Transparency vs Secrecy: Social Media & the Fashion Industry

For almost 100 years,the fashion industry has run on the basis of secret construction and planning of lines,displaying at a runway,then pitching to buyers. However with the new social media culture the fashion industry is feeling the pressure to adapt to the changing times.

With all the new channels of communication opened up by social media tools such as facebook and twitter, I can just as easily communicate with designer Betsey Johnson as a buyer for Nordstroms can. The pressure is growing to jump into the social media pool as a way to advertise as well, especially as the sales of magazines are declining (a reported 47%, according to Forbes).

Some designers have seen the huge benefits of being involved in the social media scene, and have started to change their marketing,and advertising tactics. Designer Tory Burch partnered with the fashion site Polyvore, and ran a contest asking fans to create artwork using pictures from her new line. Also fashion label Exuve has begun asking customers to vote on clothes and designs, bringing the customer into the fashion process from beginning to end.

There are also designers that worry that too much transparent communication could lead to the stealing of ideas. With no secrecy, everyone would know about Zac Posen's new watercolor dresses,and allow another designer to make similar garments.

Is this a step in the right direction? Should designers,and fashion labels minimize communication with buyers, and instead focus their attention on twitter relationships with the consumer? Or should we continue to trust our department stores to pick the relevant clothes for us, I mean, it has been working for years..

2nd Time Is The Charm

Last semester I took Gee's social media class, this is where I was first introduced to twitter. Although I completed the assignment, I still wasn't totally sold on the idea. I understood the concept and the draw to it, but I didn't really see my place in the whole network.

Now,my second time around I am finally feeling comfortable in the twittersphere. Not only am I following the people Gee recommended but I am also following some other interesting people and celebrities. A majority of the people I follow and actually read their tweets,are those tied to the fashion industry in some way. Both Betsey Johnson and Diane Von Furstenburg (two of my favorite designers) have twitter accounts. I love seeing what their up to, and I especially get excited when they use twitpic, and show where they are, or what they are currently working on.

Besides the people I follow for pure enjoyment, I also follow those who focus specifically on internships and the job market. I am working on getting an internship for second semester and all the tweets about openings and applications has really been great.

Finally I feel comfortable posting and take part in the social media forum. I've learned from the posts that I enjoy reading, about how to post and write in ways that will be informational and entertaining for my followers. I will continue to work on my presence on twitter, and hopefully gain even more understanding and knowledge as my tweets continue.

About Me cont..

What is your favorite food?

I love pasta with spicy sauces

What foods do you dislike?

Although I will eat tomatoes, I'm not the biggest fan

What ethnic food do you like and dislike?

India food is great, curry is amazing

I also like Mexican and Chinese

What is your favorite chip flavor?

just plain ruffles potato chips

What is your favorite sandwich?

cracked pepper turkey with gouda cheese and dijon mustard

What is your favorite drink?

skim milk and diet dr.pepper

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Culvers chocolate custard

What’s your favorite salad dressing?

honey mustard and balsamic

Plain, buttered or salted popcorn?

butter and salt

What’s your favorite pie?

not a big pie person, but I'll eat a fudge brownie any day

What’s your favorite fast food place?

Culvers

Which Harry Potter characters are you?

Um,not applicable

What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

The Proposal

What is your favorite TV show?

Will and Grace,Law and Order

Last book you read.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

What picture is on your computer wallpaper?

a picture I took of the landscape in Toledo Spain

What is your ring tone?

I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas

What are three favorite songs on your iPod?

this is a tough question,I can't pick just three

Do you have a Facebook page?

yes

Do you have a Twitter account?

yes, AnnaDrews,follow me

Do you have a blog?

yes

Where would you retire to?

Seattle,beautiful mountains and beaches

If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?

Barcelona,the culture and the ocean...amazing

Would you ever bungee jump? Skydive?

