Fashion Business Commons^™

Abigail Sarai: A Neuroaesthetic Approach To Fashion Brand Development, Abby Martos

Theses

This thesis project presents a comprehensive direct-to-consumer business plan for an independent women’s fashion brand, Abigail Sarai, strategically positioned around the commercial value of aesthetic design. The project is grounded in an interdisciplinary theoretical framework integrating neuroaesthetics and consumer behavior research. Existing literature demonstrates that visual principles such as symmetry, harmony, and proportion activate neural reward systems associated with pleasure, while consumer research identifies happiness and emotional well-being as central drivers of purchasing behavior. Building upon these findings, this project proposes that aesthetic beauty can function as a deliberate and measurable value proposition within fashion entrepreneurship. By aligning brand design …

Unveiled Voices: An Ode To Black Brides A Digital Resource Guide For Black Brides And Inclusive Bridal Design, Jaslyn A. Banks

Theses

This project examines the lack of inclusivity within the bridal industry, with a specific focus on the absence of skin-tone appropriate illusion mesh and diverse representation for Black brides. Through a combination of scholarly research and visual analysis, this study identifies how Eurocentric design standards continue to influence fabric development, marketing practices, and overall bridal aesthetics.

In response to these findings, this project introduces a digital lookbook titled Unveiled Voices: An Ode to Black Brides A Digital Resource Guide for Black Brides and Inclusive Bridal Design, which serves as a curated resource highlighting Black bridal designers who prioritize inclusivity, cultural …

The Gospel Of Glamour: A Christian Woman's Style Blueprint, Osaromwenyeke Osemwota

Theses

The Gospel of Glamour: The Christian Woman’s Style Blueprint was a luxury-branded, sustainability-focused, faith-based style guide that addressed a gap in fashion, theology, and sustainability scholarship. Existing literature had either systematized fashion, explored the spiritual significance of dress, or examined sustainable and luxury practices—but none had integrated these dimensions into a prescriptive, actionable guide for Christian women. Drawing on Scripture as the foundational authority, including passages from Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, and Proverbs, the guide framed clothing as both practical provision and visible expression of covenantal identity. The style guide synthesized secular fashion methodology, modest-fashion scholarship, and sustainable luxury principles to …

Mary Kay Reimagined, Allison Terveer

Theses

This project is taking the brand Mary Kay and turning it into a new brand that would be enticing to younger generations and become a staple in everyone and anyone’s routines. Mary Kay was a huge makeup brand in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the cosmetic industry has grown tremendously, and Mary Kay has fallen behind. They mostly target the older generations, the generations that were supporting them in the 1990s and 2000s. They need to expand their target range and get younger consumers to pay attention to them. With updated packaging, new marketing and a new way to …

The Impact Of Tik Tok Marketing On Consumer Behavior In The Fashion Industry: Strategies For Effective Engagement And Sales Conversation, Latoya Burns

Theses

This thesis investigates the impact of TikTok marketing on consumer behavior within the fashion industry, focusing on strategies for effective engagement and sales conversion. As social media platforms, particularly TikTok, reshape the dynamics of fashion marketing, this research explores how short-form video content, influencer partnerships, and user-generated content (UGC) drive brand awareness, loyalty, and purchasing decisions among consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials. The study compares TikTok’s effectiveness to traditional marketing channels, highlighting the platform’s ability to foster interactive, real-time engagement and democratize trendsetting through its algorithm-driven content delivery. The thesis uses quantitative research to examine how TikTok influences consumer …

Knot Alone: A 24/7 Live Chat App For Sewing Enthusiasts, Erica Frankenhoff

Theses

Knot Alone innovates support in the sewing industry by providing a 24/7 chat experience driven by community engagement. Unlike other forums or workshops with time limits, this platform guarantees interactive, personalized, and immediate guidance. Regardless of whether it’s a new beginner sewer learning how to thread a sewing machine, or a sewing enthusiast who is more advanced and is just figuring out issues with fabric tension, Knot Alone users can, at any hour, seek out professional advice. Professional advice will be provided by sewing educators and instructors, post graduate fashion students, and established sewing bloggers and influencers. By joining together …

Understanding And Implementing Fashion Sustainability: An Academic Course, Paige M. Baldwin

Theses

This project outlined a fashion sustainability course meant to be taught at a degree-awarding educational institution. The course explores the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the fashion industry. Students learn about sustainable practices, materials, and design principles. Students also study consumer behavior, supply chain management, and government policies related to sustainable fashion. The literature and research looked at the current fashion industry landscape and the sustainability issues that are being addressed, the current educational landscape of fashion programs in the United States of America, and the current literature regarding building an effective curriculum in the 21st century.

Digital Threads: Fashion Design With Clo3d, Maya Herring

Theses

CLO3D (CLO) has emerged as a prominent software service within the fashion industry, molding the conceptualization and development of 3D fashion designs. By eliminating the constraints of customary manufacturing processes and real-life production costs, CLO equips designers with tools to bring their fashion garments and designs to life. This study aims to explore the capabilities of CLO software by developing five digital bridal dresses while also examining the learning curve, challenges, and benefits associated with its usage. The objective is to identify how CLO can provide aspiring fashion designers with the tools to produce high-quality designs without traditional training.

