Blog | Permanser Consulting

Unpacking the role of AI in Fashion

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 22:02:18 GMT

AI has a number of benefits to offer the fashion industry - greater personalisation for customers, increased efficiencies and even sustainability. But the question that many in the industry are asking is - by using AI are we truly innovating, or just automating the average? The fashion industry is quick to chase the next big thing, but if we don’t apply AI with intent, we risk losing what makes fashion fashion : creativity, culture, and craftsmanship.

The rush to implement AI

Everyone’s racing to integrate AI, from startups like Doji , which acts like a virtual stylist to Google’s Vision Match , where AI dreams up new fashion pieces based on a few inputs. These tools can bridge the gap between what consumers want and what brands sell. But let’s not pretend AI is a magic wand. Without human intervention, the result often misses the mark.

An example of this is Amarra , a formal dress distributor, which slashed its content creation time by 60% using ChatGPT. While this might be great for efficiency, what’s the road ahead when every brand starts churning out the same chat gpt copy and designs? What happens to originality?

The role of AI and Sustainability

AI is being marketed as a potential aid to help businesses support their sustainability efforts. Some of the uses include predicting trends and reducing overproduction. However, there is a significant carbon footprint involved in AI (and any digital media such as email, websites and cloud storage). In order to use AI in the most productive way, it is best to understand where it’s adding the most value in fashion - This could include predictive analytics for demand forecasting and supply chain transparency.

Fashion Needs a Reality Check

Jonathan Chippindale, founder of Holition , nailed it: brands need a technology-agnostic mindset. Just because AI can do something doesn’t mean it should . The best fashion brands won’t let AI dilute their creative DNA. They’ll use it to enhance, not replace, human creativity.

The future of fashion-tech isn’t about AI replacing designers, stylists, or tastemakers. It’s about giving them better tools.

We know that fashion thrives on disruption but AI is not a substitute for good taste. It’s time to stop chasing tech hype and start using AI with purpose. The brands that get it right will blend human creativity with AI’s capabilities to amplify what makes them unique. Fashion isn’t just about efficiency - it’s about emotion, identity, and culture. AI should enhance these elements, not erase them.

Keen to continue the conversation?

We’d love to chat!

Tanya, Amy, Natalie and Jackie

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists - Fashion/Textile/Lifestyle/Accessories Industries
E admin@permanser.com.au
P (03) 9654 5988

Building Your Career in Retail Fashion

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 07:03:52 GMT

The retail fashion industry offers a rewarding career path, blending creativity with business acumen. Whether you're starting out or seeking advancement, understanding the industry's landscape and the skills required is essential.

Why Choose a Career in Retail Fashion?

Retail is Australia’s second-largest employer, accounting for nearly 9.7% of all workers, with projections indicating continued growth. The retail workforce is projected to expand steadily, with at least 10,000 new jobs being created annually through 2026, according to The Australian Retailers Association .

This sector provides diverse opportunities, from customer-facing roles to positions in buying, merchandising, and digital commerce. A career in retail fashion not only lets you stay close to the latest trends but also offers room for personal and professional growth.

Essential Skills for Success

Success in retail fashion requires a blend of technical and soft skills:

Communication and Customer Service: Engaging with customers enhances their shopping experience and fosters loyalty.
Adaptability: The fashion industry is constantly evolving; being open to change is crucial.
Visual Merchandising: There is a craft in learning how to present products and tell brand stories that drive sales and reflect brand identity.
Critical Thinking and Creativity: Employers prioritise these skills to navigate challenges and innovate.

Education & Skill-Based Pathways

Formal education such as a Diploma in Retail Management through TAFE can provide a competitive edge if you’re looking to develop your career. Degrees in Fashion Management can open doors to various roles, including brand management, marketing, and supply chain analysis. According to the International College of Management, Sydney , such programs prepare students for leadership roles by equipping them with both strategic and creative skills.

Career Advancement

The retail sector offers clear pathways for progression:

Entry-Level Roles: Positions in Customer Service or Sales Consultants help develop foundational skills.
Mid-Level Positions: Roles like visual merchandiser or Department manager involve greater responsibility and specialisation.
Senior Management: With experience, opportunities arise in areas like store management, buying, or corporate strategy.

The Australian Retail Association highlights that careers in retail fashion can be long-lasting and fulfilling, with potential to grow into leadership and corporate roles.

Industry Outlook

The future of fashion careers is dynamic, with technology, sustainability, and social media shaping the landscape. Staying informed and adaptable allows professionals to navigate these changes and thrive. Retailers are increasingly looking for talent that understands digital tools, e-commerce, and the growing focus of sustainability.

Overcoming Challenges

While the retail industry offers a range of opportunities, there are still challenges like long hours (including weekends) and high competition. Developing time management skills and finding a mentor with industry experience can help navigate these hurdles. Networking within the industry and staying updated with trends will also give you a competitive edge.

A career in retail fashion is both challenging and rewarding, offering opportunities for creativity, growth, and impact. By developing essential skills, pursuing relevant education, and staying adaptable, you can build a successful career in this vibrant industry. Whether you're starting as a sales assistant or aiming for a senior role, retail fashion is a sector full of promise for those ready to seize the opportunity.

Keen to learn more? The team at Permanser are actively recruiting for a range of fashion retail roles. Get in contact with us to chat more.

Tanya, Amy, Natalie and Jackie

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists - Fashion/Textile/Lifestyle/Accessories Industries
E admin@permanser.com.au
P (03) 9654 5988

How The Australian Economy Impacts The Fashion Industry

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 04:35:46 GMT

As Australia deals with economic uncertainty, the effects are evident across a range of industries, and fashion is no exception. From shifting consumer behaviors to heightened environmental awareness, the relationship between the economy and fashion is reshaping the industry landscape.

Financial Pressures Have Reshaped Spending Habits

Rising inflation and financial pressures are causing Australians to rethink discretionary spending. Luxury and non-essential fashion purchases are taking a backseat as consumers focus on necessities. Monash University ’s research reveals a significant shift, with Australians opting for fewer but more versatile wardrobe staples. This prudent approach underscores the need for fashion brands to adapt to more value-conscious buyers.

Australia’s Love Affair with Fashion and Its Consequences

Despite economic challenges, Australians remain some of the world’s biggest consumers of fashion, purchasing an average of 27 kilograms of new clothing annually, according to The Australia Institute . However, this appetite for fashion fuels a waste crisis, raising urgent questions about sustainability. In a tightening economy, high consumption calls for better balance between economic activity and environmental responsibility.

Challenges for Fashion Brands

For Australian fashion brands, the economic slowdown presents a dual challenge: maintaining affordability while upholding quality. Local designers and retailers are pivoting towards value-based products to sustain customer loyalty. As Vogue Business reports, brands are innovating by offering versatile, high-quality pieces that resonate with financially cautious consumers. This trend aligns with the growing demand for ‘slow fashion’ over fast fashion.

A Push for Sustainability

Economic pressures are also causing a shift towards sustainability in the fashion industry. Advocacy groups are urging the Australian government to follow France’s lead by implementing taxes on ultra-fast fashion brands to discourage wasteful practices. ABC News highlights these calls as pivotal in addressing the environmental challenges posed by the industry. As consumers become more eco-conscious, brands that prioritise ethical practices stand to gain a competitive edge.

The Road Ahead For Australian Fashion

The mix of economic constraints and sustainability concerns is driving innovation in Australia’s fashion industry. Brands that can balance affordability with ethical and sustainable practices are likely to thrive. As Australians adjust their spending habits, the industry’s ability to adapt will determine its resilience.

In navigating this complex landscape, collaboration between policymakers, brands, and consumers is essential. By embracing sustainable innovation and responding to changing consumer priorities, the Australian fashion industry can weather economic challenges while paving the way for a more ethical future.

What shifts have you noticed in Australian fashion, as a result of economic changes? We'd love to hear.

Tanya, Amy, Natalie and Jackie at Permanser Consulting

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists - Fashion/Textile/Lifestyle/Accessories Industries
E admin@permanser.com.au
P (03) 9654 5988

Reimagining Australian Fashion Week

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 09:01:05 GMT

After nearly 20 years, IMG’ s announcement to step away from Australian Fashion Week (AFW) has sparked both uncertainty and excitement within the fashion industry. For many, this marks the end of an era where AFW played a pivotal role in showcasing Australian designers to a global audience. However, this transition offers a rare opportunity to reimagine the event’s purpose and redefine its role in shaping the future of Australian fashion. Says Natalie Xenita , Vice President of Managing Director Asia Pacific for IMG Fashion Events: “AFW has played a key role in ushering the industry forward, both locally and globally.”

The History of AFW

Since it began, AFW has been more than just a vehicle to showcase Australian fashion - it’s been a launchpad for new Australian designers and a platform for established brands like Zimmermann, Dion Lee, and Romance Was Born. Under IMG, AFW embraced innovation, and championed sustainability. However, there were queries about the high costs for brands to participate and the reduced visibility for Australian fashion businesses globally. As Simon Lock, AFW’s founder , notes, “This is a chance to revisit what makes Australian fashion unique and bring it back to an international stage”.

The Future

With IMG’s departure, the future of Australian Fashion Week is uncertain. There is potential for it to evolve into a more inclusive and innovative platform:

Sustainability as a Focus

Jackie Galleghan of Madre Natura highlighted the event’s potential to promote eco-conscious practices, noting the powerful message her brand’s sustainable collection conveyed at its AFW debut. There could be a focus on ethical and transparent production practices, for example.

Digital Innovation

The pandemic proved that digital showcases can amplify reach. By integrating virtual reality and live streamed events, AFW could connect Australian designers with international buyers and audiences without geographical limits. “Digital transformation offers endless opportunities to expand AFW’s reach while maintaining its creative integrity,” noted Jaana Quaintance-James from the Australian Fashion Council .

Diversity and Inclusion

Australian Fashion Week has done well with its focus on highlighting indigenous designers and regional talent. This can deepen the event’s focus on culture alignment while amplifying voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream fashion.

Changing the Format

A more accessible model, with events hosted in different cities and regions, could democratise the platform and engage broader audiences. This approach would spotlight local creativity while fostering community connections.

Challenges and Creative Solutions

The path forward will require coordinated efforts. Designer Jordan Gogos highlights the need for government intervention, stating, “At the end of the day, it’s not IMG’s job to uphold the industry. It’s the government’s role to support an industry that’s struggling”. Collaboration between the private sector, government, and industry bodies like the Australian Fashion Council could ensure the event remains financially viable and globally relevant.

Looking to the Future

While IMG’s exit may feel like a loss, it also represents a blank slate. With the right investment, Australian Fashion Week could emerge as a world-leading event that not only celebrates creativity, but also addresses pressing global issues like climate change and ethical production.

As Marianne Perkovic and Jaana Quaintance-James of the Australian Fashion Council aptly put it, “This moment signals an opportunity to reimagine and reshape how Australian fashion is represented”.

What are your thoughts on the future of Australian Fashion Week? We'd love to hear.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists - Fashion/Textile/Lifestyle/Accessories Industries
E admin@permanser.com.au
P (03) 9654 5988

How To Build A Career In Australian Retail Fashion Leadership

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 23:42:03 GMT

The Australian retail fashion industry offers an exciting career path for those passionate about style and leadership. Here’s a guide on how to navigate the path to a leadership role in Australian retail fashion, combining strategic planning, skill development, and an adaptable approach.

Set Clear Goals

Defining your career direction within retail leadership is essential. Haein Dorin , Global Head of Partnerships & Community at Ssense, emphasises the importance of intentional goal-setting, saying, “Knowing what I wanted and setting a plan for how to get there helped me navigate each step.” Whether you’re aiming to manage teams, drive sales, or innovate in customer experience; break down your goals into clear, actionable steps to make your progress measurable and stay motivated.

Focus On Continuous Learning and Skill Development

In an industry like retail fashion, continuous learning is non-negotiable. Brands like Aesop invest heavily in skill development and education to ensure employees are equipped to excel. “Skill development is key to our people strategy,” an Aesop executive explained. “We want to create environments where employees feel encouraged to grow and bring new ideas.” As an aspiring leader, look for mentorship, training programs, and short courses to build expertise in management, customer service, and product knowledge. Staying current with broader industry trends also gives you a competitive edge in anticipating market changes.

Leverage Your Transferable Skills

Transferable skills—such as leadership, customer service, and analytical thinking—are highly valued in retail fashion. They help bridge the gap when moving between roles or departments, especially in the dynamic retail environment where versatility is essential. It’s recommended that aspiring leaders identify the skills they already possess that can bring value to any role.

Focus on Building a Strong Professional Network

Networking is a cornerstone of career development in retail fashion. Regularly attending industry events and staying active on professional platforms like LinkedIn helps build relationships that can lead to new opportunities and provide invaluable mentorship. Networking is about more than job connections, it’s also about knowledge sharing and keeping a pulse on trends. Engaging with fellow fashion leaders and influencers not only opens doors but also keeps you informed about best practices and emerging trends.

Be Resilient And Adaptive

Resilience and adaptability are essential for navigating the retail landscape, especially post-pandemic. Haein Dorin of Ssense highlights the need for adaptive leadership: “The landscape is always shifting. I’ve found that resilience and adaptability are essential to leading teams effectively.” Leaders who can keep teams motivated and adjust strategies in response to economic shifts, consumer behaviour changes and technological advancements, are particularly sought after by brands.

What Brands Look For In Future Leaders

Retail brands today are focused on identifying leaders who balance innovation with customer-centric strategies. Sandra Campos, President and CEO of Diane von Furstenberg , notes, “Successful leaders are both innovative and grounded in customer needs.” The ability to balance creative thinking with a focus on customer experience is highly valued. Brands also look for candidates who bring a results-oriented mindset, underscoring the importance of understanding metrics and their impact on business goals. Campos adds, “Leaders who know how to blend creativity with measurable outcomes are the ones who stand out.”

With these insights, mid-career professionals in Australian retail fashion can see a clear path forward. By setting clear goals, building essential skills, networking strategically, and staying resilient, you’re positioning yourself to thrive and lead in this vibrant industry. Passion, determination, and a commitment to growth will serve as your greatest assets on the journey to becoming a retail fashion leader.

The Growing Power of The Plus-Size Fashion Market

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 07:57:42 GMT

The plus-size fashion market has experienced significant growth over the past 10 years, moving from a market segment that was often an afterthought to a booming sector with immense opportunities for growth. According to a report by GlobeNewswire , the global plus-size clothing market is expected to reach $379 billion by 2028. This massive expansion signals a big shift in the fashion industry’s approach to inclusivity, with brands now focusing on plus-size consumers and their diverse fashion needs.

In the past, plus-size customers were often left with limited, uninspiring clothing options. However, consumer demand has driven a wave of change. As Refinery29 highlights, the rise of body positivity has pushed fashion companies to "move away from viewing plus-size fashion as a niche" and to recognise the significant spending power of this demographic.

Despite this shift, there is still a disconnect between marketing promises and actual product offerings. The Australian Financial Review points out that while some major brands have yet to capitalise on this growing market, some smaller, innovative brands can be seen leading the way.

The Role of Australian Plus-Size Brands

Australia has seen the growth of a range of size-inclusive brands that are filling a gap and providing consumers with style and choice. Brands like Dyspnea and Embody Women , which offer clothing sizes up to 4XL and 22. These brands showcase that plus-size fashion can be both trendy and sustainable, focusing on ethical production and custom sizing to cater to the unique needs of plus-size consumers.

Other examples are Made590 and Sük Workwear , which provide a broad size range (up to size 26 in some cases) and have carved out a niche by focusing on quality and representation.

Profitability and Market Potential

Brands that have embraced plus-size fashion are already seeing impressive financial results. According to AFR , companies that cater to the plus-size market are showing strong profitability, a trend expected to continue as more brands wake up to the potential.

As Forbes notes, the demand for stylish, high-quality plus-size clothing is skyrocketing. Leading brands like Universal Standard and Good American have become popular with consumers by focusing on size inclusivity, with collections ranging from casual wear to high-end fashion.

The Future of Plus-Size Fashion

As the industry shifts, brands that fail to embrace size inclusivity risk being left behind. With rising consumer expectations and the growth of body-positive movements, the plus-size market is poised to continue its upward trajectory, creating opportunities for brands to innovate and diversify their offerings.

What is your experience with size inclusivity? We’d love to chat with you about your experiences.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists - Fashion/Textile/Lifestyle/Accessories Industries
E admin@permanser.com.au
P (03) 9654 5988

How to build an experiential retail experience for consumers

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 23:09:30 GMT

For retail storefronts to remain competitive in an increasingly online world, creating an experiential retail environment is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Consumers, particularly Gen Z, are seeking more than just products; they want immersive experiences that engage their senses and emotions. According to Retail Dive , “Experiential retail is about creating a destination, a place where consumers want to spend time and feel connected to the brand.” So what are the steps to creating unique and immersive retail experiences?

Understanding the Consumer's Desire for Experience

Today’s consumers are driven by experiences. A report by The Drum highlights that “Young people are no longer satisfied with simply purchasing products; they crave memorable experiences that they can share with their peers.” This shift in consumer behavior demands that retailers think beyond traditional shopping. It’s about creating a narrative that consumers can immerse themselves in, making the shopping journey as important as the purchase itself.

Creating a Destination

One of the key strategies in experiential retail is to transform the store into a destination. This means offering more than just products on shelves. For example, DFO Brisbane has introduced a campaign that focuses on experiential retail by offering pop-up experiences and interactive elements that make the shopping centre a destination in itself. As reported by Ragtrader , DFO’s approach is to “elevate the shopping experience by integrating entertainment and unique experiences into the retail environment.”

In another example, Melbourne’s Emporium is known for its curated spaces that not only feature high-end brands but also host events and exhibitions that attract consumers looking for more than just a shopping trip. These destinations offer consumers a reason to visit beyond the products themselves, creating memorable experiences that enhance brand loyalty.

Incorporating Technology for a Seamless Experience

Technology plays a crucial role in creating an experiential retail environment. From augmented reality (AR) to interactive displays, technology can enhance the shopping experience by making it more engaging and personalised. The Drum points out that “The hyper-experiential paradigm is driven by technology, enabling retailers to create immersive environments that captivate consumers.”

In Australia, retailers are beginning to harness the power of technology to elevate the shopping experience. For instance, Commonwealth Bank highlights how retailers are using data-driven insights to personalise the shopping experience, offering tailored recommendations and promotions to enhance customer engagement. Virtual fitting rooms, interactive product displays, and mobile integration are just a few ways Australian retailers are leveraging technology to create seamless and immersive shopping experiences.

Engaging the Senses

Experiential retail is about more than just visual appeal—it’s about engaging all the senses. Retail Customer Experience emphasises that “Retailers who engage multiple senses can create more memorable and impactful experiences.” This could include everything from the scent of a store to the music playing in the background. The goal is to create an atmosphere that reflects the brand’s identity and resonates with the target audience.

An example of this in Australia is the way in which iconic department stores like David Jones and Myer have created immersive environments during the holiday season. From elaborate window displays that tell a story to in-store scents that evoke the feeling of Christmas, these retailers use sensory engagement to create a memorable shopping experience that draws customers back year after year.

Building a Community

Creating a sense of community is another critical component of experiential retail. Australian retailers are increasingly focusing on building spaces where customers feel a sense of belonging. As highlighted by RetailBiz , “Community-focused retail spaces are becoming more popular, with retailers hosting events, workshops, and social gatherings to bring people together.”

For instance, Bunnings Warehouse is known for its weekend sausage sizzles and DIY workshops that not only attract customers but also foster a sense of community. These events create a welcoming environment where customers can learn, socialise, and connect with the brand on a deeper level.

