Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to interact and network with fashion industry participants.
This unit of competency applies to communication and networking with people who work along the fashion industry supply chain.
The unit of competency applies to industry appropriate communication and relationship building techniques to maintain effective industry networks, and to ensure design and production processes meet requirements.
Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Prepare to interact with others in the fashion industry | 1.1 | Identify roles of different fashion industry participants and the routine industry communication channels and tools that are appropriate |
1.2 | Identify the information needs of fashion industry participants for design, procurement, production and marketing processes | ||
1.3 | Identify communication protocols, workplace practices and quality standards of different industry participants | ||
1.4 | Follow work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safe work practices | ||
2 | Communicate design concepts and production requirements | 2.1 | Use industry appropriate language and terminology to interact and communicate with fashion industry participants |
2.2 | Identify objectives and processes for communicating design concepts effectively and apply appropriate communication channels and tools | ||
2.3 | Apply knowledge of roles and information needs of different industry participants to communicate production requirements | ||
2.4 | Seek and respond to feedback to assess if communication of design concept and production requirements is effective, and incorporate feedback into future communication | ||
2.5 | Seek assistance from appropriate personnel with specific and relevant expertise to deal with any communication difficulties or barriers | ||
2.6 | Document information and outcomes of communication, and maintain records | ||
3 | Develop and maintain effective industry networks | 3.1 | Apply understanding of scope and role of different industry participants to develop networks for relevant areas of operation |
3.2 | Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with relevant industry participants | ||
3.3 | Gather and store up-to-date information about key industry participants to maintain business intelligence and sustain networks | ||
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include:
following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safe work practices
using industry appropriate language and terminology to interact and communicate with fashion industry participants, using at least three (3) different communication channels or tools
applying knowledge of roles and information needs of at least four (4) different industry participants to communicate about design concepts and production requirements
applying appropriate communications skills to maintain cooperative working relationships
documenting information and outcomes of communication, and maintaining records according to workplace procedures and industry standards
establishing and maintaining up-to-date information about at least ten key industry participants to maintain business intelligence and sustain networks.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safe work practices
roles of various fashion industry participants
routine industry communication channels and tools
information needs of fashion industry participants for design, procurement, production and marketing processes
communication protocols, workplace practices and quality standards
communication strategies:
effective verbal and non-verbal communication
oral, written and visual communication
active listening
positive language
recognising and adapting to cultural differences
negotiation and conflict resolution skills
fashion industry language and terminology
scope and information needs of different industry participants:
designers
patternmakers
suppliers
merchandising and marketing professionals
buyers
media
importers and exporters
production personnel
fashion industry networks:
industry bodies
professional associations
design studios
industry professionals providing specific services
production companies
professional development networks
documentation and record keeping requirements
quality standards:
accepted formats for presenting ideas and concepts
standards of presentation for drafts and final versions
layout and content.
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator
have vocational competency in fashion networking, at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.
Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | |
Communication channels and tools include three or more of the following: | sketches, drawings, illustrations and photographs samples of fabrics and specifications written descriptions and rationale multimedia forms, such as DVD charts, diagrams and specification sheets storyboards and inspiration boards meetings electronic communication tools displays, demonstrations and events mass media channels social media |
Information needs include one or more of the following: | details for production or marketing purposes size, style, features and colours timing, costs, distribution and availability layout and content goals and strategies roles and expectations priorities and limitations |
Protocols include one or more of the following: | specific formats timing content of communication required by different industry participants mechanism for dealing with communication difficulties or complaints |
Communication includes one or more of the following: | face to face telephone correspondence digital media |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Fashion design and technology