Fashion designers are both product managers and innovators. The design function also involves trend forecasting, product development, manufacturing, retailing, marketing, branding and promotion.
These roles are important to know when designing fashion collections. The aim of the LASALLE X TANGS Pop Up Store collaboration, now in its second edition, is to develop students into professional designers that are well-versed in current industry practices.
Through this project, students will learn how to turn innovative and intangible ideas into a profitable reality. They will also take away practical knowledge about customer profiles, brands sold in-store, how to establish the correct price point, how to have balanced sizing, colour and garment ratio, consumer behaviour and consumer patterns.
In the early stages of the collaboration, the graduating cohort of 2016 presented their graduation collections to the TANGS buying team over four consultative sessions where students had to present their concepts and convince buyers to select their collections to be sold in-store.
Six collections made the cut: three womenswear, one menswear, one jewellery and one accessories collection. These collections will be retailed in a pop up store conceived and curated by LASALLE, with mentorship from TANGS Creative Director Christelle Vaillant and her team, for each selected designer to help them build a comprehensive and innovative capsule collection that responds to TANGS customer profiles.
Students also had the opportunity to work with renowned Austrian crystal jeweller Swarovski, as part of LASALLE’s continued engagement with cutting-edge, prestigious industry partners. Swarovski selected five students whose work could incorporate Swarovski crystals in innovative or unexpected ways. Among them were aspiring jeweller Amabel Quek whose artdeco inspired collection, “Ama Belle”, will retail at the pop up store.
Online luxury fabric company I-COLLECTION provided fabric for the collections retailing at the pop up. I-COLLECTION provides easy access to luxury fashion fabrics for companies around the world, working with designers and garment producers to provide flexible fabric supply conditions.
The pop up store will officially open on Thu 5 May, after the graduate fashion show, at TANGS at Tang Plaza (Orchard), Level 2. It will remain open for three weeks from Thu 5 May to Thu 26 May 2016. POST-FASHION LASALLE X TANGS Pop Up Store is part of STB’s Fashion Steps Out event on Orchard Road.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this collection will go to the loveLASALLE Education Fund, a dedicated financial assistance scheme that provides scholarships and bursaries to students from families with per capita income of S$1,500 and below. Initiated in 2012, the fund aims to be self-sustaining, with contributions from the LASALLIAN community, private individuals and major corporations. All funds received will go towards providing critical aid to students.
Venue: TANGS at Tang Plaza (Orchard), Level 2
When: 5 - 26 May 2016,
By: LASALLE College of the Arts