Building an experiential retail environment requires a deep understanding of what today’s consumers want—memorable, engaging, and immersive experiences. By transforming stores into destinations, incorporating technology, engaging the senses, and fostering a sense of community, Australian retailers can create environments that resonate with consumers and drive long-term success. As Ragtrader aptly states, “Experiential retail is about more than just selling products; it’s about creating a place where consumers feel connected to the brand and want to spend their time.”

Which Retailers are building exciting in-store experiences that you’ve seen?

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists - Fashion/Textile/Lifestyle/Accessories Industries
E admin@permanser.com.au
P (03) 9654 5988

Pathways to Building your Career in Fashion

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 08:08:17 GMT

Keen to make your mark in the fashion industry? Whether you're drawn to fashion design, merchandising, marketing, or styling; building a successful career in fashion requires dedication, a keen eye for detail, and a deep understanding of the industry. Here’s how you can kick start your career in fashion and make a lasting impact.

Getting The Right Education

While creativity and passion are key components to building a career, a solid educational foundation can provide you with the skills and knowledge to excel in the fashion industry. Many Australian universities and colleges offer courses in fashion design, fashion merchandising, and fashion marketing. Institutions like RMIT University in Melbourne, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are renowned for their comprehensive fashion programs. Collarts Fashion School offers a cutting-edge education in fashion design and marketing, blending creativity with industry expertise to prepare students for successful careers in the fashion industry.

Consider enrolling in short courses or workshops that focus on specific skills such as textile design, digital fashion marketing, or fashion styling. These courses are often more flexible and can give you a competitive edge by enhancing your skills and expanding your knowledge.

The Importance of Continuous Learning

“The fashion industry is constantly evolving, and to stay relevant, one must never stop learning,” says Gabby Hirata , President, and CEO of Diane von Furstenberg. As Gabby suggests, a commitment to continuous learning is vital for staying relevant in an ever-changing industry . Engaging with industry news, online courses, and workshops can keep you updated with the latest trends and technological advancements.

Networking: Your Gateway to Opportunities

Networking is crucial in the fashion industry, where connections often lead to opportunities. Attend fashion shows, industry events, and seminars to meet like-minded individuals and industry professionals. Engage with local fashion communities and online forums where you can share your work, ask questions, and receive valuable feedback.

Social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn can also be powerful tools for building your professional network. Follow industry leaders, join relevant groups, and participate in discussions to stay informed about the latest trends and opportunities.

According to Bri Lee , author and commentator, networking is not just about expanding your professional circle but also about building confidence. "Connecting with others in the industry helps reinforce your place in it, boosts your self-assurance, and opens doors you never knew existed," she explains .

Gaining Practical Experience

Experience is invaluable in the fashion industry. Internships and work placements are excellent ways to gain hands-on experience and understand the workings of the fashion world. Many Australian fashion brands offer internship programs, providing insights into design processes, marketing strategies, and retail operations.

Volunteer at fashion shows or collaborate with emerging designers to build your portfolio. These experiences not only enhance your skills but also demonstrate your commitment and passion to potential employers.

"The fashion industry is about resilience and adaptability," shares Lydia Tesema , a creative freelancer. "Starting with internships can lead you to unexpected opportunities and help you find your niche within the industry ." This advice highlights the importance of embracing various roles to discover your strengths and interests.

Building a Strong Portfolio

A well-crafted portfolio showcases your creativity, skills, and personal style. Whether you’re a designer, stylist, or marketer, your portfolio should reflect your best work and highlight your versatility. Include a variety of projects, such as sketches, completed designs, or marketing campaigns, to demonstrate your capabilities and adaptability.

Digital portfolios are becoming increasingly popular and accessible. Platforms like Behance or personal websites allow you to present your work professionally and reach a broader audience.

By combining the right education, practical experience, networking, and a commitment to sustainability, you can make your mark in the industry. The journey is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development.

Enjoy the ride!

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists - Fashion/Textile/Lifestyle/Accessories Industries
E admin@permanser.com.au
P (03) 9654 5988

The Rise of Australian Indigenous Fashion

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 04:30:52 GMT

Created from thousands of years of tradition, indigenous fashion has a powerful role in aboriginal culture as an expression of identity and resilience. Gaining international recognition, it plays an important role in reshaping the global fashion landscape, as it brings forth stories, symbols and sustainable practices.

Here are some of the prominent Indigenous fashion designers gaining recognition:

Dr Bronwyn Bancroft

A renowned Bundjalung artist and designer. Bancroft's work seamlessly integrates traditional motifs with contemporary fashion, creating pieces that are both timeless and modern. Her designs are celebrated, not only for their aesthetic appeal, but also for their deep cultural significance. For three decades, Bancroft has exhibited her work both in Australia and abroad. She played a significant role in founding the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative and was a Council Member of the National Gallery of Australia in the 1990s.

Kirrikin

Kirrikin , an Aboriginal word meaning "Sunday's best clothes," is a luxury resortwear brand. Its unique designs, created by contemporary Aboriginal artists, are featured on scarves, jewellery, clothing and swimwear. Amanda Healy from the Wonnarua nation is the CEO, dedicated to increasing the availability of authentic Aboriginal pieces in Australia.

Jarawee

Artist Briana Enoch from Cairns has entered the fashion world with her brand Jarawee , meaning "Pretty Little Bird." Initially, Jarawee showcased Briana's artwork on customer-provided accessories but has now grown into its own fashion line. One of her designs is currently on display at the Powerhouse Museum.

Clothing the Gap

Clothing the Gap , founded in 2018 by Laura Thompson and Sarah Sheridan, has rapidly grown into Australia's largest Aboriginal-owned clothing label. The brand emerged from Spark Health, an Aboriginal health promotion consultancy, and focuses on social change through fashion. Known for its impactful streetwear and conversation-starting designs, Clothing the Gap aims to promote equity and visibility for Aboriginal people. Profits are reinvested into health and employment programs, making it a social enterprise dedicated to community well-being and cultural education.

Yarrabah

Elverina Johnson, a Gurugulu and Indinji Gimuy woman from Yarrabah in far north Queensland, is a multifaceted artist and performer. Her roles include singer, songwriter, playwright, actor, photographer and artist. Elverina's brand Yarrabah designs wearable art, showcases the beauty of her homeland through vibrant colors, patterns and materials. She has collaborated with Taking Shape Australia to release two exclusive designs, making her beautiful creations accessible to more women.

Indigenous fashion is gaining momentum both in Australia and internationally. Events like the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair provide platforms for Indigenous designers to showcase their work. These events not only celebrate the artistry of Indigenous fashion but also foster economic opportunities for Indigenous communities.

Have you worked with Indigenous Fashion labels?

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists - Fashion/Textile/Lifestyle/Accessories Industries
E admin@permanser.com.au
P (03) 9654 5988

The Kings (and Queens) of Fashion E-Commerce

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 10:10:50 GMT

In the fast moving world of fashion, e-commerce has become a significant driver behind the industry's transformation. The digital space has allowed fashion brands to reach global audiences, offering convenience, variety, and personalised shopping experiences. There are a range of fashion brands that have dominated the online space through strong brand awareness, customer centricity and clever promotional strategies.

Here are our picks of the brands that are leading the space for fashion E-Commerce:

ASOS

Founded in 2000, the acronym ‘ASOS’ stands for ‘As Seen On Screen’. The business kicked off as a go-to for consumers to research and purchase the outfits that they saw their favourite TV and movie stars wearing. ASOS is a UK-Based retailer which leverages a user-friendly website , free shipping and returns; really setting a high standard in customer service. Their target market are Millennials and Gen Z, with a focus on trendy and affordable fashion.

Net-a-Porter

Also founded in 2000, Net-a-Porter revolutionised luxury fashion e-commerce . Known for its high-end editorial content combined with e-commerce, Net-a-Porter offers a seamless shopping experience and exclusive designer collections. The brand targets high-end fashion consumers seeking luxury and exclusivity.

Revolve Clothing

Revolve has successfully blended influencer culture with e-commerce , becoming a favourite among millennials. They’re known for hosting exclusive events, leveraging influencer partnerships, and offering a curated shopping experience. The brand targets fashion-conscious young adults seeking the latest trends.

Everlane

Everlane focuses on ‘radical transparency’ in its pricing and production processes. Known as a ‘Sustainable’ fashion brand, it offers a detailed breakdown of costs, ethical production, and is known for its high-quality basics. Everlane is targeted to consumers looking for ethical, sustainable, and timeless fashion.

Glossier

Initially a beauty brand, Glossier has expanded into fashion, leveraging its strong online community. Glossier offers direct engagement with customers, minimalist aesthetics, and a focus on inclusivity. The brand targets young, digital-savvy consumers who value community and inclusivity.

Boohoo

Boohoo excels in fast fashion , quickly turning around new styles to meet consumer demand.

The brand is known for aggressive marketing tactics and its celebrity endorsements. The brand is aimed at price-sensitive, trend-focused, young buyers.

Which brands come to mind when you’re thinking about the big hitters in Fashion E-Commerce? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists - Fashion/Textile/Lifestyle/Accessories Industries
E admin@permanser.com.au
P (03) 9654 5988

Sustainability: The Case For Embracing Slow Fashion

Fri, 17 May 2024 05:44:24 GMT

A Report released by the Australian Fashion Council indicated that Australians purchase 56 items of clothing each year. The report was part of the initial stages of the Australian Clothing Stewardship Scheme - Seamless . Seamless is a plan to transform how clothing is made, used, reused and recycled in Australia with an aim to create clothing circularity by 2030.

The report illustrates that Australians produce and import more than 1.4 billion units of new clothing annually, primarily crafted from unsustainable, non-durable materials. Each year, 200,000 tonnes of clothing ends up in landfill, and there's a lack of operational processes for collecting unwearable garments.

Improving sustainability in fashion doesn’t have a single solution. The case for slow fashion is one of them. If the average individual purchases 56 items of clothing each year, many of these items are trend-based. These items of clothing are often cheaply made but come at a hidden cost. Slow fashion isn't just about what we wear; it's a philosophy that champions sustainability, ethics, and mindful consumption.

The heart of slow fashion is conscious consumption: a rejection of the disposable culture of fast fashion. It’s also a focus on quality rather than quantity. By investing in well-made pieces that stand the test of time, there’s less focus on keeping up with the latest trends and a better understanding of purchasing items that enhance our personal style.

A key component of slow fashion is purchasing brands that have a transparent production process. While fast fashion often turns a blind eye to the exploitation of garment workers in pursuit of profit, slow fashion prioritises fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for human rights. By supporting brands that uphold these principles, we can actively contribute to positive change within the fashion industry and empower those who create the clothes we wear.

Environmental sustainability is a key factor of slow fashion. This includes the materials used, the production processes employed and transparency of the supply chain. Sustainable fabrics might be used such as organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo, which are favoured over synthetic fibres. Additionally, practices like upcycling, recycling, and minimising waste are embraced to mitigate the fashion industry's contribution to pollution.

Another benefit of the slow fashion movement is embracing local economies and communities. By supporting local artisans, small-scale producers, and independent designers; creativity and craftsmanship is nurtured and the carbon footprint associated with transportation is reduced. Shopping locally fosters connections and strengthens communities, reminding us that fashion is not just about what we wear but also about the stories and people behind each garment.

We’d love to hear from slow fashion labels and learn more about their principles.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

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What To Look For When Hiring Fashion Talent

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:28:51 GMT

In an industry such as the fashion industry, which has become increasingly competitive, hiring the right talent is crucial. The fashion industry thrives on innovation, creativity, and an acute understanding of trends, making the recruitment process a crucial step for any fashion brand. Whether you're scouting for designers, stylists, or marketing experts, knowing what to look for can help you assemble a team that not only meets, but exceeds your expectations. Here’s our recommendations on the personal qualities that your ideal candidates should have and some questions to better understand your candidates:

Passion and Vision

Passion is the driving force behind every successful fashion endeavour. Look for candidates who are not only skilled, but also deeply passionate about their craft. A genuine love for fashion will fuel their creativity and dedication, leading to inspired designs and innovative solutions. We recommend you seek out individuals with a clear vision for their work and the ability to articulate it effectively. Fashion is as much about storytelling as it is about aesthetics, so having a strong vision can set your brand apart in a crowded market. As Fashion Designer Carla Zampatti says, “Like the intern I would hire, the person who stands out in an interview will show initiative, drive and enthusiasm.”

Here are some questions you might like use to help assess whether your candidates have passion for this type of role:

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in fashion?

2. Can you describe a moment when you felt particularly inspired or excited about a fashion

project you worked on?

3. How do you stay updated on current fashion trends and industry developments?

Creativity and Originality

In an industry where trends come and go with the blink of an eye, originality is key. Look for candidates who demonstrate a unique perspective and a willingness to push boundaries. Ask for evidence of creativity in their past work (maybe ask them to bring it with them to the interview). Examples could include innovative designs, unconventional styling techniques, or out-of-the-box marketing campaigns. A creative thinker can breathe life into your brand and help you stand out in a sea of sameness. Marc Jocobs says it best when he says: “To me, clothing is a form of self expression. There are things about who you are in what you wear.” Questions you might ask about creativity and originality during the interview process are:

1. What is your creative process like when approaching a new design or project?

2. Can you share a specific example of a time when you took a creative risk or pushed the

boundaries in your work?

Technical Skills

While creativity is essential, technical proficiency is equally important. Depending on the role you're hiring for, look for candidates with the necessary skills and expertise to excel in their field. For designers, this might include proficiency in pattern-making, sewing, and garment construction. For marketers, it could involve a strong understanding of digital analytics, social media strategy, and branding principles. Assessing candidates' technical skills ensures they have the foundation needed to bring their creative visions to life effectively.

What Fashion Retail Trends To Expect In 2024

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:29:21 GMT

The Australian fashion market is constantly evolving, with retail trends this year aimed to redefine the industry. Here are some predictions of what fashion retail trends we will see this year:

Digital Transformation

The growth of digitisation post pandemic looks set to continue this year in the form of a range of experiences to support consumers with their decision making, including:

Virtual Try-ons

Virtual try-ons enhanced by AI, leverages AI algorithms and AR technology to generate a digital depiction of an individual's body shape. These platforms enable users to either upload a photo or utilise their device's camera to instantly visualise how a garment would appear on them. Through the analysis of the user's body dimensions, size, and proportions, AI algorithms can precisely replicate the fit and look of clothing, providing users with an authentic preview of their potential appearance in the garments.

Augmented Reality Shopping Experiences

We know that Australia closely follows the US and Asia for industry trends. In 2021, a survey by Bizrate Insights found that half of US adults have used or are interested in using AR or VR while shopping. Integrating AR and VR into the shopping experience needs to be seamless for consumers in order for it to gather momentum. This includes integration with creative content, payment systems, supply chains, and delivery services.

The Evolution of Omnichannel Retailing

The lines between online and offline shopping will blur as retailers embrace omnichannel strategies . While this has been well underway for many years, this will continue in 2024 with an integration of brick-and-mortar stores with e-commerce platforms. This will offer customers a cohesive shopping experience across multiple channels.

Sustainable Fashion

Sustainability will remain a top priority for both brands and consumers. Consumers will gravitate towards brands that demonstrate a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. Many Australian brands are moving towards B Corp Certification such as Bared Footwear, Bassike and Kathmandu. In Australia, more retailers are joining the Seamless Scheme , which plans to transform how clothing is made, used, reused, and recycled to create clothing circularity by 2030.

Inclusive Sizing and Diversity

In Australia, we should expect to see more brands expand their size ranges to cater to diverse body types , while also featuring a wider representation of models in their marketing campaigns. Inclusivity will not only become a moral imperative, but also a smart business strategy as brands tap into underserved markets.

Support for Local and Independent Brands

Along with the rise of conscious consumerism, shoppers will support smaller, independent fashion brands. Consumers will seek out local labels with a brand that resonates for them and provides a greater focus on craftsmanship and quality. Retailers will leverage storytelling in order to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. Otway The Label is a great example of how to build an engaged community through in-store experiences and storytelling.

We’d love to hear about any trends you’ve noticed!

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists in the Fashion / Textile / Lifestyle / Accessories Industries.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

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How TikTok Is Driving Fashion Innovation

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 04:31:51 GMT

TikTok is a hugely popular social media platform and has risen quickly in popularity to become a global hub for creativity and entertainment. The platform launched in 2016, enabling users to create and share short-form videos set to music, showcasing a wide array of talents, trends, and challenges.

TikTok has captured the attention of a young audience, particularly Gen Z and Millennials. The platform's algorithm has contributed to the rapid growth of trends and the discovery of new talents. TikTok has also become a significant player in influencing fashion, music and internet culture.

TikTok launched #TikTokFashionMonth in September 2023, focusing on fashion and beauty inspiration. Collaborating with creators, TikTok aims to showcase trends, enhance e-commerce capabilities, and compete with rivals like Instagram and Facebook for in-app purchases.

Tiktok is incredibly influential in converting viewers to purchasers in the fashion space. The statistics speak for themselves:

TikTok users on fashion journeys are 1.3 x more likely (vs other platform users) to convince someone to buy a product they saw on the platform
TikTok users on fashion journeys are 2.5 x more likely (vs other platform users) to create a post and tag a brand

( Source )

So how does TikTok drive fashion trends?

Authenticity

On TikTok, most content comes from regular users who prefer authenticity over the polished look of Instagram. This authenticity is particularly influential in fashion content, often going viral. According to Kudzi Chikumbu, TikTok's Director of Creator Community, fashion on TikTok is more than just outfits; it extends into creative expression. TikTok provides a joyful space, offering the fashion industry a fresh way to showcase their art and personality.

Influencers and Big Events

Sponsors of large scale events that gained visibility from TV in the past, turned to TikTok as a super effective marketing platform. Influencer partnerships are being prioritised by fashion brands (partnered with paid ads), enabling them to gain both brand awareness and direct sales. The fashion retailer Shein is a great example of this, becoming the most talked about fashion brand on TikTok in 2020.

It’s a level(ish) playing field

FashionTikTok welcomes brands of all sizes, providing a platform where smaller, emerging businesses can flourish. The TikTok community is 15% more inclined to make purchases from small, independent businesses compared to other social media channels. Even an account with a modest following can attract thousands of views on a video!

Is TikTok part of your marketing strategy? We’d love to hear more about it.

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists in the Fashion / Textile / Lifestyle / Accessories Industries.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

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Image Credit

Some of fashion's best collaborations for 2023

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 02:56:54 GMT

Fashion collaborations have often been great opportunities for brands to innovate, explore and push creative boundaries. Some of the most significant collaborations of 2023 help redefine trends and extend the traditionally accepted boundaries of a brand. These include the fusion of luxury and sustainability to pairings that challenge societal norms. Here’s our top 4 brand collaborations for this year:

Mulberry x Axel Arigato

Luxury British heritage brand Mulberry has collaborated with Swedish lifestyle label Axel Arigato for a capsule collection of ready-to-wear shoes, bags and accessories. The collection includes 35 pieces which fuse the classic lines of Mulberry with the scandi-cool minimalist approach of Axel Arigato. More of the collection can be found here .

Mugler x H&M

Collaboration is part of the brand essence at H&M - it exposes them to new markets and ensures that they remain relevant and topical with consumers. The capsule collection created with Mugler’s creative director Casey Cadwallader encapsulates ‘the unique and vibrant spirit of Mugler.’ The collection includes Women’s and menswear which includes spiralled jeans, sculptural accessories and Mugler’s iconic catsuits. More information on the collection can be found here .

