Useful contacts in fashion industry

3.1 Interviews with key forum members of Ethical Fashion Forum, UK.

3.2 Interviews with emerging fashion and textile designers in sustainable design in UK and India.

3.3 Social networking, for instance, Face book,

3.4 Fashion Business networking: Ethical Fashion Forum(UK), Designer Forum(UK), Ethical Trade Initiative(UK), Craft mark (India), Labour organisations, Manufacturers of Sustainable Fibres, Yarns and Fabrics.

3.5 Personal contacts in the Fashion Industry will help me gain appreciable approach.

3.6 Questionnaires and Videos of various artists involved in Sustainable Fashion practices.

3.7 International trend and fashion show visits. For instance, London Fashion Week, London; The Cloth Show, Birmingham; Premier Vision, Paris

3.8 Design institutes and government bodies

3.9 Non – Profit Organisation, Satya – Jyoti Trust, India.

4. Secondary Research: Focusing on Ethical Fashion Forum in UK.

4.1 Co – work with Ethical Fashion Forum as a research intern, alongside an associate director, collecting research for EFF projects and events.

4.2 To understand the implications of formulating a marketing body(Eco – Fashion Park) in India, for the sustainable Practioners.

4.3 Analyze Journals (MONOCLE,DRAPERS,FINANCIAL TIMES,ECO- TEXTILE) Weekly Magazines(TREND UNION,NEW CONSUMER, THE ECOLOGIST) and Online Magazine(THREAD), and Readings(ECO- CHIC, BY SANDY BLACK;GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK, BY T BLANCHARD,BUSINESS ETHICS AND VALUES, BY PETE ENGARDIO;SUSTAINABLE FASHION AND TEXTILES BY KATE FLETCHER.

4.4Get reports from online Databases and Articles( MINTLE, GMID, JUST STYLE.COM)

5. Literature Research: Refer to Bibliography

RATIONAL OF MY PROJECT

In my view point ethical fashion is the exciting subject to study as it has been grabbing the headlines within fashion industry in recent times.It is the uniqueness in fashion that allows us to look at sustainability in innovative ways. Therefore, Fashion provides an opportunity of awareness for sustainability.

Many sustainable practices and movements are gaining momentum and moving towards mainstream. Green buildings, interiors, home products and even green weddings and events are flourishing, yet fashion is when embraced in sustainable ways, holds even greater impact potential. What is also unique to fashion, more so than other sustainable pathways, is that it is a large vehicle.

Ethical fashion also interested me as it focuses on ill practices in the factories, poverty reduction, environment education, production and consumption issues, with a strong attention on workers health; in relation to the fashion industries.

Ethicall fashion at a global level has captured my interest, for the very simple reason, that London fashion has stepped forward to promote ethical fashion clothing. Top shop, Marks and Spencer, Zara, Next, Europeon Fashion chain and USA Banana Republic are all specialising in “going green”. With a strong focus on Ethical Fashion Forum(UK), I want to know how to create such a not for profit organisation, where the ethical fashion producer group, from field to factory to end product, exchange ideas, collaborate and communicate effectively on various sustainable practices and events .My knowledge in Ethical Fashion from UK wouldthen allow me to provide the plan of making a successful marketing body (Eco – Fashion Park) for Ethical Fashion producer groups and artisans of India, in India.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

LEANING GOAL 1:

1.1 Clarity of thoughts: Think deeply for filtering clear and in-depth information.

1.2 Assessed: Being able to decide the best final research topic.

LEARNING GOAL 2:

2.1 Quick and Accurate Reading: discover to read relevant topics and fast. Also to improve summary and note taking skills, to be able to apply useful data resource at time of compilation of my project.

2.2 Assessed: Allowing myself to make reading list and note takings habits.

LEARNING GOAL 3:

3.1 Professional Writing and Presentation Skills: enhance my English speaking and writing skills, professional approach towards any assigned task and submissions.

3.2 Assessed: Confidently being able to articulate and present myPGC Presentation and Learning Agreement.

LEARNING GOAL 4:

4.1 Project – Planning and Self – Time Management Skills: Producing a comprehensive project proposal with a proposed approach, research direction and schedule to be followed.

4.2 Assessed: Being able to produce a timely submission of Project Proposal.

LEARNING GOAL 5:

5.1 Professional Knowledge: History of Ethical Fashion Design, Business and Industry, increased awareness of Ethical Fashion Business in global context.

5.2 Assessed: Being able to approach future research phase professionally.

LEARNING GOAL 6:

6.1 International Work Experience Placement: Co- work with Ethical Fashion Forum to gain more knowledge about Ethical Fashion

6.2 Assessed: Possible Case Studies and Personal Growth of improved interactive skills.

LEARNING GOAL 7:

7.1 Research orientation skills: Improve my research making skills, by self understanding and implementing them in my dissertation.

7.2 Assessed: Being able to make a research oriented MA Dissertation in the last phase of research.

PROJECT TERRAIN

OUTCOMES

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Project Proposal, presented in the PGC stage

Project related information collection and analysis, using the primary and secondary research methods

Learning agreement: refer to this document

Self time management

SKILLS, QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES

Project Management: refer to the project time frame

Learning Contract Summary Form

Plan of learning resources inside the University (Oct- Nov 2008)

• Reading relevant magazines and books in library and using library learning resource to get the marketing report which I need
• Attend the lectures that are related to my project proposal
• Attend undergraduate lectures of Fashion and Textile Management.
• Ask questions about y research from my tutor and supervisor
• Multiple photocopies of magazines, journals, report and books from library

Plan of learning resources outside the University (Jan-June 2009)

• Observe the magazine market from news, reports, blogs, forum on websites
• Make contacts with the relevant industry or hopefully find a research internship with Ethical Fashion Forum, UK, which can help me gain the knowledge of Sustainable Fashion and Textile industry.

Maintain Chronofile (My Research log book)

Academic support

Keep in touch with supervisors and professors during doing the project

Use the library learning resource to obtain any relevant report that I need.

Practical learning

Try to contact as many Fashion Designers, Sustainable Fashion Producer groups, consultancy’s and not for Profit Organisations.

Interview the people who relate to my project proposal and learn the skills of communication.

Identification of learning needs

• Suggestions from my supervisor and tutor
• Lectures which are related to my project proposal
• Latest reports and news on fashion, design and ethical fashion market
• Collect a lot of documentariesrelated to sweat shops and sustainable Fashion and Textiles.
• Learn to get the opinions from different people and understand Ethical consumer and producer groups in UK and India.

Also interact with fashion students and make videos asking about their buying attitudes towards Ethical Fashion Clothing.

• Skills to summarize the information that I obtain during the research
• Skills to take a precise note from interview (primary research) and books and video (secondary research)

Identification of non-learning resource needs

Access to university computer which has professional software to produce my document and adjusting photos and pictures

Target date for completion of project proposal