^{Accessories & Coffee Inspiration}

Well here I am writing about fashion production and coffee. Why this combination? Let me begin by telling you about illy. In case you are wondering, illycaffé S.p.A was founded in 1933 in Trieste, Italy and has been family owned for three generations. What makes it unique? It has such a smooth velvety taste unlike other brands and perhaps due to its blend of nine types of pure Arabic blends. Aside from the coffee itself what makes it so special for me is the packaging and art at the cafes. Yes, art!  Silver and red pressurized, oxygen-free cans are symbolic for this brand. Years ago, while working in South Korea, the local illy caffé became an occasional weekend treat. I fell in love with the decorated walls, signature coffee cup designs and still possess a limited-edition art coffee can. Illy art began in 1992, a project of turning a white porcelain coffee cup into a design by artists all over the world. This past Spring, I visited a shop not only for the coffee but inspiration which led to a creative design.

Photos @F.L.A.C

Creative Design# “The Sparkle Collection” – Fashion Production

“The sparkle Collection” – Earrings and bracelets

Vision- A night on the town in a black dress, a cocktail party during the Christmas season or a special occasion. In the photo below, a model wears handcrafted sparkle earrings.

I used my illy coffee can as a centerpiece for a collection design ignited by red and silver, a sparkle creation against a black backdrop.

My creative collection taught me the basics of fashion production and the business side of fashion. To figure out how much it costs to produce that trendy handbag, skirt, or accessories, in my case, first you need to estimate how much the materials will cost. Next, multiply the time it takes to create the item by the number of salary expectations at a local retailer or minimum wage.

Next, you should figure out what sort of profit you would like to make. Let’s keep it real. So, in my case, I used 20%. Multiply production cost by .2 to determine the profit amount and add the production cost. This number reflects the minimum amount of profit for each item. Thus, if I sold each pair of earrings individually, I would make a $6 profit.

Several steps need to occur to mass-produce items like belts, handbags, etc. and have items sold in a local retailer. Therefore, things will need lower production amounts. So, a designer would need to find a source for cheaper materials and construction processes to sell them at “manufacturer’s suggested retail price” In my scenario, I have reduced the materials amount and labor cost.

Looking forward to my next fashion concept creation!

~Culture Fanatic

Rochelle