Le Specs x More Joy

Debuting on the runway in 2018. More Joy, founded by Christopher & Tammy Kane, is loved by its fans for its minimalist aesthetic - it often features the label ‘More Joy’ against different backgrounds. The 2023 collaboration with Australian eyewear brand Le Specs garnered two unisex styles and multiple colour options including the signature More Joy palette of red, black and white. The words ‘Sex’, ‘Special’ and ‘More Joy’ are emblazoned across different areas of the sunglasses, depending on the colourway. More information about the collaboration can be found here .

Levi's x Valentino

The collaboration between Levi's and Valentino involved partnering the classic denim brand with the luxury of Valentino, elevating the collection with a luxury touch. The collection included embellished denim jackets and detailed jeans that showcased how versatile denim could be.

More information on the collaboration can be found here .

What is your favourite brand collaboration?

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists in the Fashion / Textile / Lifestyle / Accessories Industries.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

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Fashion: Powered by Generative AI

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 07:17:59 GMT

One thing’s for certain in the world of fashion, and that is constant innovation. Fashion continues to push the envelope with regards to experimentation in design and material. The impact of AI on fashion has resulted in a re-definition of creativity and how we approach the shopping experience. The future of fashion seems boundless when you consider how AI might shape its potential. There’s been a range of predictions and experimentation in fashion circles with a range of AI offshoots like NFT’s (Non Fungible Tokens), Augmented and Virtual Reality.

According to a McKinsey report , some of the potential use cases for AI in fashion include:

Product

Converting fashion sketches into designs for 3D models
Providing new ideas, variations of design and inspiring imagery and style
Customising products for individual customers

Author and futurist Kevin Kelly once said, "The business plans of the next 10,000 startups are easy to forecast: Take X and add AI." In fashion, this equation translates to "Take design and add AI." In Australia, fashion designers are leveraging AI to automate various aspects of the creative process. AI Image generators involve using generative AI to influence upcoming fashion trends. AI algorithms can predict fashion trends and analyse customer insights, ensuring designs are more likely to be popular with consumers. H&M trials designs with its customers to better understand which ones appeal most to customers. This data is used via a generative adversarial network (GAN) which proposes new designs in line with customer needs and current trends.

Sustainability

If AI is able to more accurately target consumer demand, this should play out to a reduction in production and overall impact on the fashion’s environmental footprint. Dr. Kate Fletcher , a renowned researcher in fashion sustainability, asserts, "AI plays a pivotal role in reducing the environmental footprint of the fashion industry. By optimizing supply chains and predicting consumer demand, AI can minimize overproduction and resource waste."

Marketing

Predict trends, changes to consumer behaviour and simplify data from buying patterns
Automation of consumer segmentation data
Personalise marketing content based on consumer insights
Develop content, reducing writer’s block for marketing teams
Digital commerce and consumer experience:
Generate sales descriptions based on prior successful sales posts
Virtual product try-on and demos to individual consumers
Enhance intelligent AI agents (such as conversational chatbots, virtual assistants) and self-service to address advanced customer enquiries

There are great opportunities for AI to provide a more personalised consumer experience. General retailer Zalondo uses Chat GPT to help customers find products to meet their needs. Customers can ask questions and the tool with respond with suggestions based on the criteria given to customers.

Supply Chain & Logistics

Compiling data for supply chain partners
Robot automation for warehouses
Automation of the returns process for consumers

Next, a UK Retailer, uses generative AI to write responses to customer enquiries. This reduces the time and impact on Customer Service staff.

We’d love to speak to clients and candidates on any experience they have working with Generative AI.

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists in the Fashion / Textile / Lifestyle / Accessories Industries.
Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

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Some of fashion’s best collaborations for 2023

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:40:59 GMT

Mulberry x Axel Arigato

Mugler x H&M

Le Specs x More Joy

Levi's x Valentino

More information on the collaboration can be found here .

What is your favourite brand collaboration?

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists in the Fashion / Textile / Lifestyle / Accessories Industries.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

E admin@permanser.com.au

P (03) 9654 5988

How the Seamless scheme can help drive Australia's circular economy for fashion

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 01:38:42 GMT

Some of Australia’s largest retailers – BIG W, David Jones, The Iconic, R.M. Williams, Lorna Jane and Rip Curl have signed a groundbreaking deal to tackle the huge problem of textile waste in this country.

30 of Australia’s top clothing producers were approached by the Australian Fashion Council to join the National Product Stewardship scheme and roadmap to clothing circularity, called Seamless.

Seamless acknowledges that the fashion and clothing brands who place clothes on the market are responsible for the entire lifecycle of the garment, from design to recycling or sustainable disposal. The key goals of Seamless is to drive the fashion industry towards clothing circularity by 2030. The initiative is dependent on industry take-up to be successful. If the majority of retailers adhere to the scheme, the activities driven by Seamless could help divert 60% of end of life clothing from landfill by 2027.

Around 200,000 tonnes of clothing ends up in landfill each year in Australia. The Seamless scheme asks each retailer who signs up to pay a levy of 4 cents per garment produced and fund $100,000 to the scheme for the first year it is established. Additionally, the NSW Environment Protection Authority is contributing $100,000 to the transition phase.

Tanya Plibersek put out a clear message to Australian clothing retailers that while the Seamless scheme was voluntary during the 12 month transition phase, it could be mandated if there was not sufficient business take-up: “Clothing has been sitting on the priority list for regulation for the last couple of years. That means that the government has said to this industry that we’re giving you a chance to get your house in order…If companies choose to pull out, or free ride on the work of others, then I have no problem stepping in and regulating directly.”

More information on the roadmap for the Seamless scheme can be found here.

We’d love to speak to clients and candidates with experience on fashion circularity.

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists in the Fashion / Textile / Lifestyle / Accessories Industries.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

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Sculpting Confidence - The rise of shapewear in fashion

Wayne.Fleming@flexipersonnel.com.au (Wayne Fleming) — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 09:26:37 GMT

Image from Perth Now

Shapewear has been around for hundreds of years - the earliest record dates back to 1600 BC in the Mycenaean Greek period where undergarments were created that accentuated female waist, hips and breasts. Its key role throughout history has been to adhere to the societal trend of whatever the desired female form was at the time.

In modern times, with the rise of body confidence in all female forms, shapewear plays a key role as a tool to empower individuals and boost self confidence. With its abilities to enhance and contour, it plays an important role in modern fashion and changes the way we perceive style and body positivity.

Modernising Shapewear

Once the domain of middle-aged women searching for garments to suck and tuck for special occasions, shapewear has become normalised in recent years. Brands like Spanx and Skims have turned an outdated concept on its head, offering up shapewear solutions that can be worn as outerwear, and with modern comfort and styling options.

Many shapewear brands, such as Figur by Jules Robinson focus on shapewear as a celebration of the female form, regardless of size - its about making people feel more confident in their skin.

Kim Kardashians shapewear business: ‘Skims’ was described by Kardashian as ‘solutionwear’. Jens Grede , the CEO and co-founder of Skims: “Our goal was to challenge the outdated conventions of wearing shapewear to slim [the body]...it was also with the intention of reinvigorating a tired industry.”

Shapewear as Outerwear

Influenced by celebrities, many people are wearing shapewear as outerwear (the Kardashian sisters in particular). Once a ‘hidden secret;’, the shaping and contouring powers of shapewear extend to outerwear, instilling confidence in its wearers. Shapewear isn't just about creating a smoother look; it's about helping women feel confident and beautiful everyday. This enables the products to take on a transformative effect, smoothing the lumps and bumps and boosting confidence for its wearers.

How the Zimmermann sisters built an Australian fashion empire

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 23:24:00 GMT

Recently a fashion brand started by two sisters 30 years ago became the most successful fashion label in the country.

Image: Zimmermann

In a deal worth between $1.5 - $1.75 billion, Advent International, a Private Equity firm, purchased a majority stake in Zimmermann .

The Zimmermann brand is focused on swimwear, poolside separates and sophisticated and feminine pieces. There are currently 58 Zimmermann stores, including 22 in Australia and 22 in the US. With revenue of $26M and >30% profit margin, the investment enabled Zimmernann to propel its expansion into Asia and the Middle East, boost its distribution network, including E-commerce, Advent, Zimmermann and Style Capital advised in a joint statement .

Simone Zimmermann attributes the success of the brand to staying in its lane, enabling the business to go from success to success.“We don’t follow cues from international designers,” she says. “We do what we do, and we have a business we’ve been honing for many years.”

Starting out as a market stall in Sydney’s Paddington Market in 1991, Nicky and her sister Simone saw a gap in the luxury fashion market and were able to test concepts with their customers, gaining a firm understanding of what resonated. In fact, this is a key to its success: understanding who the customer is, testing concepts with customers, gaining a solid understanding of what customers want.

A major turning point in the brand's success was in 1996 when the brand helped to launch Australian Fashion Week, alongside 8 other designers including Collette Dinnigan and Peter Morrissey. Says Nicky: “We had made up our minds that we wanted a business that was going to be international.” Shortly following this, the brand was picked up by Harvey Nichols, giving the business prime window display space. Net-a-porter started to stock Zimmermann and there was additional growth from being featured in the Victoria’s Secret catalogue.

The unique proposition of the brand when it started out helped provide a distinctive style that was unique: “We decided to do swimwear with clothing, which no one had done at the time,” says Nicky. “It was very fashion swimwear, and the prints were the same as the clothes. And it wasn’t kaftans. It was jackets and pants and full-on dresses, and it was quite a different point of view.”

In a market that has seen many Australian fashion businesses crumble, it's inspiring to witness the Zimmermann business go from strength to strength.

Want to discuss how top talent can help grow your fashion business? Speak to Tanya, Amy and Natalie at Permanser consulting.

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists in the Fashion / Textile / Lifestyle / Accessories Industries.

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Growing movement towards circularity in fashion manufacture and production

Wayne.Fleming@flexipersonnel.com.au (Wayne Fleming) — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 03:47:38 GMT

There has been a significant and growing movement towards circularity in fashion manufacture and production.

Consumers have become increasingly conscious of the environmental and social impacts of their shopping, resulting in more considered purchasing behaviour. The concept of restorative fashion has emerged as an opportunity for brands to demonstrate their approach to sustainability.

So what is restorative fashion and why is it important in driving sustainability?

The process of restorative fashion focuses on restoring and rejuvenating garments within the fashion ecosystem. Often the goods that are returned, are garments with faults. Time is taken to repair and restore the goods, which are then sold to consumers at a discounted rate. Australian retailer Kathmandu has recently received positive press for their Redo Program, backed by a $150k grant from Sustainability Victoria, currently a pilot program which refreshes and fixes faulty goods returned to two of its Melbourne stores. While this is a positive step for the brand, the process is also slow and costly. Sustainability Consultant Aleasha McCallion who worked with Kathmandu on Redu, reveals: “We are spoilt as consumers…we can have everything we want delivered, very fast. We have devalued clothing as a result.”

The Australian Circular Fashion Association estimates that 30% of all online clothing purchases in Australia are returned and the majority of businesses are not set up to manage garments that are damaged in the process.

Dr. Clara Vuletich, a leading sustainability consultant and researcher , believes that ‘restorative fashion represents a shift from the traditional linear take-make-dispose model to a circular system that keeps materials and products in use for as long as possible.’

The role that consumers play in restorative fashion is crucial. Buying fewer, better quality pieces, looking after them and repairing them is a key part of moving towards a more circular fashion economy. Restorative fashion aligns with the principles of slow fashion, encouraging a shift away from mass production and disposable trends. Melinda Tually , is a Good Design Australia award winner, former Deputy Chair of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand and founded the Australian and New Zealand arms of the global not for profit, Fashion Revolution. She explains: ‘Restorative fashion promotes timeless design, high-quality craftsmanship, and emotional durability.’ By valuing longevity and emotional connection to garments, slow fashion fosters a sustainable relationship between consumers and their clothing, reducing the need for constant consumption.

Collaborations between fashion designers, researchers, and industry experts are driving innovations in restorative fashion. The Australian Circular Fashion Conference , an annual event showcasing sustainable fashion practices, has become a hub for these collaborations. Camille Reed, founder and director of the conference, states, "Through partnerships and knowledge-sharing, we are paving the way for restorative fashion in Australia, exploring innovations like textile recycling and regenerative farming ."

We’d love to speak to clients and candidates with experience on fashion circularity.

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists in the Fashion / Textile / Lifestyle / Accessories Industries.

Tanya, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting

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Regenerative agriculture and its impact on fashion

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 05:07:26 GMT

What is regenerative agriculture and why is it so important?

Regenerative agriculture has been gaining significant attention globally for its potential to transform the fashion industry.

Sustainable and regenerative farming practices can restore ecosystems, improve soil health, and reduce Co2 emissions. In Australia, a growing number of experts are leading the charge towards sustainable and regenerative farming methods that will positively impact fashion production.

Sourcing materials from regenerative farms can enable fashion brands to reduce their ecological footprint and promote a more sustainable future. Some of the key benefits for adopting regenerative agriculture practices are sequestering carbon, reducing water usage, and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Regenerative agriculture has the ability to not only shift the dial to farming more sustainably but to regenerate degraded landscapes. Author and regenerative agriculture advocate Dr. Charles Massey agrees: "By nurturing soil health and embracing biodiversity, farmers can create a positive ripple effect that reaches far beyond their fields. This approach can transform the fashion industry by providing sustainable and ethically-sourced materials."

One of the most exciting impacts of regenerative agriculture is that new fashion supply chains can be created. Fashion brands play a key role in the re-evaluation of traditional farming by supporting regenerative farmers and promoting their products. Says Clare Press , Sustainable & Ethical Fashion Expert: "By cultivating crops and raising livestock in harmony with nature, we can create raw materials that are not only free from harmful chemicals but also have a positive impact on the environment."

High quality fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp and wool are not only environmentally friendly, but long lasting, increasing the traditional garment lifecycle. These fibres are best produced by farms utilising regenerative practices which has additional benefits of supporting farms to withstand climate change impacts as well as strengthening and developing the natural landscape. Dr. Vandana Shiva , an environmental and seed sovereignty advocate believes that ‘regenerative agriculture is deeply connected to the principles of biodiversity and seed sovereignty. By encouraging the use of diverse, locally adapted crop varieties, we can preserve traditional knowledge and foster resilient agricultural systems. This approach also ensures that fashion designers have access to unique, locally sourced materials, adding cultural richness and uniqueness to their creations."

As the fashion industry faces increased scrutiny for its environmental impact, regenerative agriculture emerges as a promising solution.

Come join us at the Melbourne Carrer Expo

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 09:03:52 GMT

Stop by our booth and say Hi!

Come along and visit the team at the Melbourne Career Expo from 14th - 16th July. We'd love to chat about Temporary and Permanent roles and Recruitment as a career path. #lovemyjob #careers #careeradvice #careerexpo #recruitment

How technology and Science are helping transform fashion

Wayne.Fleming@flexipersonnel.com.au (Wayne Fleming) — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 05:51:50 GMT

Technology is revolutionizing the fashion industry in Australia in ways that were once unimaginable.

From the use of virtual reality to sustainable materials, these technological advancements are making the industry more efficient, sustainable, and accessible. Australian experts in the industry have spoken about the transformative impact of technology and the exciting opportunities it presents.

Sydney-based fashion designer Karla Spetic has spoken about the role of technology in creating sustainable fashion. She has praised the use of recycled and upcycled materials in fashion, stating that "Sustainability is at the forefront of my brand. I believe that technology can help us create sustainable fashion by using recycled and upcycled materials."

Melbourne-based fashion tech company Artisans of Fashion's co-founder Carlie Ballard has emphasized the importance of transparency and traceability in the fashion industry. She has stated that "Technology can help us create a more transparent and traceable fashion supply chain. It can help us track materials from their source to the finished product."

Brisbane-based fashion tech startup Citizen Wolf's CEO Eric Phu has highlighted the potential of 3D body scanning technology in improving the fit of clothes. He has stated that "3D body scanning technology can help us create clothes that fit perfectly. It can eliminate the need for mass production and reduce waste."

Sydney-based fashion tech startup Wearable X's co-founder Billie Whitehouse has spoken about the potential of smart clothing in enhancing the fashion industry. She has stated that "Smart clothing can change the way we interact with fashion. It can allow us to customize our clothes, monitor our health, and enhance our overall experience."

Technology is transforming the fashion industry in Australia in exciting ways. Technological advancements such as sustainable materials, 3D body scanning, and smart clothing are making the industry more efficient, sustainable, and customer-focused. As the industry continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more exciting changes brought about by smart technology.

Australian labels securing success overseas

Wayne.Fleming@flexipersonnel.com.au (Wayne Fleming) — Sat, 13 May 2023 07:46:44 GMT

Here are some popular Australian fashion brands that continue to gain traction overseas

Australia is diverse in culture and rich heritage, and it's no surprise that the Australian fashion industry continues to flourish on the world stage over recent years. Australian fashion has produced numerous world-renowned designers and labels, making a significant impact on the global fashion scene. Here are some popular Australian fashion brands that continue to gain traction overseas:

Zimmermann

Zimmermann is our well-loved, luxury fashion brand founded by sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann in 1991. Zimmermann's designs showcase a feminine sophisticated style , with a focus on using high-quality fabrics and prints. Zimmermann has a strong presence in the US market, with stores in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. According to Vogue, "Zimmermann's signature aesthetic - romantic, feminine, and undeniably pretty - has struck a chord with American women."

Aje

Aje is a more contemporary luxury fashion brand founded by Adrian Norris and Edwina Forest in 2008. Aje's designs feature unique prints, textures, and embellishments, creating a distinctive and edgy look. Aje has gained popularity in the UK market, with a flagship store in London. As Adrian Norris, co-founder of Aje, says, "The brand is really resonating with the UK consumer, who is embracing the unique Australian design aesthetic."

Alex Perry

Alex Perry is all about evening elegance and beautifully-executed feminine glamour. His intuitive mastery of the female form is brought to life by opulent fabrics, luxe finishes and red carpet-ready silhouettes.

Sydney designer Alex Perry has been perfecting his craft and developing his brand for the last two decades, gaining a loyal international following and critical acclaim in the process. His designs have graced the covers of the industry's glossiest of glossy magazines and he's dressed some of the most influential women in Hollywood .

Huxbaby

Huxbaby started in 2014 in Melbourne, after our founders were inspired to create high quality, minimalist childrenswear with an adult level of style. Huxbaby is a family run business and over the years the familiar faces, Huxbear, Koko the Koala, Eunice the Unicorn and Percy the Penguin often trend online appearing with celeb parents and influencers like Pink, Chrissy Teigen, Khloe Kardashian, Bec Judd, Brendan Fevola to name a few. Each Hux character reveals their own characteristics giving kids the opportunity to form a connection with their favourite.

Bardot

Bought out of administration and transformed by Chief Executive and Creative Director in 2020, Bardot now specialises as a Wholesale and Ecomm retailer with a focus on premium upmarket stockists in Europe and North America like Hurr - Selfridges, Breuninger, ASOS, About You, Manor, Peek & Cloppenburg, Nelly.com, Answear, Bergdorf Goodman, Revolve, and Nordstrom.

Permanser Consulting - Recruitment Specialists in the Fashion / Textile / Lifestyle / Accessories Industries.

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Why some fashion brands survive and others don’t

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 03:27:15 GMT

What does it take to last the test of time in fashion?

