebrow, not quite convinced that such subjects can in the future lead to a stable, continuous income source.

Though perceptions are definitely changing, the journey is long and arduous. Many young and bright minds are continuously fighting social stigma, family and peer pressure to choose a career of their choice.

If you are a creative at heart but fear taking a full-time fashion designing course to boost your career, you can now choose a part-time course where you can learn the intricacies of the industry and fine-tune your caliber. Simply by dedicating a few hours every day you can learn a lot about this vibrant industry and become a part of it.

Who Can Take A Part-Time Fashion Designing Course in Delhi

There are many who enter the fashion designing industry in Delhi quite by chance and then become a part of it forever. They are the apprentices, the weavers, the sample cutters, jewelry stylists, accessory designers and assistant designers and so on. A part-time fashion designing course is ideally designed keeping such mid-level workers who though a part of the industry can learn a lot more. If you are one of them then a part-time fashion course is ideal for you.

How You Can Benefit    

  • One of the biggest advantages of enrolling in a part-time fashion course in Delhi is to boost your mid-career. Being a part of the industry you would know how difficult it is to reach the top. You literally have to fight many other talented minds like you. But when you are armed with a fashion designing degree you can use the gained knowledge to advance your career faster.
  • Such courses in Delhi are also designed for people who have no formal training in fashion designing but run their proprietary businesses. A formal education in the subject will enable you to understand the dynamics of the industry better, take advantages of the changing business model prevalent and equip yourself with advanced technological know-how.
  • A part-time fashion designing course in Delhi is flexible which means that you can learn as and how you want. You do not need to compromise on your income or your day job. There are several fashion designing institutes in Delhi which lets you work in the mornings and complete the course in the evenings.   

You can now easily fulfill you dream of becoming a trained fashion designer by enrolling in one of the leading part-time fashion designing courses in Delhi with fees.

3rd Floor, Gulab Bhawan, 6, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Near (Gate No. 4) ITO Metro Station, New Delhi – 110002
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How Many Years of School do you need to be a Fashion Designer?

One of the often-asked questions regarding a fashion designing course is what are the eligibility criteria? Since fashion designing is seen as a vocational course, one which is not taken by everyone, general knowledge about these courses is sparse. If you are planning to do a graduate-level program in fashion designing, you will need to have 10+2 years of education. For a post-graduate course, an additional 3 years of graduation is necessary. At the International College of Fashion (ICF), we offer various programs tailor-made to meet the varying requirements of the students. We have undergraduate courses as well as post-graduate and diploma courses on offer. All our courses are designed to help strengthen your foundation in fashion design as well as to equip you with the economics of the industry. We also offer students hands-on experience from the industry through industry-integrated experiential learning.

  • BBA in Fashion Entrepreneurship – This is a focused course where you learn everything about fashion, business and entrepreneurship in the most innovative and creative manner. It is a three-year industry-integrated program. You will need 10+2 years of education in any stream with at least 45% to enroll in this program.
  • MBA in Fashion Entrepreneurship – This post-graduate course is designed to help students understand the business opportunities in the industry and create new ventures. The course also steers students towards innovation. It is a two-year post-graduate course where for the first year you will need to attend regular classes while in the second year there will be only weekend classes. You need to be a graduate in any field with at least 45% marks to enroll in this course.
  • PG Diploma in Fashion Entrepreneurship – It is an integrated and focused course that is designed for future entrepreneurs of fashion design. In the year-long program, students can learn business development models and the various aspects involved in costing, management, retailing, manufacturing and so on. You will be taught the highs and lows of the industry so as to better equip you to start your own label.
  • Diploma in Fashion Design – This is a flexible course that has been designed keeping in mind the professionals who are already a part of the fashion designing industry but who seek formal education. It is an inspirational and practical course that is designed to help you foster your career. There are three fashion designing diploma courses offered by ICF – PG Diploma in Fashion Designing which is a 12-month course, Advance Diploma in Fashion Designing a 12 or 24-month program and Diploma in Fashion Designing a 12 months program specifically designed for 10th-passed students.

Enroll in the course of your choice in ICF today and see your fashion design dreams come to reality.

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Here’s What You Need To Look for in Best Institute for Fashion Designing

If you wish to start a career in the fashion industry it goes without saying that you need to choose the best college for fashion design. The popularity of this career option has led to the mushrooming of colleges and institutes across the country. Not all are likely to offer you the same kind of training or exposure you need in an industry that sees cut-throat competition. So how do you separate the good institutes from the ordinary ones? Here’s what you need to look for in the best institute for fashion design –

# The Course Program
There are various courses offered by the colleges at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels apart from several short-term courses. Naturally, you should start choosing an institute after reviewing the course program thoroughly. Does it cover the areas you are interested in? For instance, if you wish to make a career in fashion marketing and merchandizing you should choose an institute that offers you specialized programs in this domain. Never make the mistake of taking up a course you may not be passionate about.

# Location of the Institute
The location of the institute plays a very important role when you are choosing a college for fashion. It is an area where exposure to the industry plays a very important role in introducing students to knowledge as well as the latest trends and ideas in the industry. If you study in an institution that is located in one of the remote parts of the country you aren’t likely to get the same exposure. This is why you will find the best institutes for fashion designing in cities like Delhi and Mumbai.

# Hands-on Training
While choosing an institute in Delhi or Mumbai would serve as an advantage you’d be naïve to think that every institution in these cities would offer you the same kind of exposure. Know the kind of internship opportunities the institute offers as working with a top designer or label would help you sharpen your skills. Similarly, the course should take you out of the classroom and let you work in models which help you understand the challenges in the industry. The institution should invite guest faculty who share their experiences within the industry.

When you keep these things in mind you will be able to choose the best institute for fashion design in the country. Remember your choice of the institute will lay the foundation for your career and you need to make the right choice.