90883 - Organization of Fashion Companies

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the fundamental concepts and methods of the sociological analysis, in a perspective of the theory of cultural production, with particular reference to the processes related to the organization of work; is able to analyze and understand the processes related to material and symbolic production in the fashion system and in the fields of cultural production connected to it.

Course contents

The course will examine the organizational processes of a fashion company, in particular in the design and product development phases. The issue of the sales process between company and commercial intermediates will also be investigated.
The main topics of the course are summarized below:
1) General structure of a fashion company
2) The development of the collections:
• Style
• Study of trends
• Analysis of historical company sales data
• The definition of the structure of the collection
• Research and choice of materials
• Prototyping
3) The industrialization of the product
4) Sales:
• General organisation
• Sales budget
• Sales campaigns
• Reorders
5) The organisation of a fashion show:
• Historical evolution of the parade
• Fashion weeks
• Different formats of fashion shows
• How to create of a fashion show

Readings/Bibliography

1) – “La supply chain della moda. Strumenti per la gestione globale dell'impresa: dallo sviluppo del prodotto al negozio”, Vittorio Bini, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2011. Only chapters no. 4, 5, 6, 7 have to be studied

2) – “Le collezioni nella moda. La gestione dei processi dal designer al cliente”, Nicola Misani, Paola Varacca Capello (a cura di), EGEA S.p.A., Milano, 2016

3) “Fashion show, Come organizzare una sfilata di moda”, Estel Vilaseca, Logos, Modena, 2010

4) – “Il designer di moda, man-in-the middle e intermediario culturale”, in "Rassegna italiana di sociologia", Nicoletta Giusti, n. 4, ottobre dicembre 2009, pp. 570-607

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures on the topics indicated above, with the support of multimedia devices. Professionals working with companies operating in the fashion industry will be invited to lecture and to contribute thanks to their experience, by tackling some of the topics to be dealt with during this course.

Assessment methods

Students will sit a written exam using the EOL platform at the IT labs in Via Domenico Angherà 22, Rimini.

In case the sanitary situation will not allow to access the informatics labs, students will sit an online oral or written exam using the EOL platform.

The written exam will consist in 15 questions, formulated on the basis of the material stated in the syllabus.

For every question, four possible answers will be suggested from which students should select the one they believe to be most correct.

Evaluation for all students to be examined is based on 30 points. The result is calculated by subtracting from 30 the sum corresponding to possible errors and/or missing answers.

For every correct answer, 0 points will be subtracted, whilst 2 points will be subtracted for every wrong or missing answer.

Students will have 15 minutes to complete this written test.

Students wishing to improve the result obtained in the written exam will have the possibility to take an oral exam, to integrate their written exam. In this case, the minimum mark obtained in the written test must be 26 and the final grade will be given by the mathematical average of the two marks obtained in the written exam and the oral exam.

We would kindly ask all students who register on the exam lists, to unsubscribe if they decide not to sit the exam or are unable to do so. Your cooperation is essential to guarantee optimal organisation of the exams and to ensure that students who are present do not have to wait unnecessarily.

In the event of an oral exam being taken, top marks will be given if a student demonstrates the ability to present the material in an organic, comprehensive and conscious way also connecting it, if possible, to knowledge gained in other classes. Further criteria for top marks will regard the capacity of analysis and reasoning, language quality and development of a personal point of view, which may even be critical, on the topics dealt with.

A satisfactory result will be given if a student demonstrates good knowledge of the topics treated during class, a good ability to express ideas and if the student develops a personal approach to some of the aspects treated.

A sufficient result will be given if a student demonstrates minimal knowledge of the course contents, without showing a personal approach to the aspects treated and without always using the proper terminology.

A negative result will be given if even minimal knowledge of the course contents is missing and if the student uses an inadequate form of expression.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides and videos will be used during lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Fabbri