With liquidators being called into once cult favourite brand Alice McCall earlier this year and many brands feeling the pinch of Covid impacts to their business, it’s often asked: why do some fashion brands survive and others don’t? That is: what are the factors that make a fashion brand successful and what are the contributing factors towards brands not surviving market demands? A good way to understand this is to look at some recent fashion casualties:

Alice McCall

The label was founded in 2004 and focused on feminine, relaxed pieces worn by celebrities such as Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie and Jennifer Lopez. At its peak, the brand had 171 stores in 36 countries. The brand also collaborated with high street brands such as Target Topshop and General Pants Co. offering diffusion lines. In 2020, the brand was placed into voluntary administration scaling back from 15 stores to just 3 and focusing on its online store. However this wasn’t enough to save the brand.

Seafolly

Founded in 1975 on Bondi Beach by Peter Halas, Seafolly had a retail footprint of 44 Australian stores, 12 overseas stores and an online store. With a brand identity seen as iconically Australian, the brand struggled under reduced consumer spending during the Covid pandemic. Administrators from KordaMentha were brought in to manage the sale of the business.In August 2020 it was returned to its owner - Private Equity firm L Catterton after plans for a rescue proposal were approved by creditors.

Esprit

Esprit Holdings, founded in the US, closed 67 retail stores, concessions and factory outlets in Australia in 2017 after a 64% decrease in sales over the prior 7 years. Known for a relaxed, Californian cool aesthetic, the business opened its first Australian store in 1981 but was losing market share to competitors Zara, H&M and Uniqlo.

Roger David

Roger David was Australia’s third largest provider of menswear when it closed its doors at the end of 2018. 57 Australian stores were closed and administrators were unable to find a buyer. The brand cited competition from global players, online retailers and the rising cost of operating physical stores as the reason for its downfall.

If you’re keen to have a chat about the latest fashion movements, speak to Janine, Tanya, Amy and Natalie at Permanser Consulting .

Emerging fashion designers you need to know about

Wayne.Fleming@flexipersonnel.com.au (Wayne Fleming) — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 01:56:16 GMT

Emerging fashion designers you need to know about

The fashion industry is always looking to the future: What’s trending? What are the current influences? Here are a selection of feted designers who are becoming ‘known’ for a signature style or approach to their work. And they’re making waves!

Tia Adeola

Starting out as a teenager in College, Tia Adeola founded ‘Slashed by Tia’ (now known as Tia Adeola ). The brand was a favourite with celebrities like Gigi Hadid. Tia’s current focus is on a refined take on ruffles and see-through organza. Adeola has developed strong partnerships with Global brands such as Nike, who sponsored her show in College. The relationship enabled her to recreate an outfit worn by Serena Williams during the US Open in 2012.

Adeola is focused on celebrating her Nigerian heritage by showing her collection at Lagos Fashion Week. She’s a designer poised to break down barriers with dignity while embracing her vision with a deferential nod to her heritage.

Standing Ground

Michael Stewart started his label Standing Ground in 2021. With a focus on slow fashion , the Irish designer’s creations reference a bygone era of made-to-measure couture.

Stewart is focused on creating unique pieces that highlight the natural body shape: ‘At the end of the day I want to cut from scratch to someone's body and really consider their proportions. You have to cut beautifully for everyone’, he explains. Inspired by the natural world, Stewart’s work is characterised by draping fabric which accentuates the curves of the body.

Tokyo James

British-Nigerian label Tokyo James , founded by Iniye Tokyo James has a growing cult following for his modern take on traditional Saville Row tailoring.

The label is known for melding traditional techniques with bold fabrics. It fuses African and European influences to create an exciting nod to modern thinking. James was keen to turn the stereotypical views of ‘African design’ on its head, creating a modern menswear aesthetic. He’s been featured in a number of global fashion publications and his star continues to rise. “There is a beauty in balance and as a brand we are rooted in the philosophy of aiming to push the boundaries of tailoring by manipulating its core principles,” he said in discussion with American Vogue .

Like to know about other up and coming designers? Speak to the team at Permanser Consulting .

Will the Crypto crash affect the fashion industry?

Wayne.Fleming@flexipersonnel.com.au (Wayne Fleming) — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 23:29:21 GMT

The recent crash of the cryptocurrency market has many people wondering how it might affect various industries, including fashion.

FTX, the centralised cryptocurrency exchange collapsed in November 2022 and has left investors reeling. Many fashion brands have spent time experimenting with use case development in their online systems. Digital Agency Techtee has worked with Fashion houses such as Gucci, Givenchy, La Perla and Nike. Founder Tobi Ajala, states that: “Although a part of the NFT collector community obtains assets to resell for profit, within luxury fashion and culture, that turnover rate is substantially less, partly due to the loyalty and the proximity to the fashion brands that purchasing these collectibles provides. It’s the art, it’s the fashion that’s going to help regain the momentum for NFTs.”

According to a report from Forbes, the crypto crash could have a significant impact on the luxury fashion market . Luxury fashion brands, such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton, often accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as payment for their high-end products. With the value of these cryptocurrencies plummeting, it's possible that some consumers who had been planning to use them to make a luxury fashion purchase may now be hesitant to do so.

However, not everyone is convinced that the crypto crash will have a major impact on the fashion industry. In an interview with CNBC, Elizabeth Spiers, the founding editor of fashion trade publication The Fashion Law, said, "I don't think the crypto crash will have a meaningful impact on the fashion industry. Fashion consumers are not the same people who are speculating in crypto, and fashion brands are not significantly exposed to cryptocurrency as a form of payment."

It's worth noting that the fashion industry has always been known for its volatility, and it's likely that any impact of the crypto crash will be just one factor among many that could affect the industry. As fashion journalist Dana Thomas pointed out in an interview with NPR , "Fashion is affected by all sorts of things, from politics to the weather to the stock market. And it's always been like that."

While it's possible that the crypto crash could have some impact on the luxury fashion market, it's too soon to say for sure how significant that impact will be. Only time will tell how the fashion industry will be affected by this latest development.

If your business is looking to expand or experiment this year, we’d love to hear from you. Speak to Janine , Amy and Natalie at Permanser to chat about partnering with your business.

ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 13:00:39 GMT

In recent years, fashion brands and influencers have pushed the boundaries of what fashion is and what it can mean. Fashion is often been viewed as a barometer of society, reflecting people’s fears, hopes and dreams.

But what happens when fashion brands breach the limits of what society deems acceptable? Balenciaga is a recent case in point, where in November 2022, the brand featured a campaign portraying images of children holding teddy bears that were dressed in bondage. A second phase of the same campaign featured images of the Supreme Court opinion in the Ashcroft vs. Free Speech Coalition Child Pornography case. Interestingly, the brand is currently suing a Production company for $25M for the campaign but questions remain: which Balenciaga employees approved the concept, storyboards and final artwork of the campaign?

Other fashion brands such as Gucci and Burberry have also been involved in scandals, like:

The Gucci Straightjacket scandal

Model Ayesha Tan Jones was asked to wear a straightjacket in a fashion show that was based on exploring uniforms, utilitarian clothes, normative dress, including straitjackets as a depiction of ‘the most extreme version of a uniform dictated by society and those who control it.’ As a silent protest, Jones wrote on her hands: ‘ mental health is not fashion ’.

La Maison Simons Suicide campaign

In a campaign called "All Is Beauty," the Candadian-based brand tells the story of a terminally ill woman who chooses to die via medically-assisted voluntary euthanasia. The campaign utilises calming and serene images of nature, while soft music plays in the background. The brand has received strong criticism for commercializing the story of Jennyfer (the patient) to help them sell products . One critic referred to the video as "dystopian."

The Burberry Noose Hoodie

Burberry was forced to apologize after showing at their Autumn/Winter 2019 collection in London Fashion Week. One of their pieces - a hoodie with ties hanging from its neck - was triggering to one of the models that took part in the show. The controversial piece was designed by Burberry Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci. Liz Kennedy, a Burberry model walking in the show wrote on Instagram: "Suicide is not fashion" adding: "It is beyond me how you could let a look resembling a noose hanging from a neck out on the runway."

So the question is: if fashion’s role is to reflect society but also challenge our beliefs and boundaries, what is considered acceptable and what is not? And how does a brand measure this? We believe that brands should test particularly sensitive concepts with smaller, trusted Focus groups to get feedback, market intelligence and insights. Challenging societal norms is all well and good but if it displaces your role fighting for the consumer dollar, it’s hardly worth it.

What are your thoughts on the Balenciaga scandal? We’d love to hear.

WHY GREENWASHING IS OUT OF FASHION | Permanser Consulting

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 08:20:44 GMT

Consumers are becoming increasingly informed about the impact of their purchasing decisions on the environment, and many brands are becoming savvy about the eco-friendly marketing spin they use to promote their products. The term ‘ Greenwashing ’ refers to “the process of conveying a false impression or misleading information about how a company's products are environmentally sound. Greenwashing is an unsubstantiated claim to deceive consumers into believing that a company's products are environmentally friendly or have a greater positive environmental impact than what is true.”

So why is Greenwashing such a problem?

There is no governance around the word ‘sustainable’ - so any business can use it without having to report on their actual practices, targets or sustainable standards.

Consumers are making better choices with their consumption, through reduction and by ensuring they purchase quality fabrics, they purchase from businesses with supply chain transparency and they opt for on-shore as opposed to offshore manufacturers. Companies who use greenwashing make this process confusing for consumers.

Courtney Holm, founder of circular label A.BCH adds : “If we keep thinking these brands are doing really great things, we don’t ever scrutinise the greater impact of the business. There’s a real danger that they’re just going to keep doing what they’re doing for as long as possible – as long as they can get away with it – by having these surface-level commitments and initiatives that they participate in. I think it’s actually a hindrance overall”.

Global Fashion businesses such as H&M, Zara and Uniqlo have been involved with greenwashing over the years. These brands have been big contributors to the huge amounts of textile waste caused by the fashion industry.

So how do consumers identify the difference between greenwashing vs genuinely sustainable practices?

Clare Press, writer and founder of chart-topping podcast ‘Wardrobe Crisis’ says that “Consumers can look out for evidence to back up claims – whether in the form of certifications, for example, or transparency around exactly how they make things to reduce their carbon, water and waste impacts.”

The Australian Fashion Council recommends asking the following questions to reduce the likelihood of Greenwashing in a fashion business:

` Is your fashion true to the label?

` Have you used vague terminology in your communication?

` Are your headline claims potentially misleading?

` Have you explained how you use metrics related to sustainability?

Do you know of some brands leading the way with regards to sustainable fashion practices? Speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie at Permanser Consulting.

MAKE IT IN MELBOURNE

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 02:03:45 GMT

After the significant effect of the pandemic on offshore manufacturing , small batch production has returned to Melbourne. Many Melbourne brands are choosing to produce locally after increased support from consumers.

Buyers have become increasingly aware of how their clothing is produced and want to support locally made fashion. It does, however, come at a price. Margie Woods, Co-founder of label Viktoria & Woods has been producing her garments in Melbourne since her business began 18 years ago . She said that for many years she was in the minority: “We design from a sketch, which we then move to our sample machinists, and pattern makers will interpret the sketch, and then we’ll fit on a model in-house... it’s very tactile and every piece of it is developed in-house,” she said. “I don’t know any other way to work, to be honest with you.”

Other businesses producing locally include Country Road . In 2021 the brand enlisted Australian cotton farmers and Victorian manufacturers when the iconic ‘90s Heritage sweats were re-released. Country Road Managing Director Elle Roseby said that due to the success of the campaign, a focus on local production was likely to continue: “When we released the sweats we were waiting to see if our customers would support Australian made,” Roseby says. “We’ve had to repeat production at least another four times since launch. There was obviously an appetite.”

In order to get local manufacturing off the ground, the cost base had to be considered carefully. It’s not cheap and as such, tends to make more sense to custom labels. Partnerships with local manufacturers also need to be built over time: swapping or setting up local manufacturing partnerships can take a while to establish.

Vicki Nicola, educator in fashion and millinery at the Kangan Institute, said fashion manufacturing played a significant role in Melbourne’s history. Flinders Lane was the hub of manufacturing with other catchment areas in Collingwood and Richmond.

Says Nicola: “There is a rise to more companies making locally but we have an acute shortage of workers and materials and an increase in demand for locally made product that is outstripping the supply.”

Both Woods and Nicola speak at an upcoming event at Melbourne Fashion Week, called “Make it Melbourne” which includes the premiere of a three-part documentary based on Melbourne’s emerging garment manufacturing hubs.

Does your business manufacture locally? Janine, Amy and Natalie would love to speak to you about your experiences.

HOW CAN FAST FASHION SLOW DOWN?

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 12:15:41 GMT

The themes of slow fashion, reduced consumerism and increased transparency of supply chains have been constant in fashion in recent years. However, in a world of growing affordability and accelerating demand, the ‘fast fashion’ model is still the mainstay for many businesses. The premise of ‘fast fashion’ is producing clothes cheaply and marketing them to consumers quickly, through shorter fashion cycles.

Clothing production has doubled in the last 15 years , largely driven by a growing middle-class and increasing per capita sales in developed nations. Economic predictions indicate a 400% expansion in world GDP by 2050, spelling an increased demand for clothing.

Additionally, the average fashion garment is worn 36% fewer times than it was 15 years ago. According to a report by ThredUp, 94 million kilograms of waste was generated by single use outfits in 2019. While the impact of COVID has changed how many consumers consider their fashion choices, and has positively impacted supply chain innovation, there is still a long way to go.

So how can fast fashion slow down?

Ironically, it’s a slow process but fast fashion labels such as Forever 21 filing for bankruptcy indicate a shift in consumer behaviour. Consumers are becoming more aware of the societal and environmental impacts of their purchasing decisions . Many fashion brands are leading the charge in making more environmentally conscious choices in their supply chain and promotion of sustainable fabrics and items.

The CEO Agenda 2020 - Covid19 Edition sees Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) update its sustainability agenda, with contributions from McKinsey & Co. It outlines six opportunities for CEO’s to rebuild resilient and sustainable businesses post pandemic:

• Plotting social and environmental impacts in the supply chain

• Building trust and brand loyalty

• Moving supplier relationships to partnerships

• Dealing with stock levels and markdowns by implementing new business models

• Accelerating the digitisation of businesses

• Shaping the e commerce infrastructure of the future

Andrea Ferris, CEO of Intrinsic Advanced Materials, says that the slow fashion movement needs to be lead by changes in consumer behaviour: “Fast fashion issues are not just brand issues — they’re also about consumer behaviour….Many things would need to change to entirely transform the industry, but we’ve had hundreds of meetings with brands and major retailers, and there is some great work going on.”

If you would like to hear about the businesses making traction in the sustainability space, speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie at Permanser Consulting .

Expressing culture through fashion

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 08:21:48 GMT

How do you express your culture through fashion in an authentic way? Once fashion was determined wholly by culture - consisting of materials made available to your group. Fashion is one of the key ways that individuals communicate their sense of self worth and identity.

Writing for Holr Magazine , Renata Tauil-Da Costa Branco says that we perceive the customs, beliefs, economics and technology practiced in a specific historical time from the clothing that people wear. As culture changes, so does clothing.

Here are some contemporary brands connecting fashion and culture:

Daily Paper

Based in Amsterdam, Daily Paper uses fashion design as an important storytelling device reconnecting them with their own personal history. Formed from African culture and through contemporary designs, Daily Paper is experiencing huge growth.

Taarach

Inspired by indigenous folklore, Taarach is a Latin American fashion brand focused on textile traditions and handmade techniques. They believe that each product becomes part of our lives, offering more than a look. They say it reveals who we are, and makes us unique.

Ngarru Miimi

Ngarru Miimi is an ethical, slow fashion label by Lillardia Briggs-Houston —a Wiradjuri Gangulu Yorta Yorta woman based in Narrungdera/Narrandera, Wiradjuri Country. The brand explores areas of culture, self determination and sovereignty through fashion and textiles. Lillardia aims to create change by using fashion and textiles to challenge non- Indigenous perspectives of Aboriginal peoples and culture.

Asiya Bareeva

Asiya Bareeva is an emerging fashion designer from Russia whose works are inspired by the multiculturalism found in her country. Russia is home to many different faiths such as Buddhism and islam and the brand works to represent these and other cultures. Asiya’s clothing features layers of varying fabrics and prints, adorned with embroidery, jewellery and headpieces.

If you’re interested in hearing about the latest fashion movements, speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie from Permanser Consulting .

What is adaptive fashion and why is it so important?

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 08:21:48 GMT

One of our basic human needs—besides food, shelter, and security—is clothing. Clothing is a part of every person’s daily life and when you have a disability that limits your physical movement; choices for what you wear can become severely restricted. While the term ‘inclusivity’ is discussed in fashion circles, it mostly relates to size inclusivity of going beyond the standard offering of sizes 6-14.

Despite the approx. $ 490 billion spending power within the disabled population, the move toward adaptive fashion has been slow. Historically disabled consumers had to make the choice between comfort and fashion, but there are a few companies leading the way in adaptive fashion :

Social Surge

Co-founded by Meredith Aleigha Well s , Social Surge is a universally designed apparel brand that is rooted in the core belief that all people are more alike than different. The brand initially started with extended sizing but thought - why stop there? They launched the idea to create universal, inclusive styles that blend accessibility and fashion together to make getting dressed easier.

Cur8able

Founded by Stephanie Thomas, Cur8able is a Disability Fashion Styling system whose mission is to fight ableism with fashion choice while being good to people and good to the planet. They make it a priority to celebrate often overlooked, disabled-style icons with their #WeCYou social media initiative.

Jam the Label

JAM is an inclusive fashion label designed specifically for people with a disability. It was founded in 2019 by Emma Clegg and Molly Rogers, two Occupational Therapists / Disability Support Workers with over 14 years of collective experience in the disability sector. Emma and Molly are incredibly passionate about the inclusion of people with disabilities and increasing their independence and self-expression.

JAM encompasses universal design principles to create products that make the task of dressing easier or makes the items more comfortable for people to wear.

Some of the adaptive fashion features include:

Shorter Back

To prevent fabric bunching for people in wheelchairs

Fully zippable sleeves/sides

By having the sides of the Jacket fully zippable, customers don’t have to struggle to get Jacket sleeves over their hands and arms.

Velcro Wrists

This allows the wrists to be tightened so hands don't go missing in big sleeve openings.

Tagless

The Jackets don’t have tags at the back of the neck. This supports customers with sensory issues.

Would you like to hear more about some local labels making their mark with innovation fashion solutions? Book an appointment to speak with Janine, Amy & Natalie on 9654 5988

Our Advice to Job Seekers in the Current Market

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 16:24:05 GMT

Advice to job seekers in the current climate

The fashion industry can be notoriously difficult to crack at the best of times. In the midst of the global pandemic of COVID-19, manufacturing has slowed and many retail stores have closed due to lock-down. If you are looking to enter the fashion industry, here are our recommendations on what you can be doing to improve your position during these challenging times:

Research your niche

Many candidates wanting to enter the fashion industry are focusing on the areas that they feel will benefit the industry . This includes sustainably sourced materials and transparent supply chains. While the industry has taken a hit, many feel that this could assist the fashion industry to innovate, offering opportunities and a refreshed direction. Many jobseekers are using downtime to reflect on the direction of their career and uncover what they are really looking for in their next role.

Connect with and grow your network

LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with groups and thought leaders in your industry. Spend time reading through the current content and connecting with people that are working or studying in the industry. Another way to connect is by speaking with the Permanser team regarding opportunities that might become available in the market. We like to maintain a network of active candidates and it’s always valuable to understand where candidates are in their career journeys and what they are looking for in their next role.

Uncover opportunities and new directions

Regardless of industry, gaining an understanding as to how businesses need to be structured to survive and thrive in challenging situations is a great idea. This might involve reading case studies and researching supply chains and the manufacturing process, as well as speaking with suppliers, product lifecycle and pricing strategy. By modelling different scenarios , you will be in the best position to understand the impacts of a downturn in different situations.

