AMM Class Adapts, Creates Virtual Fashion Line

An apparel merchandising and management class adapted to COVID-19 safety regulations and worked together to create an entire fashion line – virtually.

Seniors in the Department of Apparel Merchandising and Management traditionally take a capstone course where they design and produce a fashion line to sell in the Bronco Bookstore on campus.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic began, last year’s capstone class couldn’t meet in person or use department equipment to finish its fashion line; instead, they wound up making protective masks to donate to local hospitals.

“This year, we had more time to plan and prepare for the capstone class,” said Lecturer Kit Kwok, “and we wanted to give the students a better experience.”

Kwok redesigned the course so that the students would use software – some of it they had never used before – to create the fashion line virtually.

Initially, students were hesitant to sign up for the capstone course.

“Like the rest of my peers, I was reluctant to take this course fully online, since it did initially feel as though it defeated the purpose of the course,” student Mandy Chen said.

However, working in the virtual environment did have its advantages. Although the students couldn’t produce physical products or samples, working with the software prepared them to work in an apparel industry that is moving more and more toward using sophisticated tools, like 3D renderings.

They also were able to design pieces without limitations like price and delivery delays.

Among the software the students used were

• TUKAdesign Computer Aided Design for patternmaking, and TUKAmark for marker making.
• Browzwear, an apparel design software to create 3D samples, analyze pressure and tension maps, and check the fit of patterns. It was the first time the students had used this software.
• And AIMS360 Enterprise Resource Planning software for apparel business management.

“Professor Kwok utilized AIMS360 really well, because we were able to act as though we were completing orders for a customer, purchasing fabrics, and preparing all the required steps in production through this software,” Chen said.

Associate Professor Seoha Min and Assistant Professor Samee Lyu helped the students learn how to use Browzwear in AMM4140L, the Apparel Product Development Simulation that immediately precedes the capstone course.

The 25 students in the capstone course were split into four groups, with each group assigned to produce one style for the fashion line. Among the items that they created were a drawstring hoodie and matching joggers, and a t-shirt.

“Our inspiration was considering what clothes students were gravitating to this year since we were attending courses from home,” Chen said. “We figured that oversized tees and joggers were what students were living in during this past year.”

The jogger was designed with an accessory hook to hang masks and keychains. The graphic ringer t-shirt was designed to replicate a vintage basketball t-shirt from the 1990s, student Milan Johnson said.

The students produced a line sheet, 3D rendered samples, simulated customer orders, purchase orders from vendors and inventory.

Although they couldn’t share any physical samples to review, the students still went through the process of presenting the fashion line to the Bronco Bookstore to gain the experience.

“We are still showcasing our designs by utilizing social media platforms and peer connections,” Chen said.