HAZELWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT
FASHION MERCHANDISING SYLLABUS
Course Description:
Fashion Merchandising will allow the student to investigate the workings of the fashion
industry from concept to consumer. Students will explore fashion development and
movement, current fashion trends, fashion design principles and elements, textile
industry, and fashion-related careers.
Approved Course Materials and Resources:
Fashion, ($42.75) Goodheart & Willcox
Student Activity Guide
The World of Fashion Merchandising, ($42) Goodheart & Willcox
*Instructional videos will be limited to no more than six hours each semester
Course Expectations:
Students will:
 Explore career choices in the textile industry, fashion industry, apparel
manufacturing, retailing, and marketing
 Analyze principles of design
 Trace the development of fashion influences on consumer demand and fashion
 Evaluate fashion trends and how they affect clothing selection and decisions
 Investigate fashion marketing
 Examine the relationship of the textile industry to the fashion industry
 Read one related book or 100 pages of technical reading
Sample Course Activities:
 Brainstorm ideas
 Research careers
 Illustrate principles of design
 Create visuals showing the development of fashion influences
 Survey of fashion motives
 Small group projects
Course Outline:
1. Career Choices in the Fashion Industry
a) Fashion career fields
b) Type of business organizations and business expansion
2. Principles and Elements of Design as They Relate to Fashion and Design
a) Principles of design/harmonious total design
b) Body structure/basic fashion poses
3. Development and History of Fashion
a) Major fashion changes from 17th century to present
b) Five stages of fashion cycle
c) Fashion adoption theories
d) Fashion influences
Fashion Merchandising Syllabus
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e) Aesthetic and practical considerations for buying
f) Consumer choices
4. Fundamental Concepts of Fashion Trends
a) Economic factors that affect fashion trends
b) Motives/goals for consumer buying
c) Elements of fashion
5. Fashion Retailing
a) Types of retail stores
b) Merchandising of products and services
c) Buying plan
d) Fashion promotion
e) Visual marketing
6. Relationship of the Textile Industry to the Fashion Industry
a) Sources of fibers
b) Mills and converters
c) Interrelationship of the textile and fashion industry
Course Curriculum Map:
Unit 1
Career Choices in the
Fashion Industry
10 hours
Unit 4
Fundamental Concepts of
Fashion Trends
5 hours
Unit 2
Principles and Elements
of Design as They Relate
to Fashion and Design
35 hours
Unit 5
Fashion Retailing
15 hours
Unit 3
Development and
Movement of Fashion
15 hours
Unit 6
Relationship of the
Textile Industry to the
Fashion Industry
5 hours
Lesson Protocol:
 Introduction/Materials Set-Up
 Instruction
 Assigned Activities/Projects
 Summarization/Clean Work Area
Course Power Vocabulary:
consumer
elements of design
fashion
mass fashion
merchandising
principles of design
promotion
retail
Fashion Merchandising Syllabus
April 2008
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