We would love to speak to candidates and businesses regarding their next steps and plans. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Best Wishes,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

The role of Web 3 in Fashion

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 08:21:48 GMT

There’s a lot of discussion about Web 3.0 and how it will impact fashion. Bur first: what is Web 3.0?

Web.1.0 commenced in 1989 and was the domain of read-only websites. Internet users were treated as consumers of content. Web 2.0 was a term coined in 2004 where the features included in this phase of web development included Blogs, Wikis and social networking.

Web 3.0 has been described as a ‘decentralized online ecosystem based on the blockchain.’ A blockchain, as its name implies, structures its data into chunks (blocks) that are strung together and makes an irreversible timeline of data when implemented in a decentralized nature.

Blockchain technology includes cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin and Etherium), initial coin offerings (ICO’s) and decentralised finance (defi). Other web elements that have started to emerge are:

DAOs - decentralised autonomous organisations

NFT’s - non fungible tokens (unique units of data stored on the blockchain)

The metaverse - a simulated digital environment using augmented reality.

So how will Web3 impact fashion?

A key principle to Web3 is decentralization: putting ownership in the hands of the creators instead of big companies. Web3 empowers creatives to own and monetize their work, allowing greater control.

Many designers are earning money by creating digital skins for games, creating collectibles and selling them as NFT’s or working for digital-only brands. Examples of these include the Web3 fashion ecosystem Digitalasx and Metafactory , a business based on 'digiphysical goods' that connect multiple worlds via NFTs, embedded microchips and more.

Anustha Kishor, a Graduate of the Fashion Futures course at the London College of Fashion, is excited about the future of digital fashion. Part of the benefits, she suggests, is the D&I aspect of Web 3. “Web3 just breaks that barrier completely, and as a Digital Fashion designer, you can literally have clients around the globe possibly even in the international space station; the possibility is really endless, so that’s that’s pretty exciting for me…”

Anustha feels that Blockchain Technology addresses some of the key challenges of the fashion industry, including sustainability across the design and construction process, as well as choice of materials.

Like to learn more? Janine, Amy and Natalie are interested to speak with fashion designers interested in moving towards the digital landscape.

Gender fluid brands making a mark in fashion

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 19:43:13 GMT

It’s been said that fashion is the ‘ barometer of social progres s ’. It helps to discover how we think and feel and how flexible our thoughts are on different social issues.

More recently, gender fluid fashion is becoming more popular and prevalent, breaking perceptions of fashion’s traditional frameworks of ‘Women’s’ and ‘Men’s’ fashion lines. Alex York, writing for StyleCaster , ‘When brands are willing to acknowledge the social construction of gender and the ways in which they can construct their own ideas, acceptance for gender expression will grow both within and outside of the queer community.’

Here, some examples of gender-fluid fashion brands making their mark:

ClHu is a quirky abbreviation of the brand’s tagline and value proposition, ‘Clothes for Humans’. Their website promotes the brand’s ‘Celebrating the boundless spectrum of self-expression: No rules, just clothes.’ The brand launched in March 2022 with a 28 piece collection of cargo pants, utility skirts and tank dresses. Furthermore, the brand eschews traditional clothes sizing in favour of enabling customers with the freedom to explore personal fit preferences. “It’s pretty simple — a horizontal line with colors that move through the color spectrum from left to right as the size increases from a youth 10-12 to an adult XL,” founder Maria Borromeo explains .

Sans Gêne was founded by Caroline McCaul this year. The brand name is French for ‘without constraints.’ The brand empowers consumers to make their own fashion decisions. Shoppers can select from unisex, minimalist binary-blurring garments such as Sports Luxe wear.

ALTU , created by Joseph Altuzarra is “a genderful brand that encompasses the plurality of an individual’s presented identity, and encourages positivity within the spectrum of gender presentations and expressions.” The brand’s collection includes miniskirts, tank tops and cutout dresses, worn by the likes of singer Troye Sivan wore to the 2021 Met Gala , ALTU “encourages the ‘trying on’ of identities as fluidly as we do our clothing.”

If you’d like to hear about the latest fashion trends, speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie at Permanser Consulting .

Oroton's Reinvention...and what we can learn from it

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 20:07:49 GMT

“There was a time in the early 2000s when no woman’s birthday was complete without the receiving of an Oroton accessory”, muses Alissa Thomas, writing for Grazia Magazine . The Oroton brand has a rich history in Australia. Launched in 1938 and loved ever since by Australian women, the brand has had challenging times of late. In 2017, the brand was placed into receivership and was sold to one of it’s Board Members, Will Innes for a reported $25M. While the brand was always known for classic, quality handbags, it needed updating to compete in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Innes brought on Sophie Holt as Creative Director. Holt, credited with refreshing the Country Road Brand, set about modernising Oroton, adding apparel and breathing new life into the Accessories brand: “I have fond memories of Oroton growing up. It is a very special Australian brand, loved since 1938 by many Australian women. It was an incredible opportunity to take a brand with such history and quality and make it relevant to a modern customer.”

Holt started by adding casual totes in canvas fabrics and silk scarves to the range. Moving from there, she added apparel to allow the brand story to be communicated fully and effectively. Oroton’s accessories have also been revamped. Quilted leathers, new colourways and gold fastenings with a rebranded insignia – a metal ’Oro’ dangling throughout is catching the eyes of consumers. Influencers such as Monikh Dale , Lindsey Holland , Sylvie Mus and Tylynn Nguiye n are keeping the brand on fast rotation on Instagram . Oroton is appealing to a younger, modern demographic with a higher discretionary spend. Consumers are responding to the refresh and the modern tale on it’s rich brand history.

The brand also has a refocus on sustainability. They have launched a partnership with resale platform, AirRobe . This allows Oroton customers to resell, rent or recycle their pre-loved Oroton pieces. The partnership builds on Oroton’s sustainability mission, which also includes the use of recycled and plant-based materials, supply chain transparency and best practice processes.

Oroton CEO Jennifer Child says: "Being timeless for us isn’t just about the quality of our products, being timeless is also about creating memories and experiences we share with our customers.

If you’d like to chat about the current movements of some of our best loved Aussie brands, speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie from Permanser Consulting .

Diversity in Fashion

Tue, 03 May 2022 20:13:19 GMT

Netflix’s recent documentary White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch has put diversity in fashion back into the spotlight. While the brand enjoyed huge success in the 90’s, it’s hiring and marketing arms were focused on building an aspirational ‘All-American’ brand, resulting in discriminatory hiring where staff had to fit a ‘look’ or be forced to work back of house if they didn’t.

Diversity is differences in racial and ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic, and academic/professional backgrounds. People with different opinions, backgrounds (degrees and social experience), religious beliefs, political beliefs, sexual orientations, heritage, and life experience. In US fashion there has been a particular focus on racial diversity, spurred by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police . McKinsey & Company’s report: Diversity in fashion: Voices from the industry covers how there is a significant underrepresentation of diverse fashion talent, starting in fashion schools and continuing throughout fashion leadership, influence and culture. Additionally, McKinsey provided substantive research of over 1,000 employees across 41 companies with 20 stakeholder interviews and focus groups with students and emerging designers. This data fed into: ‘ State of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Fashion ’, a February 2021 report by PVH Corp. and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). The report made a range of observations:

Minorities are unaware of the breadth of opportunities within the fashion industry available to them
There are real concerns around whether promotions are fair
Insufficient compensation stands as a significant barrier to entering and thriving within the fashion industry
Employees of colour feel like they do not belong

The Australian fashion industry seems focused on showcasing diversity on its runways and fashion campaigns. The opening night of Australian Fashion Week in 2021 featured stylists and models that reflect a diverse and inclusive culture.

Rounding out the show, one of the stylists - Deni Todorovic waved the rainbow flag in heels, a beard and a skirt. A LGBTIQ+ representative, Todorovic cites the importance of visibility for transgender youths

"In Australia, trans[gender] youth are eleven times more likely to attempt suicide than their cis[gender] mates, and the reason is because they do not see themselves in the world," Todorovic said. "They do not feel valued or appreciated, and so visibility and inclusion literally has the power to save lives."

Keen to understand what’s happening in the local fashion market? Speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie from Permanser Consulting

Rethinking Workwear

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 20:17:13 GMT

The term ‘hybrid working’ is everywhere now and the combination of ‘work from home’ and ‘work from the office’ is now the new norm for many employees. But after consistent lockdowns and zoom meetings over the past 2 years, what does workwear now look like for our return to the office (even if it is only a few days a week)?

After enjoying the ability to wear comfortable clothes or ‘dress down’ for work when at home, employees are wanting a more informal dress code when they work from the office.

From a survey by Ranstad US using a sample of over 1,200 employees, they found that 33% would quit their job or turn down an offer if they had to wear business attire to their job. The Qualifind Group have indicated that studies support the benefits of adopting a casual wear policy at work, including:

Improves employee productivity and morale
Improves employee satisfaction: A relaxed dress code shows flexibility and is very appropriate for some industries, particularly those in creative fields. It also fosters an open and inclusive workplace culture.
Reduces workplace bias: Workers may be less likely to be judged on their appearance
Better office camaraderie and improved relationships: Workers feel more comfortable in relaxed clothing, leading to their interactions with each other being more relaxed.
A work benefit with no cost for employers: Employers can promote a free dress code as part of their employee offering and their Employer Brand

However, disadvantages of a casual wear policy might include: a perceived lack of professionalism from clients (particularly with customer facing staff) or it may even be counter productive (employees may be more focused on their appearance than work!). So any changes to workwear expectations require policies to be developed to support appropriate workplace attire.

If you would like to discuss the latest trends in the Australian fashion industry, speak to Janine, Amy or Natalie from Permanser Consulting on 9354 5988.

The Future Forecast

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 20:27:03 GMT

The fashion industry has undergone a series of seismic shifts over the past few years, impacted by factors such as the growing impacts of Climate Change, the supply chain impacts of the COVID pandemic and growing consumer awareness of the impacts of fast fashion.

As a result, fashion brands have started to explore digital methods of prototyping , reducing waste, lead times and compressing production schedules. There is an ability to reduce time to market by fashion embracing and running with digital fashion illustration programs .

Other brands are exploring digital only fashion, which is designed and marketed for avatars. Brands can either showcase virtual samples or entirely virtual collections. Customers wear digital fashion through augmented realit y and digitally altered photos.

Virtual fashion has been spearheaded by several corporations, individuals and companies and it’s tipped to be the ‘next big thing’ in fashion. Some of the big players include:

Carlings

A Norwegian fashion house, Carlings released its first all-virtual collection in 2018. Consisting of 19 pieces and priced between $9 and $30, the range was bright and colourful, with pieces such as crocodile skin coats and latex chaps. It received very positive reviews from fashion players.

The Fabricant

Established by Kerry Murphy in 2018 but came into it’s own in 2019 when it’s Iridiscent Digi-Couture Dress sold for $9,500 . The brand has also collaborated with well-known Designers such as Tommy Hilfiger and Soorty. The Fabricant’s collections are free for users to download and use on their own platform or the brand’s platform, called Leela.

Tribute Brand

Founded by Gala Marija Vrbanic and Filip Vajda, Tribue Brand is an all-digital fashion brand based in Croatia. It creates exclusively virtual items and designers have taken inspiration from video games. The designers have a passion for sustainable fashion , which was the impetus for creating the digital brand.

Dress-X

Dress-X is the first Global digital fashion multi-brand retailer. The role of Dress-X is to help consumers wear their digital fashion online. Consumers upload their image and the functionality of the platform enables people to wear their clothes online.

Like to hear about digital fashion and other fashion trends? Speak to Janine, Amy & Natalie at Permanser Consulting .

5 fashion trends for the year ahead

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 20:35:24 GMT

As most of us have been living in and out of active wear for the best part of 2 years, it’s refreshing to be able to think about the predicted trends for the next year. Here’s what fashion industry experts are forecasting for 2022:

Dopamine dressing

Dopamine dressing is the concept of wearing colours that elevate your mood. While this can often be bright rainbow colours, it’s more about finding out what colours you associate with confidence and joy and wearing those. Expect to see a wide array of citrus and hot pink colours!

2. Hemlines are getting shorter

With influences from the 60’s and 90’s, mini skirts are making a big comeback this year. Aimed at Gen Z, these micro mini skirts focus on showcasing the body and are both low-rise (such as the designs featured by Miu Miu ) and also high rise.

3. Provocative dressing

The provocative dressing trend was seen at a range of runway shows by designers including Stella McCartney, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Nensi Dojaka, Burberry, Miu Miu, & Balmain. This trend is all about body confidence and celebrating the body. Known by some as ‘Y2K Dressing’, there are a lot of mesh, cut-out and keyhole features.

4. Disco is back, baby!

Seen on the runway by designers such as Peter Do, Balmain, Tom Ford, Chanel & Dolce & Gabbana, references to the 70’s much-loved Disco trend are back in force. Expect to see more low-slung waists as well as grecian, drapey tops.

5. Colour clash

The colour clash trend has been used recently by designers such as Laura Biagiotti, Tod’s, Molly Goddard, Hermes, Fendi, Stella McCartney, and Versace. The key to this look is using simple spades such as shift dresses, pencil skirts and maxi dresses but combining contrasting colours that wouldn’t normally work together. It’s a great way to revive tired wardrobes while making a fashion statement.

Like to speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie about our insights on what’s happening in the Australian Fashion industry? Call us on 9654 5988.

The second hand fashion economy

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 21:34:32 GMT

The second-hand fashion trend has been significantly accelerated by the pandemic, causing businesses and consumers to re-consider the long-term impact of their purchasing decisions. The second-hand fashion industry includes both thrift/charity stores and online resale platforms such as The RealReal and Vestiare Collective , which allow consumers to buy and sell designer second-hand items.

The US ThredUp and the UK DePop are leading the charge in the online second-hand fashion economy. In Australia there are smaller online thrift stores, such as The Closet , amongst others. There is also a strong retail footprint of charity-based ‘op-shops’, with some 2500 around Australia. Many of these businesses accelerated during the past 2 years with people in lockdowns cleaning out their closets and decluttering.

The huge growth experienced by the second-hand fashion economy can’t be denied. In fact, the US second-hand clothing market is predicted to more than triple in value over the next decade, to US $80 billion in 2029. In Australia, the resale market is set to overtake the fast fashion industry by 2024 .

In Australia, a comprehensive report by Reluv Clothing on the second hand fashion market cites the major reasons that consumers are shifting to purchase second-hand goods, as ‘affordability, item selection, item availability’ but also ‘mounting environmental concerns.’ In fact, many manufacturers have been hit hard by the impacts that COVID has had on their ability to manufacture offshore , pushing them to re-think their supply chains. The global fashion industry is the second-most polluting industry in the world , producing more Carbon Dioxide than both the Global Aviation and Shipping industries combined.

However, many are questioning whether the second-hand fashion trend is actually resolving our issues with mass consumption - is it just a redirection of the problem and we need to consider our overall approach to consumption? To buy less and buy better some argue, should be the focus, not grabbing a bargain.

If you’d like to hear more about our insights into what’s happening with the Australian Fashion industry, call Janine, Amy & Natalie on 03 9654 5988.

How the pandemic has changed fashion

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 14:14:22 GMT

2020-21 will be historically viewed as having a momentous impact on the Global fashion industry. Comparable more to The Great Depression than a Global Financial Crisis or downturn, the effect on the industry as a whole is seismic. It’s caused fashion businesses and customers to change their perception of the industry and their role in it.

Fashion Trends impacted by COVID include:

The rise of athleisure

Already on the rise in 2018/2019, where Australians spent $2.3b on activewear in the 2018/2019 financial year, the athleisure industry has been given a boost by global lockdowns where consumers were living and working at home. With a focus on comfortable fashion, the athleisure industry fits well into the post-COVID fashion trend of the ‘ casualisation ’ of fashion. This fits well into the ‘ zoom top ’ trend where remote employees wear a nice top with sweat pants to look the part in their meetings.

Rethinking how and why we shop

With few reasons to leave the house in lockdown, consumer spending on fashion was down, many consumers were forced to rethink discretionary spending if their income was affected by COVID. Additionally, with forced retail closures, retailers were forced to improve their online experiences for customers, finding ways to engage them and keep them online for longer periods.

Improvements to the Supply Chain

Offshore manufacturing challenges have hit many fashion businesses hard over the past 2 years. With many businesses manufacturing in countries such as China, India and Bangladesh, they have been forced to re-evaluate supplier arrangements to reduce risk and costs of shipping. There has been a re-think for many businesses who want to ensure that their businesses are resilient and sustainable post-COVID. The CEO Agenda 2020 - Covid19 Edition outlines a range of opportunities for CEO’s to build resilient and sustainable businesses post pandemic, including:

• Plotting social and environmental impacts in the supply chain

• Building trust and brand loyalty

• Moving supplier relationships to partnerships

• Dealing with stock levels and markdowns by implementing new business models

• Accelerating the digitisation of businesses

• Shaping the ecommerce infrastructure of the future

Like to speak to the team about the latest fashion trends? Speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie at Permanser Consulting .

Re-imagining fashion's supply chains

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 14:20:09 GMT

Fashion businesses all over the world are struggling with issues such as supply bottlenecks, extended lead times, higher freight costs and rising labour costs. In particular, fast fashion businesses that are reliant on manufacturing in countries such as Bangladesh and China are feeling the pinch from supply chain challenges, says Gus Bartholomew, CEO and co-founder of SupplyCompass, a business focused on product development and delivery software for fashion brands. Says Bartholemew: "What we're seeing with most brands is that they're all still massively struggling with visibility and control around delivery certainty - knowing when things are going to be delivered and when things might be likely to go wrong and how that will actually impact them." Covid has exacerbated any potential risks in fashion supply chains, causing retailers to re-consider more progressive models.

In fact, many businesses have used any downtime during lockdowns to improve the efficiency and sustainability of their businesses. In particular, ethical gaps and weaknesses were investigated and environmental impacts mapped.

So what could re-imaged supply chains looks like:

Near-Shoring
In order to reduce global exposure, and reduce environmental impacts, product sourcing could return to near-shoring . This would reduce the culture of exploitation of low-paid labour and unreliable lead times. AlixParters , a Global Consulting Firm said that the move toward regional or national supply chains was likely to be permanent. "The more global supply chains are, the more things can and will go wrong," it said in its report on the disruption caused by COVID-19 .

Investigating Air Freight
Air freight can be a good solution to manage delayed inventory but it can be extremely expensive with considerable environmental impacts. However, with sharp increases in sea freight (costs have jumped ten fold due to scarcity of available vessels), air freight may become a likely choice.

Beyond all this is the opportunity to re-imagine the industry as a whole. A Report from amme.com called ‘Re-imagining the Local Fashion Manufacturing Industry: A Victorian Perspective’ suggests that “The industry needs to be about personal connection, supporting local, and a high level of personalisation. It’s about building loyalty with customers, the opposite of fast fashion”.

If you’re looking for strong supply chain staff that can improve your business, speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie from Permanser on 03 9654 5988.

Fashion X Collabs

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 14:25:27 GMT

Fashion has always been about looking forward to new trends, ideas and inspiration, sometimes while embracing elements of the past. For this reason, fashion collaborations enable brands to reach new audiences, experiment and create a sense of mystery and wonder about what is to come. It’s a fantastic marketing tactic to engage new audiences.

