FSF (Fashion Scholarships Fund) Case Study 2024

DESIGN & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE: 
Create a Considerate Collection Serving People and the Planet

Your objective is to design a collection that evolves the sustainable practices of a fashion brand with an environmental and social focus. Your collection can be for an existing product category addressed by the brand, or it can propose a brand expansion into a new product category or to a new target market. The brand may already have an environmentally or socially sustainable assortment, but your collection must evolve the existing offering or reach a new customer. You will also conduct brand research and explore social trends to align your concept with market demands. 

For your collection you must:

• Reflect changing product trends, such as advances in materials, production processes, and/or design techniques. 

• Consider the design details (e.g., fabrics and trim) and rationalize your design choices.

• Create a connection to your target consumer and advance their well-being through research on your target market
  and/or the wider consumer base. 

• Maximize the connection between the brand, the environment, and society. 

• Consider how it promotes brand goals (existing or planned based on your research).

The brand you choose should be:

• A mono-brand, not a multi-brand retailer (E,g. Nike, American Eagle)

• Generally well-known.

• Pure-play or operate across channels (e.g., brick-and-mortar, e-commerce, or multichannel). 

• A fashion apparel, accessories, footwear, home, beauty, or health & wellness brand. 

The focus of the FSF Case Study this year is ESG (environmental, social, governance)

 In WGSN go to Fashion>Research & Create>Sustainability 
OR Search with ESG keywords then Choose a type of content>Reports to limit results by Market

In Fashion Snoops go to Culture>Points of Focus>Sustainability/Humanity
OR Search with ESG keywords then limit results by Market

 In Mintel go to Trend Drivers>Surroundings>Ethics/Sustainability
OR Search with ESG keywords + clothing, beauty, etc

 In WARC go to Strategy>Sustainability Hub or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
OR Search with ESG keywords then limit results by Categories e.g. Clothing & Accessories or Toiletries & cosmetics

Go to Fashion > to find design tools including:

• Color, print, and graphics forecasts
• Color libraries & color palette tool
• Original artwork
• Design components, and more.

Find design tools including:

• Create Palettes, Concept Boards, Planning Boards and more
• Image Bank
• Graphic Library

  Research Tips:

• Browse by keywords like 2023 retail, sustainable beauty/clothing, consumers etc. to find relevant reports e.g.
  • State of Retail & eCommerce - US - 2023
  • Multicultural Young Adults & Sustainability - US - 2022
     
• Browse 2023 trends using the 'Trend Drivers' dropdown menu

Research Tips:

• Browse for consumer trend data:
  • Click on Outlook > Consumer Market Outlook
  • Find info on Apparel, Footwear, Accessories, Beauty, and more