YES

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

fuchsia

ADPR 4600: About Me

What’s your full name? Annamarie Murphy Andrews Were you named after anyone? my grandmother Do you have a nickname? If yes, what is it? Anna What’s your astrological sign? scorpio Are you a morning person or a night owl? night owl Do you wish on stars? no,but I still enjoy looking at them Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? I don't often wear shoes with laces,I live in ballet flats Do you have tattoos ? no,my mother would kill me What do you do most often when you are bored? watch dance videos on youtube,or take a nap Donkey or Elephant or Neither? donkey What makes you angry? people that talk on their cell phones while checking out in a store, I work retail and it drives me CRAZY What did you do last night? worked on new dance choreography,made dinner,went to bed early What frightens you? bugs,not having a job How many keys are on your key ring? three What do you do to relax? listen to jack johnson,online "window shop" Do you believe in superstitions? no,but I wouldn't go around breaking mirrors Have you attended a church or religious event outside of your own? yes,a close friend of my is Jewish and I have accompanied her several events Name a foreign language that you know. I studied spanish in highschool,and took a month long trip to Spain,since college though,I have gotten quite out of practice Name three things most people don’t know about you. 1. I love skim milk,and could drink it with every meal. 2. When I was little I was determined that I would go to Oxford University 3. I love to dance,and often wish my life was a musical so everyone would break out in song and dance at random times Do you have any siblings? I have three sisters, my eldest sister Megan is 25, my sister Elizabeth is 24, and the baby of the family Glenna is 17 Who is your best friend in high school? Nicole was by best friend in high school, and although we both went to different colleges,we are still close and visit each other often Do/did you have any pets? I have a yorkshire terrier named Mille who is one, and the biggest little ball of energy Cat person or dog person? dog,for sure Who is the last person you talked to on the phone? my friend Susan What states have you been to? Washington Maryland Boston New York Florida Hawaii South Carolina....all of the midwest What countries have you been to? Spain,Dominican Republic,Jamaica In how many states have you lived? just one, Wisconsin When is the last time did you take a train? I took the train from Madrid to Barcelona in the summer of '06 What is your favorite food? What foods do you dislike? What ethnic food do you like and dislike? What is your favorite chip flavor? What is your favorite sandwich? What is your favorite drink? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? What’s your favorite salad dressing? Plain, buttered or salted popcorn? What’s your favorite pie? What’s your favorite fast food place? Media Which Harry Potter characters are you? What was the last film you saw at the cinema? What is your favorite TV show? Last book you read. What picture is on your computer wallpaper? What is your ring tone? What are three favorite songs on your iPod? Do you have a Facebook page? Do you have a Twitter account? Do you have a blog? Wishes Where would you retire to? The beach If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Would you ever bungee jump? Skydive? YES If you were a crayon, what color would you be? fuchsia I'd love to have hash browns every morning, but usually it is just a bowl of cherrios What is your favorite food? I love pasta in spicy sauces What foods do you dislike? What ethnic food do you like and dislike? What is your favorite chip flavor? What is your favorite sandwich? What is your favorite drink? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? What’s your favorite salad dressing? Plain, buttered or salted popcorn? What’s your favorite pie? What’s your favorite fast food place? Media Which Harry Potter characters are you? What was the last film you saw at the cinema? What is your favorite TV show? Last book you read. What picture is on your computer wallpaper? What is your ring tone? What are three favorite songs on your iPod? Do you have a Facebook page? Do you have a Twitter account? Do you have a blog? Wishes Where would you retire to? The beach If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Would you ever bungee jump? Skydive? If you were a crayon, what color would you be? What is your favorite food? What foods do you dislike? What ethnic food do you like and dislike? What is your favorite chip flavor? What is your favorite sandwich? What is your favorite drink? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? What’s your favorite salad dressing? Plain, buttered or salted popcorn? What’s your favorite pie? What’s your favorite fast food place? Media Which Harry Potter characters are you? What was the last film you saw at the cinema? What is your favorite TV show? Last book you read. What picture is on your computer wallpaper? What is your ring tone? What are three favorite songs on your iPod? Do you have a Facebook page? Do you have a Twitter account? Do you have a blog? Wishes Where would you retire to? The beach If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Would you ever bungee jump? Skydive? If you were a crayon, what color would you be? I'd love to have hash browns every morning, but usually its a bowl of cherrios or rice crispies What is your favorite food? I love pasta with spicy sauces What foods do you dislike? I will eat tomatoes, but I'm not the biggest fan What ethnic food do you like and dislike? I love Indian food,curry is amazing I also love Mexican and Chinese What is your favorite chip flavor? I like plain ruffles potato chips What is your favorite sandwich? Cracked pepper turkey with gouda cheese and dijon mustard,so good What is your favorite drink? skim milk and diet dr.pepper What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Culvers chocolate custard What’s your favorite salad dressing? honey mustard or balsamic Plain, buttered or salted popcorn? if I'm at the movies I go all out with the butter and salt What’s your favorite pie? I am not a big pie person,and choose a fudge brownie any day What’s your favorite fast food place? Culvers or Chipotle Which Harry Potter characters are you? Um, not applicable What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds What is your favorite TV show? Will and Grace, Law and Order Last book you read. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan What picture is on your computer wallpaper? What is your ring tone? What are three favorite songs on your iPod? Do you have a Facebook page? Do you have a Twitter account? Do you have a blog? Wishes Where would you retire to? The beach If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Would you ever bungee jump? Skydive? If you were a crayon, what color would you be? In how many states have you lived? When is the last time did you take a train? Food What do you like to eat for breakfast? What is your favorite food? What foods do you dislike? What ethnic food do you like and dislike? What is your favorite chip flavor? What is your favorite sandwich? What is your favorite drink? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? What’s your favorite salad dressing? Plain, buttered or salted popcorn? What’s your favorite pie? What’s your favorite fast food place? Media Which Harry Potter characters are you? What was the last film you saw at the cinema? What is your favorite TV show? Last book you read. What picture is on your computer wallpaper? What is your ring tone? What are three favorite songs on your iPod? Do you have a Facebook page? Do you have a Twitter account? Do you have a blog? Wishes Where would you retire to? The beach If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Would you ever bungee jump? Skydive? If you were a crayon, what color would you be?