Luxury fashion brands are collaborating with Social Media Stars to increase their reach with a younger, hipper demographic. Burberry, the British luxury fashion brand engaged Brooklyn Beckham to photograph their ‘This is Brit’ fragrance ad, motivated by his huge online following. Similarly, Kendall Jenner has been engaged by a range of major luxury brands such as Calvin Klein, Fendi and Estee Lauder.

Founder of d igital marketing agency Vokent Domenic Venneri says, “We won’t do a photoshoot that goes on a billboard somewhere unless everyone involved has some sort of following and some sort of leverage”, this includes not only the models but the crew supporting the shoot.

Significant High Street | Luxury Collabs include H&M working with significant fashion brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander Wang, Lanvin, Versace and Balmain. Such collabs create hype through both brand’s followings and make the designs accessible to the everyday consumer.

H&M also collaborated with a range of influencers and creatives, including New York student and activist Amy Sall , Artist/Poet/DJ Juliana Huxtable , Make-up Artist Isamaya Ffrench and Musician Oko Ebombo .

Some of the most significant fashion collaborations between artists and fashion designers include:

Salvador Dalí x Elsa Schiaparelli

In the 1930’s, Salvador Dali and Elsa Schiaperelli ‘invented the art/fashion collaboration’, using ‘high art and low materials’ to create memorable pieces such as the Lobster dress , the Tears dress and the Skeleton dress . The collab demonstrated the interconnectedness between art and fashion and has inspired a host of future innovations such as Isabella Blow’s hats to Alexander McQueen’s face masks.

Cindy Sherman x Commes des Garcons

Photographer Cindy Sherman produced photographs for Commes des Garcons that break the rules of fashion photography. Known as ‘anti-fashion photographs’, Cindy Sherman is best known for her Untitled Film Stills with Sherman featuring in 69 black and white photos depicting women in traditional female roles. This aligned well to Commes des Garcons designer Rei Kawakubo’s approach to fashion design which was inspired by the contemporary art world.

Like to speak to the team about the latest fashion trends? Speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie at Permanser Consulting ., click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

The swing back to Australian-made fashion

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 15:11:21 GMT

The pandemic has shifted consumer behaviour for Australians. There’s been a huge decrease in the demand for office attire, evening wear but an increase in loungewear, the rise of the ‘wearable blanket’- the Oodie and an awareness of the impact of how and where we are spending our discretionary income.

Corporate Strategist Rosanna Iacono, a brand advisor with a rich history in Australian and overseas fashion, has been advising Fashion Industry Advocacy Group, The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) on the the current state and future of fashion .

The study , titled ‘High Fashion to High Vis: The Economic Contribution of Australia’s Fashion and Textile Sector’ was released in May this year. It is the most comprehensive study of the entire fashion and textile ecosystem in Australia. One of the key findings was the huge economic contribution to the national economy that the industry makes - $27 billion, including $7.2 billion in exports and employs close to 500,000 people. It is also a significant employer of women: 77% of the workforce of the fashion industry is female, compared to the national average of 47%.

“In this post-pandemic environment, manufacturing sovereignty has become a key issue and there has been a strong call-out to buy more Australian-made goods,” Iacono says. “But the reality is we can’t just flick a switch and bring a huge portion of manufacturing back overnight.”

The report explains that the industry withstood the worst effects of COVID-19 due to the strong shift towards online sales. It also outlines that the leading industry challenges are the rising business costs and supply chain volatility.

The shift towards Australian manufacturing by fashion brands is due to a range of reasons:

Overseas shipping is less attractive due to reduced capacity and the resultant increased fees and lead times
Rising tensions between China and Australia due to political reasons and the instability that this has caused to manufacturing
Consumer-driven/emotional reasons driven by challenges we have experienced such as bushfires, drought, floods and the pandemic. However, whether this will result in consumers being prepared to pay more for their clothes is another thing.

Julian Collins, Global Sales Manager at ABMT , one of Australia’s largest fashion manufacturers, feels that ‘Australian brands are feeling more patriotic’. Typically, 20% of Aussie brands manufacture in Australia but this figure is due to double in the next calendar year, for many of the reasons outlined above. He has daily enquiries from Australian fashion brands but is selective about new partnerships, focusing on longevity and profitability.

Like to chat more about the upswing to local manufacturing? Speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie from Permanser Consulting .

Fashion Piracy

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 15:15:52 GMT

Smaller niche fashion brands are increasingly having their designs copied by larger fast fashion online retailers, leaving them with limited options for resolution. A number of smaller designers have been calling out cheap online clothing websites like Shein, Wish and Forever 21, who have been blatantly ripping off designs.

These online juggernauts are incredibly popular with the Gen Z market but increasingly, many of its customers are calling for accountability amid accusations of fashion piracy .

Shein has been found to have stolen over 20 designs from creative independent, Californian-based high end handmade crochet craft label Prado . Prado has challenged Shein on their social channels and found support from their followers and other designers who have experienced similar plagiarism disputes with the online discounted fashion retailer.

Says Designer Bailey Prado: “If I continue to have my designs stolen then I hope to have enough support that we as consumers can fight back or change things, not let fast fashion companies make designers feel afraid to show their art,” she explains.

When it comes to fashion, copyright law is a big grey area. This means that a designer is not able to claim copyright protection for items of clothing that serve a basic function. As an example, designers can’t claim copyright protection for crochet or knitting or a “top”, “skirt” or “jacket” but can copyright the creative aspects of their design that make it distinct from others, such as original print or patterns. The confusing nature of the law in this instance makes adequate legal coverage confusing and expensive. It’s in the grey areas of the law that some fast fashion retailers thrive because the law allows cheap online fashion companies to take styles, shapes and silhouettes from a runway show and ‘reproduce them quickly and at a lower cost with a few minimal changes’, suggests Julie Zerbo, the lawyer and journalist behind The Fashion Law blog.

Occasionally brands have called out the imitation on instagram and other social channels and received positive responses from reputable and socially responsible fast fashion retailers. Forever 21 copied a design from not-for-profit social enterprise Koreatown . When their collegiate designs were copied and they outed Forever 21 on social media, the fast fashion retailer called and apologised and donated profits to its social enterprise. However, unfortunately, this is not the norm.

Want to discuss the latest topics of conversation and issues of interest in the fashion industry? We can share our industry insights, advice and best practice themes on any relevant matter. Speak to Janine, Nat and Amy from Permans er .

Why nostalgia sells

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 15:19:09 GMT

When life becomes too busy, scary and uncertain, people long for times that were simpler and more slow-paced. This also lends itself to fashion where one of the biggest trends of the 2020’s is nostalgia. If you’ve seen people wandering around in flared jeans and turtle-necked jumpers, you’ll know of the 1970’s fashion resurgence .

This is seen in other channels with increased consumer interest in vintage music, cars and technology (such as record turntables, for example).

Nostalgia is an incredibly powerful marketing tool as it taps into strong consumer feelings and memories. “People naturally turn to nostalgia during difficult times, because memories can be reassuring and make us feel optimistic in the face of tragedy,” said Andrew Abeyta, researcher at Rutgers University . Additionally, a study in the Journal of Consumer Research indicated that consumers are more likely to spend money when they are feeling nostalgic.

Here are some ways that brands are using nostalgia to tap into consumer sentiment:

Nike leveraged the high levels of interest in the release of ‘The Last Dance’, the documentary miniseries based on the career of Michael Jordan by launching a web page which shows all the Air Jordan releases during the time covered in the documentary.
Levis Strauss & Co. offer Vintage collections which enables them to offer up slices of the brand’s history. The Fall/Winter 20 collection offered up grunge pieces that reflected the 80’s and the Folk City Collection reflects the 1960’s.

charliewrightportfolio.com makes some recommendations on how to effectively utilise nostalgia in marketing products:

Get people who know and understand the period of time you’d like to target
Only use nostalgia marketing at the right time, use seasonal trends to determine this
Keep the nostalgia stuff in line with your brand values, don’t force it
Don’t offend anybody accidentally
Don’t copy what has already been done

Like most recruitment markets, fashion is experiencing a candidate-short market, due in part to border restrictions. We have experienced candidates keen to move to new roles. Contact Janine, Amy and Natalie on (03) 9654 5988 to discuss which candidates would be a great fit for your business.

Why fashion rentals are on the rise

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 15:23:03 GMT

The fashion rental business, hit hard by COVID lockdowns, is tipped to bounce back bigger than before with more customers looking for opportunities to frock up after months of languishing at home. Globally the fashion rental market is valued at $1.2bn and tipped to reach 2.57b by 2023.

Large fashion rental players include Rent the Runway in the US, By Rotation in the UK and La Más Mona in Spain. There are significant environmental benefits to renting, rather than purchasing fashion items. Simply doubling the amount of times an item is worn can reduce its carbon emissions by 44% but if 5 people lease the 1 garment, CO₂ emissions are reduced by 70%.

Recently, Ralph Lauren became the first luxury fashion brand to offer consumers the option to r ent their clothing through a monthly subscription model. Subscribers receive four pieces from the brand and are able to keep them for as long as they want, with the option to purchase at a discounted price.

Australian Fashion Rental business GlamCorner offers a similar service. Called GlamCorner Premium, members can choose from a monthly or unlimited service offering three designer pieces in each box. The prices range from $99 to $149 a month and subscribers can keep the garments for as long as they want.

Audrey Khaing-Jones, Co-founder of Glam Corner feels that COVID has forced consumers to think about how and why they purchase: “Overall, consumers have become more savvy and conscious of their buying habits in every aspect of their lives over the past twelve months, and that has actually accelerated the adoption of circular fashion in Australia.”

Like to speak with the team on the top trends facing the fashion industry? Contact Janine, Amy and Natalie on (03) 9654 5988.

HOW DIGITISING CAN IMPROVE FASHION SUSTAINABILITY

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 02:13:47 GMT

Did you watch the recent Four Corners story on the 'Unglamorous World of Fast Fashion?' It highlighted that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions .

Also:

It takes 3,781 litres of water to produce a single pair of jeans, (that’s 33.4 kilograms of carbon emissions).
Millions of tonnes of textiles end up in landfill.
With the rise of online shopping, the demand for cheap and readily available clothing has created a new fashion boom.

The fashion industry needs to innovate in order to improve it's credentials, image and sustainability, enable transparent supply chains and reduce the impact of the fast fashion movement. Here are some recent innovations doing just that:

The Digital Birth Certificate

A digital birth certificate for a product is honestly such a clever idea. Ever purchased a secondhand item but you were unsure of it’s origins? I mean, it looks vintage, it looks designer, but what is it made of and is it genuine?. New York start-up Eon aims to reduce the barriers to creating a circular fashion economy through enabling products to be clearly identified. Like a digital passport for clothing, Eon can track the entire life of a garment, which helps to increase its lifecycle and reduce wastage.

Digital Fashion Illustration

Often viewed as ‘not creative’, digital fashion illustration has the potential to transform the fashion industry and reduce fashion production times . There is an ability to reduce time to market by fashion embracing and running with digital fashion illustration programs. There is however, resistance from designers using 3D CAD/CAM software, which is often due to the technical nature of the interfaces on offer for designers.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is a fantastic data prediction tool that can be used for trend forecasting to enable accurate quantities to be ordered and manufactured for brands, reducing unnecessary waste . Traditional forecasting techniques include observation and data collection from designers and influencers. However, that is subject to considerable inaccuracies which impacts on waste. Planning the right styles and quantities is essential to improving sustainability.

Analytics can also be used for wardrobe planning for customers. The British Fashion label Finery has an automated wardrobe planning tool that allows customers to create looks from their wardrobe and add to their outfit selection by choosing from over 10,000 shops.

If your business requires support to increase it’s innovation agenda, speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie at Permanser Consulting .

WHY FASHION NEEDS TO EMBRACE SIZE INCLUSIVITY

Wed, 05 May 2021 02:23:03 GMT

Size inclusivity is a way of addressing diversity in fashion that is inclusive of the wide range of female sizing, as distinct from the current view, which is ‘standard’ sizing and ‘plus sizing’. For many women, shopping for clothing is more challenging than enjoyable. They are often ‘locked out’ of their favourite brands if they don’t fit the standard sizing on offer.

Some fashion brands have decided to offer sizing that fits a wide range of body shapes, from 00 to 22 which allows a wider range of women to have access to their favourite fashion collections .

Examples of ‘size-inclusive’ brands in Australia include The Girlfriend Collective , For Love & Lemons , Levi’s , Bonds , Atmos & Here, Cotton On & Asos .

There are significant benefits to fashion brands to introduce size inclusivity. By representing people of all sizes, brands become instantly more ‘relatable’ and accessible. However, it also runs deeper: the simple act of removing size descriptors in women’s clothing is a way of acknowledging the importance of size diversity. Added to this is that there is no global sizing method , leading some to ask: ‘What is a size 12 exactly?’

The US Clothing Brand Tanya Taylor offers size inclusive fashion and has some recommendations for brands considering this.

These include:

Use Insights

Obtain customer feedback through social channels or other means to determine which items they would most want in inclusive sizing. This is a more practical move than producing all garments in all size ranges, says Taylor. “Don't start it formally, going through your line and making everything from size 0 to 22,” she advises. “Keeping our product range a little bit narrower helps us to test and get feedback on which shapes are working.”

Get Technical Design Support

As size ranges change, there is a need to develop new patterns, which requires specific skills. “While many pattern-makers are proficient in most areas of pattern-making, most specialise in a particular category,” says Kathryn Hilderbrand, founder and CEO of Good Clothing Company , a US-based manufacturer.

Share your Insights with Retailers

Broadening size ranges is something that retailers are just dipping their toes in. By making available insights from your customer base to them, there will be greater engagement and buy-in for your inclusive sizing ranges.

Don’t develop a ‘Fat Tax’

Taylor suggests that the cost of producing a range in broader sizes isn’t significant. Increasing the retail price to absorb the increased cost base will have a detrimental impact on your brand.

Does your business require design support? Contact Janine, Amy and Natalie to discuss your requirements.

Hi! Here's a special team update

Tue, 04 May 2021 16:59:13 GMT

Hi, here's a special team update.

Get to know us personally at Permanser.

A bit about me

Janine
'Leading the Permanser Dream Team is the best job I've ever had. I feel inspired every day. I love working with Amy and Nat - they are my confidants and allies and we all bring out the best in each other.'

Amy
'I'm still at Permanser 15 years down the track! My work days keep me sane thanks to Janine and Nat...a good escape from home life (ie: my two gorgeous strong-willed young girls!)'

Natalie
'I love what I do. I am fortunate to have an incredible team who inspire/motivate me and to be part of a company that allows for and understands the need for flexibility around being a mother.'

My dream holiday

Janine
'My hubby is a home-body ...so I'm 'forced' to go on a European cruise every year with my sister. We've been doing it for 5 years now and every year is a dream holiday. This year is Cannes, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Florence...it's like living in a beautiful dream.'

Amy
'A child free holiday with my husband in the sun with no distractions and plenty of yummy food and wine...and the opportunity to actually finish a book!'

Natalie
'A solid 2 weeks at the Maldives Six Senses Resort - swimming with dolphins and having daily massages!'

Something I'm looking foward to this year

Janine
'Richmond in the footy finals. We can't win every year but the finals are just *so* Melbourne. I love the footy - the crowds singing the song and the champagne if we win.'

Amy
'Moving into our house after a very long knock down and rebuild process!'

Natalie
'Our family trip to Bali. I have never been and can't wait to have some fun in the sun with hubby and my very cheeky 2 year old daughter.'

The year is nearly half over so we look forward to catching up in person!

Best Regards,

How best to support small fashion brands

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 15:44:50 GMT

It’s no secret that the Australian fashion industry was one of the hardest hit by the impact of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns in various states. In fact, two-thirds of the Australian fashion industry did not think that they could recover from the shutdown. A survey released by industry body ‘The Australia Council’ found that only 34% of the sector felt they could rebound financially .

Here are some different strategies that we recommend for fashion businesses to employ when getting back on track:

Building trust and brand loyalty
Moving supplier relationships to partnerships
Dealing with stock levels and markdowns by implementing new business models
Accelerating the digitisation of businesses
Shaping the ecommerce infrastructure of the future

So how do small businesses without significant brand recognition and huge budgets survive in this environment? We’ve compiled a list of impressive small fashion businesses to consider when making your next purchase:

B ondi Born
Sto c ked around the world by significant Global retailers such as Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Moda Operandi and Net-a-Porter online, Bondi Born consists of elegant, sophisticated swimwear and apparel using high quality fabrics and local craftsmanship. Dale McCarthy (Founder) and Karla Clarke (Creative Director), work together to deliver pared-back, sleek silhouettes which are recognised worldwide.

Her Pony The Label
Initially running from a stall at Melbourne’s Camberwell Market featuring ‘up-cycled’ fashions, Her Pony The Label delivers bright, bold ‘festival-vibe’ clothing with a retro feel. Now with production based out of Indonesia, founder Lauren Stein has ensured a continued focus on socially responsible production practices and a zero plastic packaging policy.

Lenni
Founded by Lisa Stricker in 2013, Lenni offers wearable, unique day and nightwear pieces focused on a 1970’s aesthetic. Now with 200,000 online followers and offered the opportunity to design a capsule collection for a French clothing company, Lenni is a label to watch.

Wilson & Frenchy
Wilson & Frenchy is a boutique baby and kids clothing brand, designed in Melbourne and proudly Australian owned. The range features Newborn, baby + kids collections including accessories, cot & bassinet sheet sets, onesies, leggings, cotton and bamboo blend knitwear, muslin wraps, blankets and organic pyjama sets.

The Ark
The Ark Clothing Co. began 25 years ago and has always been designed and made in Melbourne. With a focus on sustainable, intelligent design, The Ark caters to women who have a mindset of building a considered wardrobe consisting of high quality pieces.

Now a team of over 70 staff, The Ark has 8 stores - 6 in Victoria, 1 in South Australia, 1 in New South Wales and an e-com store shipping worldwide. They also wholesale to 70 retailers nationally. They also received ethical accreditation by Ethical Clothing Australia in 2012, an acknowledgement of their sustainable design and manufacturing processes.

We have a range of candidates with design experience looking for their next opportunity. If you would like to chat about your business requirements, speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie.

Going Viral: The Role of the Influencer in Fashion

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 16:03:03 GMT

Social media influencers have worked in partnership with the fashion industry for the past 10 years rangeing from social media marketing (predominantly through Instagram but now including TikTok) having a significant role in crafting the brand story.

Influencer marketing is a highly effective channel in building brand trust, growing Brand recognition in key market segments and driving sales. According to reports, 78% of fashion brands work with influencers already or plan to do so in the near future.

The selection of influencers follows the same process as the brand development of a fashion brand. They must align with the brand positioning and target market.

In the fast fashion segment, authenticity is key. Consumers want the influencer to be ‘just like them’ as they are given a glimpse into their world and taught how to style garments and coordinate with other items.

For luxury fashion, aspiration is key. Purchasers are wanting to ‘elevate’ their lives through association with a luxury brand. Influencers in this segment need to project an aspirational, luxury lifestyle.

Nano and Micro Influencers with fewer followers but higher engagement are becoming increasingly popular in niche markets where reach is not as significant as sales. Determining ROI from influencer marketing is still a work in progress as the measurement of influencer marketing and translation to actual sales is ongoing. The Influencer campaign ‘ Asos Insiders ’ explores opportunities brands have to drive sales with different influencers. The campaign has been running for many years and shares favourite fashion and beauty products on the site. While the different influencers incorporate finds into their Instagram feeds, the MIV (Media Impact Value) can be attributed to which influencers resonate best with the Asos audience.

Permanser have Marketing and Social Media specialists candidates at all levels, keen to talk about career opportunities. Invest in your teams ongoing success and connect with Janine, Amy & Natalie.

