Free Style: The Fashion Fusion of Producers, Consumers and You

 

An Undergraduate Fashion Research Conference

 

UC DAVIS

 

APRIL 3-5, 2007

 

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR

 

FASHION RESEARCH AND DESIGN COMPETITION

 

College and University students are invited to submit original work to a Fashion Research and Design competition in the Design Exhibition at the UC Davis conference ÒFree Style: The Fashion Fusion of Producers, Consumers and You,Ó April 3, 4 and 5, 2007.

 

This conference, organized by students in the UC Davis Undergraduate Research Program on the Fashion Fusion of Producers, Consumers and You, takes up critical and creative issues associated with the four themes of:

 

Fashioning Identities
Sub-cultural and countercultural fashions along with their influence on mainstream fashion trends.
 
Consumers and Producers
Sweat-free vs. sweat shop labor, garment workersÕ lives, the influence of globalization on todayÕs clothing industry, environmental impacts of the apparel industry, and fair-trade.
 
Music and Style 
How music and music industry influence and promote fashion as well as generate fashion trends.
 
Regional Style
California Style as case study; global fashion influence of diverse 
California styles (e.g. Hollywood, Surfing style, San Francisco, etc.), and defining regional trends and trendsetters.

 

Competition Overview

In this fashion research competition, we are especially interested in thinking through what ÒfashionÓ means. We invite you to submit original research or creative work that addresses one or more of the above themes through any of the following categories:

 

¥            A garment or outfit

¥            Textile or fiber art for a visual exhibit

¥            Film/video/photographs/fashion illustration or electronic media (e.g., web page)

 

Please also include:

¥            A short essay or research poster for exhibition and online publication.

 

 

 

Background

Often dismissed as trivial and frivolous, fashion is in fact the very hub of burning issues concerning mass-mediated cultural representation, identity construction, body image, design aesthetics, global trade and production, and professional and consumer ethics. While moralistic discourses disdain to take it seriously, fashion is both one of the major forms of aesthetic expression and identity construction in daily life, and a major object of disavowed obsession in our culture. It is also a major force propelling both formal and informal global economies. Thus, in terms of production practices and treatment of garment producers, fashion presents one of the most urgent social, ethical and human rights issues confronting us today.  Music plays an integral part in Òpop culture,Ó which in turn influences clothing design and consumption patterns.  The exploration of music as it touches fashion is an important aspect of the conference.  Regional styles are complex, and follow their own trends depending on regional attitudes, customs, and lifestyles.  Therefore, expression and development of dress is different no-matter where one looks.  Overall, these topics are a few of the many aspects of the fashion system.  The conference aims to shed light on these topics, while opening the door to viewing other fashion issues with a broad scope.

 

So, we invite students to exhibit their designs and join other students, faculty members, designers, fashion industry professionals from around the world, for two days of lectures, discussions, workshops, exhibits, films and fashion shows. This conference will deepen our understanding of and involvement in the aesthetics, ethics and economics of fashion. We aim to think through the very connections that are rarely made as well as they might be between visual and tactile pleasures, and the social/political/ethical issues (e.g., garment labor, environmental issues, body image effects) associated with what it means to produce and consume fashion. Designers are in a unique place to make these connections, and we invite you to help us in doing this in a way that anticipates your future career goals, as well as your sense of social responsibility.

 

Deadline

Entries may be submitted beginning January 29, 2007 and must be received by UC Davis by March 9, 2007. The exhibition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students. Research and creative works must be original, have been executed within the last 2 years and must address at least one of the conference's primary themes of music and style; fashioning identities; regional style; consumers and producers. No more than one (1) entry per entrant or co-entrant in each topic may be submitted with up to 4 entries total.  Entrants whose works are accepted are responsible for ensuring that the conference organizers receive their work in time for the conference. The purpose of the fashion design research show is to provide an arena for design work to be juried and shown as a form of scholarly research. If more than one person contributes to an entry, the creators will be designated as co-designers.  The winners will be announced at the Free Style conference kick off event on April 3rd.

 

Review Process

Each submission will be reviewed by a jury made up of academic and industry professionals. The jury will view the submitted materials and evaluate each entry based on (1) Statement of purpose, (2) Creative innovation to the stated purpose, (3) Aesthetics and quality, and (4) Quality of material (images, objects, and texts) submitted. Acceptance or rejection for exhibition at the Freestyle conference will be based on the juryÕs scores. An on-site review by a set of judges, based on a physical inspection of each submission, will determine award recipients.

 

Entries may be disqualified if a work is not delivered on time or the overall quality is judged to be poor during the second evaluation.

 

Follow Up

By March 22, 2007, entrants will be notified whether their entry will be displayed at the kickoff event, and accepted entrants will be sent guidelines for the delivery of their item(s) to UC Davis. Entrants should retain a copy of all work submitted for evaluation since submitted review material will not be returned. Materials displayed at the kickoff will be returned to students or their designated faculty representative who are present at the conference on Thursday evening. For students unable to attend the conference or have a faculty representative attend the conference, return shipping arrangements for the material will be made upon acceptance into the conference.

 

Non-liability

Reasonable care will be taken in handling the submitted material. UC Davis and conference organizers will not assume responsibility for loss liability or damages incurred before, during, or after the design exhibitions.

 

Prizes

All juried entries will be displayed beginning the night of April 3rd at the Free Style kickoff.  The kickoff will be located in the Garrison room on the first floor of the MU.  Most juried entries (depending on available space) will be displayed for the duration of the kickoff.  Two (2) entries will be awarded for each Free Style theme.  First place and runner up will be awarded with cash prizes of $100 and $50.  There will also be an overall ÒBest in ShowÓ who will win an additional $200 prize.  Winners will be announced at the kickoff event.