This thesis focuses on empowering feminine design through the application of historic reference to assert fashion design as a form of engineering.

Empowerment through design examines the intersection of utility, necessity and quality to better serve the modern woman. With the employment of soft tailoring techniques and thoughtful pattern engineering, oversized silhouettes, pockets and adjustable details provide comfort and freedom of movement. These garments seek to serve the body rather than sexualize it.

Inspiration is drawn from the female empowerment of the Dutch Golden Age. Seventeenth century Dutch society saw a social restructuring in which women not only controlled the domestic sphere but also became highly involved in business and trade. As women’s roles expanded beyond the home, gender distinction in garments became less apparent, with social and economic prosperity represented in both male and female costume as voluminous sleeves, wide collars and intricate pleating details executed in luxurious, natural fabrics.

The process of an engineer and a designer are one and the same: conceiving, innovating and creating to artfully bring something about. I propose to present the elements of this research so as to reconcile design as a form of engineering in a way that reflects my own analytical approach to fashion design. There will be particular emphasis on advanced patternmaking, tailoring and construction techniques that emphasize the calculation and craftsmanship involved in translating conceptual design into a wearable form.

I started with the inspiration of fairytales and the gender stereotypes that they encourage. I also wanted to look at the current “trend” of gender fluidity in fashion: is it just a trend or a social movement that can continue to the benefit of the non-binary community? After researching various online pleas and talking to members of the LGBTQIA community, I’ve noticed several concerns related to design and functionality. I also looked at gender-neutral fashion companies and noticed a disheartening trend: most of these “progressive” lines were manufacturing shapeless, muted garments that closely resembled oversized menswear. Women have been dressing like men for years, but want about the other way around? Inspired by the gender roles instilled on us as children and the growing trend of gender-neutral fashion, I wanted to create a collection that celebrates the amount of choice we have in expressing ourselves as individuals. Using historic details and a soft color palette, I wanted to create clothing designed for bodies that are feminine, masculine, and everything in between.

The latest innovations in technology are changing every day. One of the largest growing fields is that of wearable technology. Roughly 20 percent of American adults say they use some sort of wearable technology. However, many Americans, while excited for the future of wearable technology, are not thrilled with the options available to them at this present time. While a majority of people who own wearables own items such as fitness trackers or smartwatches, there is more ground to be gained. Eyewear, such as VR headsets, is slowly trickling its way into everyday living. However, after being accepted by general public, there is still another hurdle wearable technology faces.

Wearable technology must be both informative and insightful. It is one thing for a piece of wearable technology to give the user information, such as their heartrate. What consumers want to see is how they should use that information. If a company truly wants their product to benefit their consumers, it needs to answer the questions they have. The largest market for wearable technology appears to be in the health and fitness sector. A significant portion of this is due to fitness trackers, but how could companies work to move their technology beyond the wrist?

In my research, I will be looking to see how companies can work to improve their existing technologies, while also expanding the scope of the information they provide. The focus will go beyond simple fitness trackers to show the ever-expanding future of wearable technology.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is the latest installment in a series of major technological and manufacturing developments; however, it is proving itself vastly different from its predecessors, due to its speed and widespread effect. There are nine key technological trends driving the movement, each building off of the Digital Revolution, which gave rise to computers, the Internet, and smartphones. This revolution stands to impact all industries across the globe, leaving no business or person untouched, and the fashion industry is no exception.

This study, therefore, aims to deepen the understanding of the current and future impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the fashion industry and explore the plausible solutions to champion fashion’s embrace of the Revolution. The researcher employed in-depth literature review as a means of critically examining pertinent trade and academic publications. If the fashion industry is to survive, it is vital that it incorporate technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and 3-D printing, with developments in materials science, in order to find new and sustainable ways of satisfying consumer desires. Bringing these advancements into the industry will be especially successful in areas such as reinventing mass customization, identifying consumer behavior, and establishing firm connections between garments and wearer health. These interdisciplinary practices will alter the very core of the industry, giving rise to a future filled with mutually beneficial collaborations between scientists, engineers, designers, manufacturers, and retailers, each concerned with creating more efficient and sustainable means of production and consumption and providing individualized service to consumers.

The purpose of this study is to explore collaborative design opportunities in the footwear industry, specifically for VIAJIYU, a small made-to-measure women’s shoe company based out of Florence, Italy. First, a market research study was completed to discover and confirm interest in a new market for fashionable sneakers. Upon IRB approval, an online survey was sent out to better understand customer preferences. Design ideas for the sneakers were created based on customer preferences and further evaluated by lead customers from the survey. Final designs were created with customized options in leather, trim, sole details, etc. Findings from this collaborative design experience indicated that customer involvement was a beneficial component to the design process. This research study helped to build on an understanding of the opportunities of co-creation among custom shoe design and development, with a focus on the impact of current VIAJIYU customer.

