Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

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.