Browsing by Subject "Design, Housing, and Apparel"

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    Fair trade apparel business in Minneapolis and Saint Paul: a case study
    (2010-12) Jones, Angelina R.
    There has been a backlash by concerned consumers in the global north against free trade policies, also known as trade liberalization, in the last two decades. The fair trade system has been established as an alternative to the free trade system. The following study examines the fair trade practices and marketing strategies of three apparel businesses based in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. This case study resulted in three findings related to fair trade practices. First, the businesses were all established as fair trade, which demonstrates that fair trade is an integral part of the mission of the companies. Second, the wholesalers in this study considered some fair trade practices to be more important than others. Finally, in order to ensure that their companies are utilizing fair trade practices, the business owners in this study preferred to maintain short supply chains by working closely with their producers and suppliers. In the marketing of fair trade apparel, the businesses in this study relied heavily on their websites and points-of-purchase signage to inform consumers about their products. The lack of a standardized logo for labels on fair trade apparel has meant that the businesses have had to find creative ways to communicate their fair trade practices to consumers.
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    A pattern adaptation for body changes during pregnancy: a single case study.
    (2009-11) Sohn, MyungHee
    Pregnant women experience dramatic body changes during their pregnancy. With the wide variety of body shapes and sizes, physical changes occur differently for every pregnant woman; thus, these variations lead to problems of comfort, fit, and sizing of ready-to-wear maternity apparel. Therefore, this study examined the changes in body measurements and shapes during pregnancy and analyzed the relationship between these changes and pattern measurements and shapes. A single case study method was used to observe one participant’s body measurement and body shape changes during pregnancy, and the relationship between these body changes and related pattern changes. Findings were analyzed by the changes in body measurements and body shapes and the relationship between the body changes and pattern changes. The entire pattern adjustment process represents the analysis of the relationship of body changes to pattern changes. The findings of this study suggest that consideration of body shape during apparel pattern development offers valuable information related to fit that goes beyond standard linear measurements. In addition, the results indicated that body measurements and patterns did not increase proportionally to each other. The pattern changes were not necessary due to body measurement or shape changes. The patterns were adjusted not only to accommodate body changes but also to maintain the garment style.