FASHION FORECASTING

Fashion Forecasting Lecture 4 Rabia Anwar

WHAT IS FASHION FORECASTING?

Fashion forecasting is the practice of predicting upcoming trends based on past and present style-related information.

When we talk of forecasting, we refer to the prediction of;

Colours Fabrics Styleline or Silhouettes and Patterns Accessories and styling

Fashion forecasting is usually done 18 to 24 months in advance

WHY FORECAST FASHION?

Since fashion is constantly changing and evolving, forecasting has a pivotal role in the fashion process.
Forecasting can; Ease the design process for the designers i-e gives a direction to work in. But more importantly; By communicating the information to designers, retailers, product developers, manufacturers, and business professionals, they are able to produce products that consumers will want to purchase and can be made.

them

profits

Understanding, knowing, and predicting the needs and desires of consumers help the designers, retailers, and manufacturers make well-informed decisions.

WHO FORECASTS FASHION?

Fashion forecasters are the individuals or teams that strive to identify upcoming trends and deliver the findings to the industries that provide products for the consumers. These trend forecasters combine knowledge of fashion, history, consumer research, industry data, and intuition Designers and creative directors have historically been involved in identifying and creating fashion trends but are not the only professionals who forecast. Other professionals included are
Magazine editors Business and retail executives Buyers Product developers

FASHION FORECASTING SERVICES

While there are individuals who forecast fashion for companies Fashion forecasting has emerged as a business. There are different companies that provide designers with specialized forecasting reports.

PANTONE INC.

Pantone, Inc., the most widely used and recognized color standards system in the world, color forecasts are developed. Each season, Pantone surveys the designers of New York Fashion Week to collect feedback on prominent collection colors, color inspiration, and color philosophy. This information is used to create the Pantone Fashion Color Report, which serves as a reference tool throughout the year for fashion enthusiasts, reporters, and retailers

FALL 2013 COLOR REPORT

CARLIN INTERNATIONAL
Carlin International is a multi branch company founded in the 1940s. Carlin International trend books are twice-a-year information guides that include major trends, color, fabric, and silhouettes. The firms creative team of 30 international designers and researchers anticipate the trends of the future releasing information 18 to 24 months in advance of the season

TRENDSTOP.COM
Trendstop.com is an online trend book. It is a web based service that is updated with new trend looks, ideas and inspirations daily. With its headquarters in London, Trendstop.com employs over 20 industry specialists to bring their customers in depth fashion reports. A variety of people use their services; From fashion students to celebrities

WHAT DOES A FASHION FORECAST INCLUDE?

A typical forecast includes:

Themethe ideas, stories, and moods of the forecast Color Textiles and materials Look

HOW DO THEY GATHER INFORMATION FOR FORECASTING?

Curiosity makes for a better fashion forecaster!

A forecaster should have excellent observation. They should look at what people were wearing and are wearing so they can predict a pattern and suggest what will be in fashion.

Fashion can be found almost anywhere including at events and gathering places such as:

Fashion shows

The basic source for forecasting fashion is on the runway. The designers re-create fashion with a sense of newness and imagination and as fashion shows are shown one or two seasons in advance it becomes a good source for inspiration

Fabric fairs

Fabric fairs such as Premire Vision in France, Interstoff in Europe and Asia, and Material World in New York, Celebrities play an important role in fashion forecasting the in celebrity will be the trend setters

Red carpet events

On the streets

On the streets, innovative youths experiment with new style ideas and it becomes the basis for street fashion, casual wear etc

Forecasters keep their eyes on such population trends as family size and spending habits. They monitor innovations in science and technology. Consumer buying patterns
The consumers buying habits shift as the forces of forecasting move fashion forward. The consumers attitudes about buying are always changing. for instance, customers in the past would purchase head-to-toe looks to make up an outfit. Today, customers buy items to add to their existing wardrobe. In spring of 2010, seven to eight tops were selling to every bottom that was sold in womens wear. Knowing buying patterns guide designers to meet the market demand

TO SUMMARIZE: Among the things that forecasters take into account are:

Acquired knowledge of historical and contemporary fashion and ideas about future fashion. Observations of the movement and direction of change. Social and cultural shifts in society. Analysis of sales and consumer data. A broad understanding, honed by experience, of the inner workings of a trend.

THE FASHION FORECASTING PROCESS

1.

The five processes that are followed to develop a forecast are: Researching or Collecting information

As discussed a fashion forecaster will look at General Media, fashion publications, fashion shows, fabric fairs and reviewing store information etc to gather their information

2.

Preparing Information

Includes organizing the collected data and then figuring out patterns Recording, storing, and organizing this information are as important as collecting the information the images and information collected will be a part of the final forecasting report.

3. Analyzing and Predicting

Based on the gathered and analyzed data the fashion forecasters then put forward their predictions about, silhouettes, colors, fabrics etc. The process of conveying information, thoughts, opinions, and predictions about the forecast through writings, visual boards, and verbal presentations

4. Communicating

SPRING 2014 FORECAST (EXAMPLES)

ART INSPIRED

METALLIC

ASSIGNMENT
Write a report on the Spring 2014 and Fall 2014/2015 Trends. Give 4 trends for each season Things to include!

Womens wear Mens wear Colors Fabrics

Assign one page to each trend. Include colored images for each trend