External: Opportunities and Threats
i. A. Opportunities in Trends: Economic, Social, Technological and Cultural
China becomes a big market of fashion and styling because the Chinese gets wealthy.
Due to the international background of Hong Kong, students in Hong Kong can easily get the newest fashion information to improve their sense of aesthetic which lacks in mainland. Also, the Chinese have their own concept and taste on fashion, Hong Kong designers will have advantages under culture differences.
To become a model or star is getting more easier with social media, even though you are a normal person. Therefore, those kind of agencies would like to request image make-over for their models or celebrities.
Online brands or shopping platforms are getting more popular. Those companies would provide personal image styling service for customers so as to attract them. It is one of the opportunities to get into the image design industry.
i. B. Threats in Trends: Economic and Technological
Recently, the financial and stocks crisis in China affects the stocks market and many mainland Chinese. Therefore, the needs of fashion get decreasing. Furthermore, the rent in Hong Kong keeps rising while the mainland tourists get less, so some of the luxury brands is planning to cut down some branches and stores in Hong Kong. Fashion is not an essential need, so the industry will get hard when the economic situation is worse.
The popularity of social network can easily have the security problems of original design work. It is so easy for internet user to steal your ideas or work by copy and paste.
ii. A. Opportunities in competitive situation
Due to the higher diploma background in styling and photography in Hong Kong Design Institute, I have fashion related training and working experience.
At the same time, I am an visual art student under the Bachelor degree programme in Hong Kong Baptist University. Academic art training is received and my major cluster is object and environment design, which is good for either styling and visual merchandising industry.
Related Working Experience
Here is some of my working experiences which can show my understanding and related skills in the fashion industry:
09/2014-05/2015 Creative Team, Ted x HKBU
Graphic design including leaflets, posters, souvenirs etc.
02/2013 - 02/2015 Part-time dresser, M Production
Including Calvin Klein Fashion Show 2013, Hong Kong Fashion Week 2013-14, Steve Madden Fashion Show - Miss Madden Loves Asia etc.
Fitting and maintain garments for fashion shows
Taking care of the models
02/2013 - 02/2014 Part-time dresser, Gregg & Bailey Event Production
Including Hong Kong Fur Gala 2013 & 2014
Fitting and maintain garments for fashion shows
Taking care of the models
12/2013 - 12/2013 Assistance, Hong Kong stylist Nelson Cheung
Taking care of the garments and any further needs
Fitting for the concert poster of Amanda Lee, Hong Kong artist
07/2013 - 08/2013 Intern, Lok Kwan Social Service
Incharge in TVB’s game show costumes
Everything in pattern room including cutting fabric, ironing, cutting thread, sewing etc.
Buying and Choosing fabric and other materials for the clients
Delivering goods for the clients
Preparing for the fashion show
Being dresser on the show day
I am a cheerful and positive person who likes smiling because I want to bring hopes and helps to everyone around me. You may say I am naive but difficulties will not scare and turn me down.
Also, from my 16 personalities test, I am type INFP which is known as the mediator. My strengths under the analysis can bring success to my job and the company I will work in. They are :
Dedicated and Hard-Working
ii. B. Threats in competitive situation
Fashion related programmes getting extend
Because of the 3-3-4 Hong Kong education system, the number of graduated students get increased. To provide more opportunities of continuous study to a large amount of students, many new design programmes are born to attract graduators. Therefore, fashion related programmes become popular and extended.
Foreigners who wish to work in Hong Kong
Due to the geographic and international image of Hong Kong, many foreigners would like to have a job here, especially in fashion industry. Additionally, the fashion design and art schools in mainland become more professional and specific, those students become well-known internationally with their professional work. Therefore, the competition becomes larger in the fashion industry.
Other way to be noticed and hired
The more popular the social media is, the more chances of being noticed is increased. Therefore, many untrained persons can get into the fashion industry easily by uploading a video clip on youtube. They may not have mature skills or creative ideas, but they can still be hired due to their popularity on social media.
iii. A. Opportunities in Fashion Industry
Everyone buys clothes, especially female.
Fast fashion becomes a trend like Zara, Mango, H&M etc.
There must be stores inside the shopping mall which are getting more and more, especially in Hon Kong.
Foreigners love to shop in Hong Kong due to the lower price rate.
iii. B. Threats in Fashion Industry
High-fashion brands getting replaced by fast-fashion companies like Zara because fast-fashion is not expensive and has similar style with the runway pieces. Everyone can afford it in every season.
Online shopping is getting more popular and convenient. According to some fashion business news, Asos which is an online shop from Ireland earns much more than the “King of fast-fashion” Zara.
The fashion industry in Hong Kong is getting worse due to the influence of Chinese financial crisis. On one hand, the Chinese tourists seldom buy luxury stuffs when travelling Hong Kong recently. On the other hand, the rent in Hong Kong is getting higher and higher. There is an news about the luxury brands are planning to cut down some of their branches so as to reduce the costs.
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