Historical Influence in Fashion Design

• The Role of fashion through different historical periods has greatly influenced contemporary design by providing inspiration and referencing different aesthetics.
• Essential to understand various historical epochs such as the Victorian era, the Roaring Twenties, and the Swinging Sixties as each of these periods had distinct fashion styles.
• Role of major fashion movements, including Punk, Grunge, and Minimalism and their impact on modern design.
• Important contributions of key historical designers such as Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Technical Components of Fashion Design

• Familiarity and understanding of using different textiles is key, including natural fabrics like cotton and synthetic ones like polyester. Understand their properties and why certain textiles are preferable for certain designs.
• Garment Construction, including elements like seams, hems, and finishes.
• Pattern cutting and grading is essential to ensure correct sizing and fit during garment production.
• Use of Textile manipulation techniques, such as dyeing, printing, and embroidery, to create different effects and finishes on garments.

Fashion Illustration and Representation

• Role of sketching and drawing in generating initial ideas and expressing these visually.
• Importance of constructing clear and accurate tech packs that detail design, fabric, colour, and trims to be used in garment manufacture.
• Use of computer-aided design (CAD) for creating fashion similar models and illustrations, as well as producing detailed technical designs.
• Development of mood boards to serve as visual representation of design concepts.

Sustainable Practices in Fashion Design

• Understanding of ethical issues in fashion like the use of fur, sweatshop labour, and environmental impact.
• Sustainable design practices such as the use of organic textiles, recycling of materials, and reducing waste in production.
• Impact of slow fashion which highlights quality and longevity over fast-fashion and disposable trends.
• Role of innovation in sustainable fashion, such as development of new materials and manufacturing techniques that are eco-friendly.

Fashion Marketing and Business

• Importance of brand identity, how it influences a fashion label's design aesthetic and attracts its target market.
• Impact of fashion trends and forecasting in shaping design choices and timing of collections.
• Technologies and strategies for modern fashion promotion, including e-commerce, social media campaigns, and influencer marketing.
• Understanding global fashion markets and the cultural, economic and legal factors influencing fashion sales and distribution internationally.