91115 - Collection Design

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students are aware of the main issues related to the research and design of a fashion collection; have acquired skills necessary to evaluate critically a production line in relation to the most actual trends and to the contemporary cultural panorama; are familiar with the process which, beginning with an idea and passing through production, brings fashion products be distributed and consumed on a global level.

Course contents

TOM REBL will be taking you on a journey to explore the creation of an avantgarde fashion collection and brand development from the designer‘s perspective.
The main topics are:
• research
• sketching
• materials resourcing
• pattern cutting and sampling
• industrial manufacturing
• collection editing
• presentation (styling, catwalk show, fashion film, presentation,
shooting, installation)

To each student group will be given original TOM REBL archive pieces in order to realise an upcycling project (re-introducing archive pieces to the consumer). The goal of this work is to upcycle/reuse the chosen item in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.

After the brief, students will mainly work on their own but, on a weekly basis, design progress will be discussed with dedicated tutors.

Students will be asked to realize micro concepts in the form of video and/or photo choosing one of the 10 attributes which define the brand (pushing boundaries, artistic, genderfluid, extroverted/distinctive, provocative, unique/handmade/exclusive, versatile, personal, deconstructed, experimental). The objective is to adapt the communication strategy of the avantgarde fashion brand TOM REBL to today’s market.


Skills achieved
At the end of the course the student is enabled to analyse a brand, deriving some criteria from the general analysis and trend research on TOM REBL (vision, inspiration, relevance in the panorama of contemporary fashion, target/tribe profile).

He/She will have acquired methodological skills aimed at identifying tasks and interconnection of various departments within a fashion house.

During the course students will also explore innovating ways of communication in fashion (social media, influencers, guerrilla campaigns, pop-up events, fashion film, collaborations, presentations, installations), comparing them with the traditional ones (press office, journalists, fashion magazines, advertising, catwalk shows). By focusing on innovative opportunities, the goal is to develop creative strategic skills in order to be able to successfully communicate fashion brands or collections.

Students have to develop micro concepts in video and/or image to become familiar with the end consumer's communication of the brand.

Readings/Bibliography

At the conclusion of each lesson, the professor will provide a list of references on the topics dealt with during the lecture.

Supporting bibliography:

Giuseppe Ceccarelli, Eleganza al maschile. 20 intramontabili icone dello stile (Vercelli: White Star, 2016)

Akiko Fukai, et. al., Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion (London/New York: Merrel, 2010)

Stefano Chiassai and Corinna Chiassai, Caosordinato. Anything works. A modern man's wardrobe (Bologna: Nuova Libra Editrice, 2016)

Andrew Bolton, Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology (New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2016)

Rebecca Arnold, et al., Margiela: The Hermes Years (Tielt: Lannoo Publishing, 2017)

Teaching methods

• theoretical lectures

• analysis of case studies

• items demonstrations

• workshop

• discussion of student projects.

Assessment methods

Each student group will be asked to present the final work including a short written synopsis of the concept and a presentation board (or digital presentation).

Evaluation Criteria:

• coherence of the project with the brand.
Did you understand the brand philosophy?
Did you stay true to the brand´s DNA?

• creativity.
Did you manage to develop your idea with creativity?
Did you create something original and fresh?

• execution of the project.
Is your message clear?
Are you communicating in the right language/style with your target?

Teaching tools

• PPT

• archival projects

• videos

• collection items

• digital sources.

Office hours

See the website of Thomas Rebl