The fashion trends of 2021

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 16:09:32 GMT

We start the New Year, it’s exciting to consider what trends the industry can expect, in lieu of the devastation the industry faced in 2020.

Known for it’s innovation over the past few years, the fashion industry has expanded into different industries such as beauty , fitness and homewares . It’s also been impacted by technology in terms of fabric innovation and the advent of digital fashion , providing growth channels for the future.

So here are some expert predictions that we can expect in 2021:

Oversized and Puffy Styling

Puffy sleeves have been a major trend of 2020 but with the focus on loungewear for those living in lockdown, the trend isn’t going anywhere. The focus on voluminous sleeves and a dramatic silhouette will be a strategy for shoppers to leave their dowdy house clothes (and 2020) behind.

Whimsical Dressing

Whimsical dressing is all about injecting humour and personality into your wardrobe. It’s a breath of fresh air that allows consumers to experiment with fabric, colour and texture.

Patchwork

Patchwork is expected to be huge for winter. February's drop is scheduled to be a trans-seasonal winter. Patchwork in heavier fabrics such as denim and corduroy will be a fun and playful start to the season .

Folk Dressing

Intricate folk-inspired coats are purported to be big for winter. These are like walking works of art and hark back to the 1970’s with a focus on embroidery and tapestry .

If you are looking to build your fashion business in 2021, speak to Janine, Amy and Natalie to find out how we can help.

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

Fashion's Expansion into Homewares

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 16:13:27 GMT

The fashion industry has a unique ability to identify and target new opportunities to move into different markets. The athleisure and beauty industries are prime examples of where fashion has pivoted to explore an emerging market. Homewares is a relatively new revenue stream that many fashion brands have been exploring.

Capitalising on the fabric innovation occurring in the fashion industry , homewares products such as soft furnishings can utilise fabric that has been completely transformed and redefined, largely due to technology.

The move by both fast fashion brands such as H&M (an early entrant to the homewares market in 2009) and premium brands such as Net-a-Porter indicate a deep understanding of their customer base. For many consumers, purchasing smaller homewares items such as candles and cushions allow them to experience the brand without having to commit to larger clothing purchases such as dresses and tops, consumer behaviour akin to the ‘ lipstick effect ’.

Coined by Market Research body Mintel, ‘ generation rent ’ don’t have the discretionary spend for big ticket homewares purchases. However, an on-trend vase , cushion or lamp is achievable. “Like fashion, interiors are a way to express personality and style . Customers are looking for inspiration, modern design and a diversity of styles.” says Camilla Henriksson, Head of Marketing and Communication at H&M Home .

The ethos behind fashion’s move into home decor is about promoting a ‘lifestyle’ which extends far beyond what people wear. It also enables retailers to become a ‘one stop shop’ for all their clothes and lifestyle purchases, increasing their product lines and customer engagement. It could be an opportunity for fashion businesses whose companies have been affected by COVID to look for opportunities to pivot into other revenue streams. Businesses are encouraged to uncover growth opportunitie s and understand which markets are the best fit for their businesses moving forward.

Fashion talent has skills which pivot across broad industries like the homewares example above. Our designers, graphic artists, visual merchandisers, textile designers, production managers and quality control candidates usually have formal arts degrese and savvy traction on current lifestyle trends.

Please contact Janine, Amy or Natalie on 03 9654 5988 for a discussion around homewares and fashion roles we can assist with.

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

How fashion businesses are re-building post COVID

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 16:15:40 GMT

It’s no doubt that most businesses have been impacted negatively by COVID-19 and the subsequent recession in Australia. However, fashion would be one of the hardest hit.

Rocked by significant retail shut down (in Victoria in particular) as well as a supply chain being reduced to a dribble by the impact of COVID-19 in supply countries such as Asia and Europe, only to re-open to a country in recession. Some micro-segments have seen an uplift, such as the home beauty category , however, for the most part, fashion has been repeatedly knocked.

The positive strategies that retailers have implemented in getting their businesses back on track, mean that many retailers have used the downtime during COVID-19 to uncover ethical gaps and weaknesses in their supply chain in a bid to improve the sustainability of an industry that has long been criticized. Many companies took significant steps to honour trade commitments with suppliers and ensure that workers were not disadvantaged during the pandemic, as well as being supportive of at-home work, a necessity for many vulnerable garment workers. Other retailers have examined their supply chain to try and uncover l ocal opportunities for garment creation , reducing their environmental impact.

In fact, The CEO Agenda 2020 - Covid19 Edition sees Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) update its sustainability agenda, with contributions from McKinsey & Co. It outlines six opportunities for CEO’s to rebuild resilient and sustainable businesses post pandemic:

• Plotting social and environmental impacts in the supply chain

• Building trust and brand loyalty

• Moving supplier relationships to partnerships

• Dealing with stock levels and markdowns by implementing new business models

• Accelerating the digitisation of businesses

• Shaping the ecommerce infrastructure of the future

We would love to speak with candidates with various levels of experience in the fashion supply chain who are looking at their next move. Please contact Janine, Amy and Natalie on 03 9654 5988.

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

The role of Digital in the Future of Fashion

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 16:19:59 GMT

While necessity is the mother of invention, the impact of COVID on innovation in the fashion industry has been more of an acceleration. Digital is re-shaping all aspects of the fashion industry and COVID has been an interesting ‘testing ground’ to see the future possibilities of technology across the fashion spectrum.

Fabric Innovation
Fashion with embedded sensors, responsive fabric and clothing with inbuilt automatic thermo-regulation systems are examples of designers finding innovative solutions in fashion to everyday problems .

For all the criticism of the waste in fashion’s supply chain, there has been considerable development in compostable fabrics and sustainable clothing by amazing tech brands such as Vollebak.

Similarly, digital fashion brand Valentins works in the fashion design and digital transformation space , which creates new materials constructed from digital elements such as texture maps and lighting. This is an opportunity for purely digital materials to appear in the physical world.

Online Fashion Shows
Digital Fashion Shows and online runways have definitely been the flavour of 2020. With so much focus on the traditional Fashion Week, which was based on celebrity and spectacle, livestreamed fashion shows have been tasked with the challenge of bringing this to life in the online space. Additionally, many fashion shows were ‘By invitation only’ while online shows are available to everyone - is this the onset of a more inclusive approach to fashion?

Virtual Fashion
Virtual fashion is focused on the design and sale of fashion for avatars or virtual beings. The design process is similar to digital fashion but instead of the fabric being printed, it remains in the virtual realm for the purposes of video games, avatars and social media.

We would love to speak with candidates with digital experience who are looking for their next opportunity.

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

The impact of the 'Lipstick Effect' on the online beauty industry

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:22:16 GMT

It’s nothing new for fashion brands such as Hermes and Birkenstock to expand their brands through skincare and beauty lines . In 2019, the global beauty industry was valued at $532 Billion , of which smaller products such as face and nail products account for $6 Billion in the US. There is no doubt that beauty items are on a strong growth trajectory.

You may have heard of the ‘Lipstick Effect’, a phrase coined by Estee Lauder. It’s commonplace during times of economic downturn for consumers to purchase smaller ticket items such as a lipstick, seeking satisfaction from smaller purchases in substitute for larger items such as clothing.

However, the ‘lipstick effect’ of 2020 is looking a little different. With many people having to wear masks (where you can’t see their smile), reduced access to social events and the introduction of social distancing, cosmetic sales have faltered. The real growth has been in personal care products (as hair and nail salons have closed in some areas) and skincare products. McKinsey have coined a new phrase: t he ‘nail polish effect ’ .

In terms of online beauty growth, 2020 is really the perfect storm of cosmetic businesses undergoing digital transformation and the lockdown effect brought about by COVID-19. Increasing amounts of consumers are purchasing high-end beauty products to create a ‘home spa effect’ - an indulgence after enduring long periods at home, coupled with work and in some instances, home schooling.

Many beauty companies are looking for candidates with fashion industry experience who are interested in crossing over to beauty.

If this is something you would like to explore, please contact us.

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy and Natalie

Why now is the perfect time to plan your next move

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 16:26:25 GMT

There wouldn’t be many people who would argue that 2020 has been a fantastic year for building their careers. It’s certainly been a topsy-turvy world for most of us. We’ve tried like many people to consider the positives and wanted to share some of our own and candidate experiences with you:

It’s been a time of reflection

Like most businesses, Permanser has experienced a significant downturn: there is less demand for product and less active recruitment in the fashion and textiles space than we typically see this time of year. As a result of that, we have spent time talking with our clients and candidates and getting to understand their situations, both pre-COVID and currently. We’ve used this time to better understand our customers.

Jobseekers have been more candid

Jobseekers have shared with us how companies have been treating them during this time.For many of them, it’s been a key factor in how they see their future with the employer and even their career. Some candidates have used the experience to ‘pivot’ and explore other careers and industries.Now is the perfect time to plan your next career move . Career counselling has been taken to a new level when candidates have shared their personal experiences with us. It’s been a humbling experience and we don’t take it lightly.

We’ve been refreshing our database

Like many industries, the fashion and textile industry is awash with top notch candidates. We’ve spent time ensuring that we have the best candidates that are available now on our database and are ready to go.

If you are a job seeker and would like to speak with the team regarding opportunities that might become available in the market, please speak to Janine and the team .

Kind Regards,

Janine, Nat & Amy

The path to recovery for the Australian fashion industry

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 16:31:36 GMT

All our businesses have been hit hard by COVID-19 and Business Advisory firm KMPG have taken a look at how retail businesses have been impacted specifically . The firm indicate two phases which include an upswing to E-Commerce trade, particularly during lockdown.

Did you ever try to shop at Kmart during isolation and have to wait in a ‘waiting room’ before gaining admittance to the online store due to the huge amounts of traffic? This is an example of the increased demand for online shopping during the isolation period. Shopping patterns have changed due to differing financial situations as well as demand for different products. However, the sizeable increase in online spend was noticeable.

The second wave of predicted E-Commerce growth is happening as people are returning to their lives and restrictions have eased but more transactions are anticipated to stay online. We are positioning ourselves for recovery. The global leaders of the McKinsey Marketing & Sales Practice have cited 3 main lessons from recent downfalls that leaders can learn from:

Optimise for Lean

Historically speaking, resilient companies focused on ‘getting lean’ in a thoughtful and considered way before and during the downturns in 2001 and 2008–9. These businesses were better able to manage the downturn and came out the other side better than others.

Focus on new opportunities

Key take-outs from resilient companies were those that were able to look for strategic investments and advance new market opportunities.

Be bold and maintain a through-cycle growth mindset

Resilient companies increased their selling and budget during downturns while non resilient companies remained flat. This including includes investing in growth areas. Downturns can be an ideal time to re-evaluate your staffing requirements to ensure that they are the best fit for your business moving forward. If business activity levels are low, consider a temp employee model to ease back.

If you would like an audit of your current recruitment arrangements, please contact Janine and the team.

Kind Regards,
Janine, Amy & Natalie

Together we must Succeed

Sat, 30 May 2020 17:13:28 GMT

A Message to our valued clients and candidates

As we face these uncertain times with an unknown impact on our commmunity, our hearts go out to all those affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). Nothing is more important to us than the health of our staff, clients and candidates. In the midst of this situation, we can promise you that you don't have to face things alone. We may be able to lend a hand in the following areas:

HR services
Setting up employees for remote working
Freelance employees
An ear connect; you are not alone
Strategies to tackle this situation

Here are our recommendations for dealing with the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation:

Monitor reliable sources of information

As information is being updated regularly, ensure that you monitor the World Health Organisation website and the Department of Health website for up to date information and what this means for your business.

Provide information to employees about health and safety in the workplace

Employers have a duty under WHS/OHS legislation to provide information to employees about health and safety in the workplace. This information should be consistent with information provided by the Department of Health and WHO. This should include the current status of the virus in Australia to ensure that employees have accurate information and advice on hygiene practices for work and home.

Develop a COVID-19 policy and procedure for your workplace

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have a comprehensive guide for employers including understanding the risks to your workplace, employer obligations, developing working from home policies, changing or scaling down operations as well as business shut down procedures. Your workplace policy and procure plan should be up-to-date with the status of the virus in Australia. This guide is an excellent place to start in developing these documents for your business.

Keep on top of your financial statements

This will enable clear decision making based on where your business is currently at with regards to income and expenses.

Understand possible impacts on your business

Speaking to suppliers, customers and staff will help you understand what possible future impacts of COVID-19 will have on your business. This might include sales, staff availability, supply chain and finance. By modelling different scenarios , you will be in the best position to understand the impacts if these situations should arise.

Should your business require assistance with developing a COVID-19 policy, speak to the HR Consulting team at Flexi Personnel .

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any help, whatsoever.

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

What makes a true leader?

Wed, 20 May 2020 16:44:36 GMT

businesses navigate the fallout of COVID-19, there has been a lot of focus on leadership and what makes an effective leader in challenging times. As many have said, if there ever was a time for a leader to demonstrate effective leadership, it’s now. The lack of control that people feel about their lives due to the pandemic has manifested itself in many ways and employees are looking to their leaders for reassurance.

So how do you manage a team effectively through a crisis when you’re not really sure how to cope with it yourself? The key components according to our team are:

Compassion
Maintain a personal connection with your teams by understanding and showing empathy for their personal situation.

Employees Need trust and compassion: Be present, even when you’re distant
Employees Need stability: Prioritize wellbeing amid disruption
Employees need hope: Anchor to your “true north”

Effective Communication
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but it is about being authentic and transparent in your communication.

Access to Information
Ensure that your staff have access to reliable and trusted sources of information.

Some examples of effective leaders
Here are some leaders that our team find inspiring:

Natalie
'Amal Clooney fights some incredibly challenging human rights cases. She is eloquent, elegant and highly intelligent.'

Amy
'Jacinta Adern has shown the world what true leadership looks like. She is strong, compassionate and inspiring.'

Janine
'Joan of Arc had no military training but convinced the Crown Prince Charles of Valois to lead a French army to the city of Orléans victory was achieved over the English and French.'

We are thinking of our network as we navigate this challenging time and hope to be able to meet in person when time allows.

Kind Regards,
Janine, Amy & Natalie

Weathering the Storm

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 17:09:47 GMT

You’ve been suddenly unplugged from your career with no time to process the disconnection; no opportunity to handover your projects; no time to communicate with clients or colleagues. You feel anxious, irritated, numb, out of body, out of control. No one knows how to feel. No one knows what will come next; but right now, you need to actively focus on anything that will shift your mindset one rung up the positivity ladder below. One step at a time – whatever it takes…. Chocolate, perfume, puppy videos, a bath, a walk… WHATEVER IT TAKES. You should look at redundancy as a break and an opportunity to embrace “time”. From a practical POV - One positive thing you can do is be informed and there are more tools at your disposal than ever before. Here’s some starters and remember; ACTION IS THE ANTIDOTE TO DESPAIR

1. Clarify workplace entitlements and obligations. www.fairwork.gov.au

2. Register your intention to claim a Centrelink Payment www.servicesaustralia.gov.a u

3. Inform power / gas / water – “As a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, my company has made me redundant”. Request a freeze on bills.

4. Contact your bank about a mortgage, personal loan, or credit cards. Request a freeze on repayments due to ‘COVID-19’ redundancy.

5. Write a Redundancy Budget – know your true position for the next 4 months

6. Update LinkedIn profile / picture and post “Available for new opportunities”

7. Update your resume; There are many sites online that provide templates https://resume.io/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjoH0BRD6ARIsAEWO9Duf9UPGhplHHUkMJJGxgDAPPEJsFHG-XFluu7meUsOP_kHkABTlzgMaAp2wEALw_wcB

8. Please let us know if you have been made redundant through emailing the team at admin@permanser.com.au and we'll add you to our database for when life returns to normal.

Textile innovation Shaping our industry

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 17:18:42 GMT

The redefinition of fabric

Fabric is being completely transformed and redefined amid experimentation that (quite frankly) blows our collective minds. Experimentation with biology and technology mash together to create innovative fabrics fit for a range of purposes.

Sustainable fibres from waste natural resources - hemp, coffee, pineapples, banana and lotus have huge potential for the mass market Vegan alternative to leather, made from pineapple leaves - natural and non-woven remarkably similar to leather. Edible textiles, recycled textiles- even the hottest 2020 Oscars trend was recycling old looks.

Embedded sensors, responsive fabric and fabrics that act as an automatic thermo-regulation system are all examples of designers ‘pushing the envelope’ to uncover new purposes for experimental textiles.

Compostable denim created by adding bacteria to a sugary green tea mixture containing yeast . Once that has been left to grow for a few weeks and dried flat, the material can be sewn and dyed like a textile.

Consider a fabric that can keep you warm but will also keep you cool. The majority of smart fabrics can do either one or the other but the metatextile, created by YuHuang Wang does both, which is an absolute first in the intelligent textile space . The fabric is knitted from a yarn of triacetate cellulose and can dynamically gate infrared radiation, responding to a a person's thermal discomfort.

Another fabric is a collaboration between Designtex and MIT's Self-Assembly Lab and looks like it's alive. Built like a partition and operating as a wall covering, it is illuminated from behind by heat lamps and moves rhythmically. Small cuts in the fabric open and close in response to the movement of the lamp, making it responsive.

We have a range of candidates with vast material fabric design experience:

Joni - Lab Technician
$80K + Super

Experience carrying out testing for Internal and External customers, accreditation requirements and interlaboratory trials
Assigns care labels where required
Assigns Pass/Fail status of fabrics
Calibrate laboratory equipment according to prepared schedule; notify non compliance(s)
Assess test results
Confirm submitted reports have indicated the appropriate test

Chuan - Dyehouse/Laboratory Technical Manager
$80K + Super

Experience analysing testing data and providing technical supports to clients for product development, production issues and quality control
Maintained and optimised the performance of company testing equipment through calibration and regular services
Set up and installation of new testing equipment and software
Responsible for safety and housekeeping of laboratory facilities

Lynette - QA Supervisor
$90K + Super

Experience performing a wide range of testing to Australian and International Standards
Colourfastness testing and rating, Instron testing, zip testing, towelling testing
Performed quality control calibration of equipment
Experience with Internal laboratory audits and office procedure audits
Fabrics: shrinkages, weave analysis, air permeability, thread count, mass, pilling resistance
Yarns: linear density, twist, evenness
Fibres: melting point, oil content, single fibre length, almeter-length
Carpets: abrasion, dynamic loading, static loading, shorn pil

What innovations have you uncovered in our industry? We'd love to catch up to discuss!

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

Local to Global: Aussie characteristics contribute to success on the International Stage

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 17:21:28 GMT

Aussie characteristics contribute to success on the International stage

Welcome to 2020! We’re open for business and keen to connect with you over the upcoming weeks. We have all been deeply concerned over the impact of the bushfires this holiday season. It has changed the Australian landscape forever. Our thoughts are with all of those affected by the devastation and our admiration goes to those in the community and RFS who are involved fighting the fires. Some things don’t change however - Australians possess shared characteristics, specifically positive qualities including endurance, courage, ingenuity, optimism and mateship. This month we’ve decided to focus on positive local success stories – the Aussie businesses that ‘could’ and have become highly successful in the international arena. We’ve looked at why they have succeeded when others have failed and some keys to their success:

Spell & The Gypsy
Spell & The Gypsy is a beautiful bohemian label founded by Isabella Briedis in 2009. The brand started as a market stall and focused on building it’s online presence, as much from not being able to attract wholesalers to the label. Isabella started developing strong cultural imagery linked to an appealing brand identity of the Byron lifestyle of sun, sand and a nomadic free-spirited existence. Focusing strongly on an ecommerce model has proven very fruitful for this brand, resulting in a highly profitable business.

