FA200: Apparel Analysis

This course focuses on the design and construction of apparel. Topics include the elements of apparel quality, construction features, and how to analyze apparel. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to list the variety of factors that go into apparel construction, identify the elements of quality construction, and analyze apparel for all elements of quality.

Elements of Apparel Quality

Patagonia Design Philosophy
View the design philosophy for this sportswear company

Quality Clothing: The Consumer's Perspective
Information from the Textile Consumer (Cotton Incorporated) discusses clothing quality and durability from the consumer's point of view

Quality Testing
Resources on quality testing for the clothing and textiles industries from ApparelSearch.com

How to Analyze Apparel

Brief Guidelines for Apparel Testing by End Use
From the CMA Testing and Certification Laboratories

Fabric University
History, production, and characteristics of fibers and textiles as well as dictionary of fabric terms, and a fabric care center

Label Talk
Information on issues and changes in the Federal Trade Commission Care Label Rule

Additonal Sites of Interest

AAFA
American Apparel and Footwear Association

AATCC
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists

ACCESSORIESmagazine.com
2004 census statistics on trends in women's accessories

Apparel
Website for print magazine

Apparel Search
Clothing and fashion business directory

ApparelNews.net
Links to industry websites

Best Dressed
Exhibit from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Costume Institute
Collection housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

DailyCandy
Free email newsletter and website detailing new and undiscovered trends

FabricLink
Fabrics, Apparel, and Clothing Care

Fashion Careers
Guide to jobs in the fashion industry

Fashion Week in New York City
Great collection of resources from NPR.org

FashionCapital
Online support resource for all areas of the clothing and fashion industry (UK)

FashionDig
Vintage clothing gallery and store

FashionInformation.com
Fashion forecasting and trend reporting (access requires subscription except for Daily News)

FIDM Zine
Online resources from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

FirstVIEW
View the latest fashion collections

Just-Style.com
Textile, apparel, and footwear industry news, analysis, and research

My Virtual Model
Create a 3D version of yourself

OTEXA
Office of Textiles and Apparel

Standardization of Women's Sizes
Resources from the National Institute of Standards & Technology

Style.com
Online home of Vogue and W magazines

Textile Source
Textile design and innovation

Construction Factors

A Beginner's Guide to Apparel Manufacturing
Article from the San Francisco Fashion Industries discussing the production process

Clothing Industry Technology Directory
Guide to technology for the apparel and textile industry from ApparelSearch.com

Cutting Edge: Production
Custom and mass production, mass customization, and production options from Cornell University

Poly What?
FAQ for fiber from FiberSource.com

Worth Global Style Network

WGSN
This is a free resource that provides fashion forecasting and trend analysis, the latest fashion news, reports from trade shows and runways, and color images. Access requires a PIN. Please ask your instructor, or contact wolresources@westwood.edu.