Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to research and purchase fashion products for use in the development of fashion designs.
The unit of competency applies to the research of national or international fashion themes and styles, and identifying sources for purchasing products to help develop designs and fashion directions.
The unit of competency applies to purchases that can inspire new designs or assist in demonstrating ideas to meet a client design brief or the design needs of a product range or label.
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 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Determine job requirements from specifications, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Prepare for fashion design purchasing | 2.1 | Research national or international styles, themes and trends to identify development opportunities |
2.2 | Clarify purchasing objectives, establish criteria for selecting design purchases and confirm purchasing budget | ||
2.3 | Identify fashion design outlets and suppliers and purchasing location/s | ||
2.4 | Determine suitable purchasing strategy and identify potential communication barriers | ||
2.5 | Investigate and prepare to deal with currency, language and purchasing practices of selected location, as required | ||
3 | Purchase fashion products | 3.1 | Investigate fashion design products according to the design needs of a product range or label |
3.2 | Test themes, styles and trends during purchasing | ||
3.3 | Identify and apply appropriate communication practices | ||
3.4 | Assess production and supply opportunities and make purchases to meet purchasing objectives | ||
3.5 | Identify and respond to any additional design opportunities outside of set objectives | ||
4 | Present design purchases to client | 4.1 | Prepare purchases for presentation to client or appropriate enterprise personnel |
4.2 | Develop and use appropriate communication tools to convey themes and design concepts | ||
4.3 | Use positive language and communication skills to encourage adoption of ideas and concepts for further development | ||
4.4 | Document findings and outcomes of purchasing trips | ||
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include:
reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safe work practices
applying relevant standards
determining national or international style and theme trends and identifying development opportunities, purchasing objectives and criteria for selecting design purchases
identifying at least (5) five potential national or international fashion design outlets and suppliers at suitable purchasing locations
confirming purchasing budget, and preparing to deal with currency, language and purchasing practices of selected location according to requirements of purchasing strategy
researching and testing themes, styles and trends, and assessing production and supply opportunities
identifying communication barriers and applying appropriate communications techniques
selecting fashion design products according to the design needs of a product range or label, and making purchases to meet purchasing objectives
using appropriate communication tools and presentation skills to present purchases to client or appropriate enterprise personnel and convey themes and design concepts
documenting findings and outcomes of purchasing trips.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
work instructions, SOPs and safe work practice
principles and concepts of design
Australian Standards for garment production
characteristics of target market
enterprise purchasing procedures and criteria
characteristics of fabrics and materials
research tools for locating fashion outlets
emerging styles and themes
development opportunities
design needs of a product range or label
purchasing strategies relevant to product or enterprise
international business transaction procedures where required
document and record keeping.
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 design purchasing, 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. | |
Workplace procedures include one or more of the following: | requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment SOPs work instructions oral, written and visual communication quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output housekeeping tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling WHS practices |
Australian Standards include: | the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken |
Design needs and interests include the following: | fabric style colours themes season range target market emerging trends cost points ability to be replicated appropriateness for design label |
Purchasing strategy includes one or more of the following: | visiting domestic outlets and suppliers visiting overseas outlets and suppliers investigating electronic or physical product catalogues and samples liaising with agents or representative attending industry or trade shows or events |
Communication barriers include one or more of the following: | time zone/time of day differences cultural differences oral language skills written language skills differences in language different work practices |
Communication tools include one or more of the following: | inspiration board storyboard personal presentation multimedia tools print and audio tools demonstration or exhibition |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Fashion design and technology