Model Co
Model Co was founded by Shelley Sullivan in 2002 with a single product: a heated eyelash curler. What began as a ‘ pet project ’ has quickly morphed into a global brand with 120 SKU’s. Initially started as an Ecommerce site, Model Co focused on truly understanding and engaging with their customers and serving up the right content in the right way to consumers. Millennial customers, for example, expect instant gratification, which means that the business needs to adequately respond to their expectations. More recently, the brand has collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld on a line that not only increases accessibility for the designer but also opens up their brand to a larger scale audience.

Are you looking for exceptional talent with International design experience to propel your business to the next level? Here are some of our outstanding candidates:

Giana, International Designer
120k + Super
Gina constantly assesses the market on a regular basis to identify key trends, silhouettes, fabrications and colours.
She has experience designing and developing high quality Womenswear garments relevant to the international market.
Gina can create CAD sketches and style forms to brief the pre-production and international supplier.
She assesses all fabrics, trims and accessories and ensures they are up to standard for sampling and bulk orders.
Gina participates in fittings and ensures the design and vision are accurately communicated with pre-production and international suppliers.
She regularly liaises with local makers and overseas vendors on all matters relating to design and production.

Terri, US Account Executive
$120k + Super
Terri manages International key accounts (Nordstrom, Saks, Anthropologie, Gilt, Amazon & Zappos).
Her role requires the ability to identify and target new markets and clients, develop and maintain business relationships across the US that are in alignment with brand strategy.
She has experience analysing the market for trends and understanding the competitive landscape. This includes examining sales on a weekly and seasonal basis to identify opportunities such as swaps ,reorder as well as product hits and misses.
Terri manages the showroom and Tradeshow scheduling for the region of NY, Dallas & LA, working the appointments, selling andorganising marketing materials etc.
She also oversees the routing and shipping guides.

Annie, International Brand Head Designer
$100k + Super
Annie performs market, trend & inspirational research in order to identify trends appropriate to the brand.
She has experience creating trend reports relevant to on trend international up and coming designer brands.
This also includes creating sales tools for sales agent handover including trend reports and mood boards.
Annie liaises regularly with sales agents and analyses sales and data history to identify market opportunities.
A key part of Annie's role includes designing an 8 x 60 piece collection annually in line with seasons, stories, and brand strategy.
She prepares hand sketches and technical sketches in both Illustrator and Photoshop. She also travels overseas for sourcing and research trips, including fabric fairs.

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

Christmas is about the Simple Things

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 17:24:43 GMT

In an industry that's so fast-paced, we appreciate the little things about the festive season. Whether that means spending time with loved ones, travelling or just relaxing, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas & New Year.

The rise and rise of the athleisure industry

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 17:28:24 GMT

The Athleisure industry is the perfect fit for the iconic Australian identity – outdoors, fit, tanned and healthy. In fact, Australians spent $2.3bn on activewear in the 2018/19 Financial year . Spurred by the increase in healthy eating, gyms and other fitness services, this industry is over-indexed in the millennial generation and bolstered by textile innovations that allow for exciting fashion opportunities. Here are some of our favourite Athleisure brands:

PE Nation

Sydney-based PE Nation, started by Pip Edwards and Claire Tregoning in 2016 has experienced 400% growth since it began and is stocked in 255 stores globally . Says Edwards: ‘“To be honest, I thought we were at the tail end of the trend,” Edwards said of their launch - “What I didn’t realise was our unique proposition. We made the crossover (from sport to fashion) happen”. The focus of PE Nation’s garments is that they are design-driven. They have performance qualities in a fashion garment.

L’urv

L’urv is a luxury performance label that began in 2012 out of Little River, close to Melbourne. It’s currently available in 13 countries including the US, UK, New Zealand and United Arab Emirates. Started by Libby Petit, L’urv’s launch coincided with the Sport Luxe trend beautifully which saw her label being featured on Rachel Zoe’s blog and worn by celebrities such as Cameron Diaz. The label combines style and comfort with fun prints . “In an industry that was dominated so long by minimal players, L’urv filled the gap for unique fashion-inspired sportswear,” says Libby.

First Base

First Base was founded by Alison Cotton, a yoga and surfing enthusiast in 2013. The brand ethos is about getting back to basics and the style of garment features clean and simple lines. Now seen as a ‘go-to’ label for activewear, the brand is focused on a transparent production line and is known for ethical manufacturing practices and sustainable fabrications .

We love meeting with talented apparel designers. Here are some candidates looking for a fresh, exciting opportunity:

Erica - Apparel Director: $140K plus Super

Erica is currently working as a Apparel Director at a Manufacturer /distributor of a global sports brand across Australia and NZ. She manages all aspects of 20-million-dollar apparel business and reports to the MD and Chairman. The Apparel business comprises national wholesale programs, vertical retail stores and e-commerce. During Erica’s tenure the wholesale business has grown substantially, and the retail business has seen an improvement in product mix, faster stock turn and increased margins. Key responsibilities include merchandise management, design management, team management, sourcing strategy (including buying, planning) and sales and account management.

Kylie - Head Creative: $120K plus Super

Kylie is a highly experienced, concept-driven, hybrid-skilled, smart-thinking creative with a proven record in driving results in the apparel industry. Born in England, but calling Australia and Canada home, she has worked on a multitude of international projects with 10 years of hands on experience designing for small, medium, and large businesses, agencies and brands. Kylie has a passion for creating sharp, professional, and unique designs and messages that immediately attract attention and drive responses. She has a proven track record of meeting the most demanding deadlines, communicating effectively with cross-functional teams, and leading by example. She's dedicated to finding the most cost-effective and creative solutions for all challenges and has a hands-on approach to directing artists, collaborating with clients and bringing concepts to life.

Naheen - Extreme Sports Designer: $125K plus Super

Naheen is an experienced men’s designer who has worked in Australia, USA and London across brands like Freshjive, Abercrombie & Fitch (USA) and Elwood as a Senior Design Manager. She is responsible for the design direction of the brand, and the research of technical advancements in active-wear fabrics. Naheen's role also includes managing the men’s and women-wear teams, liaising with suppliers, costings and worldwide travel. After 5 years in a senior role in Melbourne, she took the opportunity to move to the US and work for Abercrombie & Fitch as Senior Designer for the Hollister label.This involved attending research trips, working closely with the merchandise planner, and developing ranges. Naheen moved back to Australia with her family and commenced work as a men’s active sportswear Designer. She's now ready to return to a new role in extreme sport related menswear.

Is your business looking for up and coming Athleisure industry experts? Get in touch!

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

Cutting Through: Marketing Ideas that Resonate with Consumers

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 17:31:01 GMT

Cutting Through – Marketing ideas that resonated with Consumers

As Australian fashion retailers feel the retail ‘pinch’ from online and Global brands, marketers need to employ insight-led strategies and tactical campaigns to drive sales. Here’s some of our favorite marketing strategies that have resulted in high performing marketing campaigns.

Sportsgirl leveraged the millennial appetite for music in a collaboration with popular artist Nicole Millar, in a campaign which featured the singer in a re-worked version of her hit song ‘Signals’. Featured online and instore, the ‘Get Dressed’ campaign was leveraged with a dress range starting at a $49.95 price point. Kate Rees, Marketing Manager for Sportsgirl, stated that: Some 60% of our top 20 styles for the month were dresses and our number one Instagram post, with the largest reach for the month, was a campaign image of Nicole wearing a dress that sold out.” Sportsgirl then replicated the campaign with singer Ali Barter, with 12 out of 15 pieces in the collection making the Best Seller list.

Lacoste Campaign a Smash hit

A brand steeped in tradition and founded by tennis legend René Lacoste in 1933, Lacoste has always stayed true to it’s motto: Life is a beautiful Sport. ‘A recent ad campaign: Timeless’ is set in a 1930’s Parisian train station and traces 80 years (the brand’s history) via a pair of star-crossed lovers where fashion and style changes but the timeless Lacoste Polo remains timeless. More like a short film than an ad campaign, it combines brand nostalgia with intrigue and urgency.

A focus on diversity and sustainability

H&M’s “Close the Loop” campaign was aimed at sustainability and diversity, featuring plus-size model Tess Holliday and Muslim model Mariah Idrissi. The campaign encourages customers worldwide to bring in clothes of any brand to their stores as part of a Garment Collecting initiative. Which is focused on recycling old clothes into new ones. Over 18,000 tonnes of textiles has been collected globally as a result of the initiative.

Permansers’ Top 3 Marketing innovator candidates:

Blanche - Digital Marketing Specialist $120K plus Super

Blanche has experience in content marketing and social media management for an international, multi-branded fashion company enabling her to make a strong contribution to a new team. Her remit includes working alongside the creative director to define and successfully deliver on each brand’s identity through digital marketing, visual content, social media, eDMs and PR. Her current role is to develop and manage content and communications with a view to grow sales, drive continuous engagement and grow brand awareness in line with overall business objectives.

Shivaun - E Commerce Manager $90K plus Super

Shivaun pairs a designer’s eye with a marketing mind. She is able to create and build on core branding for fashion labels and produce campaigns from inception and creation, to implementation. Devoted to fashion, her knowledge of the industry is a key factor in her approach to digital marketing and innovative ecommerce campaigns - that is a rare find.

Amy - Marketing Specialist $80K plus Super

Amy has 11 years’ experience in her current company, from store management to buying, accounts and most recently -coordinating marketing campaigns across multiple platforms. Amy is highly organised with attention to detail and keen sense of creativity. She’s proud of her multiple campaigns reaching more than 100,000 homes for each LAM campaign, increasing the following of social media profiles by more than 50% in the first month of her role and a steady increase in following and interaction on these platforms since.

Is your business looking for an injection of fashion marketing talent? Get in touch!

Kind Regards,

Janine, Amy & Natalie

September Issue: Top 5 Industry Changes

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:39:25 GMT

In an industry that's so fast-paced, we appreciate the little things about the festive season. We'd love to hear how your business is transforming & your workforce plans in the New Year.

WHAT'S ON AND WHAT'S HOT: MELBOURNE FASHION WEEK 2019

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 02:26:19 GMT

Hallelujah for fashion week! Like a burst of colour on one of Melbourne's dark & dreary days, we can't wait for a fabulous injection of fashion inspiration.

How the fashion and beauty industries continue to blur

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 19:46:37 GMT

How many days does it take to fill a role?

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:47:29 GMT

Management Advisory Company CEB has advised that it was taking businesses up to 68 days to fill a role, up from 26 days in 2010.

Understanding your USP is the secret to getting the job you want

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 19:58:15 GMT

There are some lucky people who don’t have any problems securing interviews for prized jobs with those *bulletproof* companies you want to have on your resume. These are the people that manage to land amazing jobs working at an amazing fashion house, well known brand name or an exciting start-up business. How do they do it? What are their secrets? Understanding how you as an employee add value to a potential employer (your Unique Selling Point or USP) is a key strategy to nailing your dream job. Here are some other strategies we recommend following to get you the job you want.

Understand what you really want

The recruitment process can be taxing. Many people focus on ‘getting a job’ if they are out of work rather than determine what their next career move should be. One way to look at this is to think about why you work (aside from a salary). It makes sense that what you value and want out of life should be reflected in the job you do. In terms of best understanding your motivation and interest, The Muse.com segments people into 4 different groups:

• Community-centred professionals who build relationships with others;
• Human-centred people who develop experiences for individuals;
• Structure-driven workers who look at the integration of different systems and processes; or
• Knowledge-driven individuals who interpret data to better understand people, patterns or applications

Take a Targeted Approach
Successful job seekers don’t apply for every job that they are qualified for . They take a very targeted approach to which roles and companies they really want (and they won’t accept just any job). Think like a high performer and consider who you know that might be useful contacts in your job search. LinkedIn is a great place to start as you can quickly understand where your contacts are working and which companies might represent a good opportunity for you and where you can add value (your unique selling point or ‘USP’). Likewise, finding a ‘side door’ entrance into a business through someone you know rather than applying directly can be really beneficial.

Determine your Unique Selling Point (USP)
The job search process is largely about determining what you bring to the table and finding the best way to communicate that to employers. What value can you add to an employer that is significantly different to other people? Just as products and services have a unique selling point (USP) used to position them effectively against competitors, so too do candidates. The most effective USP’s are in areas of growth and/or are difficult to find. Finding and marketing your USP effectively can go a long way to securing your dream job.

Try speaking with your contacts about where there are skills gaps in the market and how they might align with any strengths you might have. The process of ‘pitching’ to prospects involves getting comfortable with communicating your strengths to potential employers succinctly and powerfully .

Would you like more information on job search strategies? Speak to the recruitment team at Permanser Consulting.

An anti-bullying policy can minimise the risk of workplace bullying

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 19:33:27 GMT

Bullying is an activity commonly associated with children in the schoolyard. Unfortunately, bullying is an issue that also carries over to the workplace. When bullying happens in an office, it can lead to a serious decrease in morale and productivity . In the worst case scenarios, bullying can even cause legal action to be taken against your organisation. For these reasons, it is important that you do everything that you can to understand how bullying affects your workplace and how to deal with it.

What is Bullying?
Before you can take steps towards identifying and correcting the problem of bullying at your office, you need to learn exactly what bullying is. According to the Australian government’s Fair Work Ombudsman , bullying is when a person or group of people act unreasonably towards another person or group of people in a way that causes a risk to health or safety. Some common examples of workplace bullying include:

• Making snide or sarcastic comments towards someone based on the way they look or act
• Unreasonably threatening someone with violence or another kind of negative action, such as harming their property or spreading rumours about them
• Pressuring someone to behave in a certain way, even if it goes against their beliefs
• Excluding someone from work events or meetings

The problem with bullying is that it often starts out in a seemingly-harmless way ; a simple joke or a sarcastic comment made by someone who was just trying to be funny could actually be a hurtful barb that damages the feelings and morale of a colleague .

In Australia, the Fair Work Act protects employees from bullying in the workplace. Contractors, labour hire personnel, students and others who have a commitment to their workplace are also covered under the Fair Work Act. Violating the terms of the act can lead to a fine of up to $10,200 for individuals or $51,000 for corporations. To protect your organisation as well as the safety and well being of your employees, it is imperative that you learn all you can about how bullying affects your workplace and how to deal with it.

Identifying Bullying at Your Office

One of the first steps to identifying instances of bullying or harassment at your office is looking for the signs of this activity. Someone who is suffering from bullying will often be quieter than usual at work. They also may attempt to avoid interactions that they commonly engage in. You should also pay attention to the social dynamic between two particular employees or groups of employees. Are certain people in your office avoiding each other? Does it seem like they are having negative interactions when they do talk? This is a sign that bullying might be going on in your workplace.

Another critical element of identifying bullying is making sure that you have an open door policy. Your team members should always feel 100% comfortable talking to you or any of the other managers at your office about bullying. Make sure that your employees know that they are free to report bullying without any fear of consequences.

Putting an End to Bullying

As with many policies that are implemented in a workplace, it is important to also have a specific code of conduct regarding employee relations and how bullying will be dealt with. This code of conduct should outline the expectations of employee behaviour. In order to keep your employees in line and avoid any occurrences of bullying, each employee needs to be aware of the consequences as well as the procedures for filing complaints. Keeping employees informed will ensure that instances of bullying are greatly reduced.

From here, you need to have a step-by-step procedure for dealing with the bullying. This may involve mediating the parties involved and disciplinary actions. At times it is not appropriate for you to interfere or make accusations. As such, it is crucial that you first make an effort to explore and investigate any claims or any unusual behaviour that you may notice. Remember to be fair and open throughout all of your dealings with employees.

Bullying at work is a very bad situation, even for those who are not directly involved in the bullying. Be certain that you take every possible measure to learn how bullying affects your workplace and how to deal with it so that none of your employees have to worry about working in a place that causes them to suffer emotional or physical harm.

Does your business require an anti-bullying policy? The Permanser team can help.

What to see and where to go: the 2019 virgin australia melbourne fashion festival

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 19:26:17 GMT

Whenever we speak with clients and candidates, we’re always interested to hear about which VAMFF events they are planning to attend and why. Likewise, we encourage fashion students that we speak with to attend as many activities as they can: - many are free or are reasonably priced.

Wherever you sit within the Fashion industry, March is always an exciting month on the calendar. It’s an opportunity for local Australian designers and fashion innovators to showcase their creative endeavours. Moreover, it’s a celebration of what makes Australian fashion unique, surprising and thought provoking.

Here are some of the VAMFF events we are looking forward to seeing this year:

Catwalk Club RMIT Runway

We speak with so many fashion students and the VAMFF RMIT Runway event is a great opportunity to get an insight into what some great up-and-coming designers are up to. We particularly *love* that the focus for this event is on creatives from a range of industries: photographers, graphic artists, event planners, designers and models all collaborating to showcase their unique skillset.

The Journey to Digital Transformation in Fashion & Apparel

This panel event is all about tech and how the fashion industry is being transformed by wearable tech, AI, virtual reality and bridging the digital divide. This panel event explores what’s really working and transforming the industry and not merely a campaign ‘gimmick’.

Identity

A garden party and runway show, presented by The Fashion Advocate , Identity focuses on showcasing designers with ‘sustainable and ethical practices, conscious and considered design, and their shared desire to drive positive social change.’

K&L Gates Fashion Law Seminar

The Fashion Law Seminar for 2019 focuses on the new Commonwealth and NSW legislation which involves new laws, reporting obligations and establishing strategies for fashion businesses in developing a sustainable and transparent supply chain.

Power to the Dreamers

If you’re wanting a day to explore creative thinking, reimagine and be empowered, this is the event! We’re excited about the Speaker line-up for this year’s Australian Fashion Summit and the thinking very much follows the focus on ethics, transparency and sustainability in fashion design and creation. The summit links in nicely to International Womens’s Day with a breakfast event featuring some dynamic and exciting speakers.

See you at the Festival!

4 steps you can take to be a better manager

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:19:59 GMT

What makes someone a great boss?
Here's how to improve your Management style this year.

These 4 steps should help you on your way to becoming the Manager you need to be, as well as enhancing employee wellbeing and productivity:

1. Let your team know when they're doing a good job
Most Managers don't tell employees when they are doing a good job, praise is usually saved up for when they're doing a great job. Sincere praise is critical because it's a key motivator that drives productivity. If someone does a good job, tell them. Don't make a joke or a silly comment, just praise them sincerely.

2. Listen to the key people you manage
Many Managers talk, rather than listen to employees. This is a big mistake. It's only when individuals are listened to properly that they feel valued, engaged and are ultimately more productive. Do not interrupt! Employ active listening techniques such as paraphrasing what the employee said back to you, such as: 'What I'm hearing you say is...' This reinforces that you are indeed listening and gives them an opportunity to clarify what they mean, should it be necessary.

3. Don't pitch one employee against another
If you have ever worked in an environment where employees were motivated through comparison, you will know just how detrimental this can be. Many employees can feel insecure about their jobs without internal politics added into the mix. Healthy and happy workplaces are ones with strong bonds between employees. Breeding an environment of comparison and competition will erode employee confidence and performance.

4. Provide stretch opportunities
Stretch opportunities are usually saved for the best and brightest. Why this happens, we don't know. Cross-skilling employees through their involvement in projects or cross-functional teams is a great strategy to reduce employee boredom and to increase engagement. Don't save them for the rockstars of your business, make them available to everyone. You may find that some employees will shine when given an opportunity or will do well with a pivot working with a different team.

Would your business benefit from a free check-up on your HR policies and procedures? Contact us on 9614 3128 for more information.

The year is flying already - Get onto it!