Module 12: Language of Fashion (Optional)

Clothing, Textiles, and Fashion Main Menu

Module 12: Language of Fashion (Optional)

Suggested time: 15 - 20 hours
Prerequisite: None

Level :Advanced

Foundational Objectives

To provide opportunities to use the decision-making process in clothing selections.
To recognize that clothing, fashion, and textile items evolve from culture and reflect the economic, political, and social conditions of the times.
To explore and practise the fashion design process.
To create an awareness of the careers and opportunities in the fields of clothing, textiles, and fashion industries that exist in Canada.

Common Essential Learnings Foundational Objectives

To understand and use the terminology associated with the fashion industry. (COM, TL)
To develop an understanding of how textiles and fashion are created, evaluated, refined, and changed, and how they evolve into products for consumer use. (CCT)

To support students in coming to a better understanding of the personal, moral, social, and cultural aspects of their expression of fashion. (PSVS)

To develop students’ abilities to meet their own learning needs. (IL)

Learning Objectives

Notes

12.1 To identify fashion terminology. (COM)

Define the terms:

fashion
fashion terms – style, classic, fad (craze)
avant-garde
old-fashion - retro
fashion cycle
fashion silhouette
haute couture

Interview parents, grandparents, or older persons to find out what clothing styles, fabrics, accessories, hairstyles, and colours they wore when they were teenagers.

Prepare a written report which could include pictures and fabric samples.

Look through old yearbooks, catalogues, or magazines; then describe the style for that year. Compare the past styles with today’s styles.

Analyze the fashions that are currently being worn by students; then identify each as a classic, fad, avante-garde, retro, or status symbol .

Have students bring photographs or garments from past years. Prepare a presentation or fashion show with the items.

12.2 To observe that fashion is an evolutionary process that is affected by social, economic, and political influences .

Every new style is an adaptation or an extension of a previous style. For this reason, clothing is studied from a historical viewpoint. Use a Costume History Time Line when presenting the social, economic, and political influences that have had an effect on men’s and women’s fashion over the years:

Ancient times
Byzantine and Dark Ages
Middle Ages
Renaissance
Seventeenth Century
Eighteenth Century
Nineteenth Century
Twentieth Century – by decade
First Nations

Note: Basic Fashion Drawn Objective 14.2 may be introduced at this time.

Research the changes in men’s or women’s clothing from 1947 to the present. Write and illustrate your report using original drawings as well as copies of pictures. Construct a Costume History Time Line and fill in the important events that have occurred since 1947 . (IL)

Choose a period of history. Research it thoroughly and write a report on mode of dress for the period. Include illustrations. Oral history could be part of the research .

Watch a video noting the costumes worn by the actors. Describe or illustrate the costumes, then discuss how the costumes reflect the attitudes and values of the period.

Work with a local museum to prepare a new display or exhibit on history of costume.

Design a draped or wrapped garment using a square or rectangular piece of fabric. Demonstrate and model the design.

12.3 To research Canadian fashion designers and the Canadian fashion industry. (IL)

Research a provincial or national person involved in the Canadian fashion design industry. Include the market segment he/she designs for and explain his/her career track. Some designers are:

First Nations and Métis designers
Alfred Sung
Simon Chang
Linda Lundstrom
Pat McDonagh
Bob Tan

Investigate the following:

Fashion Canada
Fashion Designers Association
Festival of Canadian Fashion
Fashion Design Scholarships and Awards

Discuss the work of a fashion designer in the ready-to-wear industry.

Explore mentorship in the fashion industry.

12.4 To discuss international fashion designers and the International Fashion Industry. (PSVS)

Research a fashion designer from a country other than Canada. Some countries are:

United States
Italy

Great Britain
France

12.5 To describe the development of haute couture and explain how the industry is changing.

Research the changes in the French fashion industry.

Note: Flat patterns, computer-assisted garment design, or both can be used depending on the available resources.

12.6 To examine the basic styles of a garment.

Identify basic garment styles:

dress
skirt
shirt
coat and jacket
pant

Write a narration for a fashion show that describes current or historical garment styles.

12.7 To determine the clothing details that are used to recognize, understand, and interpret fashion cycles and silhouettes. (CCT)

Identify basic garment parts:

neckline styles
collar styles
sleeve styles
pocket styles

Choose three different collar and sleeve styles; creatively combine the selected styles into six totally different shirt designs. Attach fabric swatches. Present the designs and fashion drawing you have sketched or traced. Place them in a portfolio.

From current newspapers, fashion magazines, and catalogues, find samples of men’s, women’s, and children’s wear. Label the styles of the different garment parts. (IL )