The purpose of this study is to answer the proposed question: Why are there limited perceptions on what an American woman can and cannot wear at her wedding, if fashion continues to evolve and the history behind some traditional garments are buried? Through a conducted survey, this study will first evaluate the statistics of what a majority of Americans, both male and female, believe a woman should wear to her wedding. This is to determine the exact limits on a bride’s wardrobe and the perceptions that are conceived if she chooses to deter from the majority. With this established knowledge of where Americans stand on the issue, the study will address the concept of limited perceptions against women in our society and how they apply to a woman’s wardrobe, specifically on a day as important as her wedding. Furthermore, this will compare the idea of one abiding by tradition to only yield to society’s norms with the concept of truly appreciating tradition for its historical origin. The intent of this study is to unveil the limited perceptions in bridal wear, allow Americans to compare their perceptions to their own wedding traditions, and to provide an opportunity for people to change the restrictions on what a woman can and cannot wear.

The Millennial generation, which makes up 25% of the U.S. population, is driving changes in many aspects of the retail industry. These consumers crave authenticity, limited availability and quality products, responding well to goods aligned with best practices in sustainability and social responsibility. This study investigated opportunities presented by a partnership between online craft platform, Etsy, and Macy’s, a well-established retailer with hundreds of brick-and-mortar stores. Preliminary research on the market and both companies resulted in a SWOT analysis which guided development of a new clothing line and marketing strategy that addressed Millennials’ unique demands while presenting a partnership model that can be successful for all stakeholders.

The Maker is an innovative apparel brand that connects the designer with the artisan, the artisan with the end-user customer, and traditional handicraft with modern technology, centering on key multi-use items together with basic garments for multi-purpose daily wear. The products are designed in the U.S, with raw fabrics sourced from Southeast Asia by an Etsy craft supply wholesaler, processed by an Etsy Manufacturer, and eventually sold at Macy’s stores. The shopping experience features customer-interactive technology through tablet screens on the retail floor that interface with experiential components like a selfie wall connected to social media channels. The Maker demonstrates that by harnessing individual strengths, firms can work collaboratively to flourish in a rapidly changing retail landscape.

The Growth of a Full Time Fashion/Lifestyle Blogger

Blogs and social channels have the ability to connect readers and the content creator/website owner in a way that normal company marketing cannot. Blogging creates relationships between the marketer and buyer that is friend-like and trusting. Therefore, bloggers have the ability to create an income off of it based on affiliate links, ads, sponsored posts, campaigns and ambassadorships. This study investigates what methods are used to grow blogger platforms, along with which methods are used in order to monetize their creative content. Upon IRB approval, online surveys will be administered to full time fashion and lifestyle bloggers to study further in depth the steps bloggers take in order to run a full time career off of their websites and social media channels. Through the surveys taken by full time bloggers, I hope to discover the process in which bloggers break out of the “hobby” stage- finding what makes their blog stand out and grow faster than others, whether it be through pinterest, SEO, social channels or connections. Preliminary research and findings suggest brand partnerships, blogger relationships, SEO optimization and the utilization of social media, bloggers have the ability to go full time.

Fashion reveals fundamental aspects of the culture in which it is created. Fashion history includes the study of aesthetic, historic, political, economic, and social roles. This research explores our ancestors history of style, uncovering the folds of information that are often overlooked. In an effort to increase diversity this study uncovered contributions to fashion and costume (including, clothing, hair and accessories) made by those of African and African American descent as well as other ethnicities from pre-history to the present day. By including this in class material students can collectively understand each other by accessing information , mixing cultures and histories together. More than 100 images and related information was secured from a variety of sources, scanned, saved, organized chronologically, and integrated in course materials. Titled , Spirits in Unity this study expands closed minds to new thoughts, showing we are as one. Results of this research demonstrate that a wide variety of individuals participated in and influenced fashion, fostering a stronger connection and unity with the spirits of our past.

This project is a collaboration between theatrical sound design and music composition departments. Our goals for this are professional grade recordings of experimental compositional pieces for the underscoring of this spring’s main stage production: Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Working together we can experiment with different ways of crafting and experimenting with sounds. Through this process we hope to expand the way all parts of the team think about creating feeling within an audience. Working together will be is a way of creating something that neither team member could create individually. We can raise the level of sound design for productions at Kent State University, and increase both the exposure of the composer’s work as well as their levels of experimentation.

For this undertaking we are using the various spaces available to the sound design team. These include: Wright-Curtis Theatre, the recording studio, rehearsal spaces, and the recording suites. The first step is creating the original notations for musicians to perform. The sound designer and composer will work to together to come up with the desired notation and arrangement for various pieces. After this we contact the performers of the assorted instruments in the arrangement and record them. The next steps are mastering the tracks and adding any synthetic tones to the mix. We want to be as specific as possible with each track. We will use this remaining time to do any final touches and work together with the director.