By …

Balancing The Scales In The Fashion Industry, Theresa J. Fennell

Theses

The standards of beauty, particularly in the fashion industry, have long been a source of societal debate and controversy. Although beauty can be seen as “subjective,” over the years, certain standards have become institutionalized, creating exclusionary ideals that have dominated the fashion industry. Historically, these standards have favored slim body types, marginalizing larger, plus-size bodies. This bias is deeply entrenched in the industry, influencing everything from design to representation in advertising. However, the body positivity movement has emerged as a transformative force, advocating for the acceptance of diverse body types and pushing for greater inclusivity in fashion. Despite these advances, …

Optimizing Small Business Success Through An Online Fashion Consulting Infographic Guide, Nicole Campbell

Theses

The project aims to challenge traditional thinking within the fashion industry, paving the way for the creation of a thriving consulting business. In addition, it will underscore the significance of developing a strong online profile for fashion consultants, symbolizing the birth of the Consult the Soul brand. Through this initiative, the project aspires to revolutionize the realm of fashion consulting by fusing unique tactics with ethical standards. By encouraging a fresh perspective and emphasizing the importance of embracing digital platforms, the project sets out to redefine the standards of success within the industry. Ultimately, this venture seeks to establish a …

Writing A Course Guide “Fashion Design: A Guide To The Apparel Industry”, Rosemary P. Durfee

Theses

This project focuses on improving course materials for the author, among others, to use as a teaching resource for undergraduate apparel design students. The primary focus is to compile information from various resources and industry knowledge gained first-hand by the author. This project aims to create a course guide that can easily integrate with current Fashion Design and Merchandising courses taught at the college level.

Unraveling Grief: Historical Mourning Wear And Modern Reinterpretations, Sharon Caitlin Carpenter

Theses

Sharon Carpenter's thesis, "Unraveling Grief: Historical Mourning Wear and Modern Reinterpretations," explores the evolution of mourning fashion from ancient times to modern reinterpretations. Carpenter examines how mourning attire has historically reflected cultural attitudes toward death and grief, serving both personal and societal functions. The thesis traces mourning practices across civilizations, beginning with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, where clothing symbolized beliefs in purity and the afterlife. It moves through the Middle Ages and the Victorian era, where mourning wear became heavily ritualized, particularly influenced by Queen Victoria’s deep grief for Prince Albert. This formalization of mourning attire impacted social norms and …

Women's Evening Wear Clothing Line, Monique Greene

Theses

Unavailable.

Mechelle’S Bridal Palace Business Plan, Lakendra Montgomery

Theses

This project aims to develop a comprehensive business plan for a one-of-a-kind bridal store called Mechelle's Bridal Palace, which offers an innovative and unique bridal shopping experience. The plan goes beyond the traditional bridal store concept and includes a café, which will provide customers with additional relaxation and convenience. This business plan focuses on redefining the traditional bridal shopping experience and making it more enjoyable for customers. Moreover, this project aims to address the issue of diversity, representation, and inclusion in bridal fashion. The bridal industry has historically been exclusive, and it aims to address this by creating a more …

The Effects Of Social Media In The Fashion Industry, Kirsten Leigh Whitaker

Theses

This project focuses on how social media is impacting the fashion industry. The primary focus is on the inner workings of social media within the fashion industry, and how it has changed the industry. The project aims to study problems found within fashion marketing, which are causing negative effects in the industry. The negative effects can be defined as environmental and unethical working environments, which are common topics of discussion within the fashion industry as a whole, but never discussed in tandem with the influence of marketing and social media. Furthermore, the project studies how these can be solved by …

Becoming A Modern-Vintage Bride: Something Old, Vintage, Borrowed, And Blue, Lea Marie Chojnacki

Theses

This project is a guidebook, demonstrating how to create a vintage bridal ensemble for a modern-day bride. Vintage fashion and brides as 21st-century bridal wear consumers are investigated. Recommendations for shopping vintage fashion and the benefits of implementing vintage clothing and accessories into one’s wedding day are analyzed. Sourcing efforts using a vintage boutique and private collections are used to create a visual guidebook of four vintage bridal styles, including bohemian, classic, glamorous, and romantic, for a 21st-century bride. This guidebook demonstrates the ease of shopping vintage bridal wear, aiding the reader in becoming a successful modern-day vintage bride.

Technology Takeover And Transformation: Humans Vs. Technology, Mikayla Tjeerdsma

Theses

When looking at the history of the fashion industry up to the present day, technology can easily distinguish the progress of fashion throughout the ages. The direction of this research is to gain insight and a deeper realization of how technology is taking over and transforming those in and revolving around fashion by slowly taking over and replacing human involvement or presence. Statistics and research show due to the adverse effects of COVID-19, technological development within fashion has seen a significant increase. COVID-19 was either the final push towards making technological ideas a reality or was the birth of new …

The Importance Of Sustainability Within The Fashion Industry, Ashlee S. Hernandez

Theses

Blogging made its debut in 1993 and from that point on the internet would change forever. This project is a lifestyle blog that will highlight the diversity of the word sustainability, focus on the final product and the sustainable methods or practices to get to that final product and dive into the history of blogging and the history of fashion sustainability. This entire project will showcase specific items of women's clothing (the final product) and the sustainable methods or processes involved in creating those final products. This project specifically defines the similarities and differences between the terms eco-friendly, sustainable, green, …

Ellen Couture Designs Vintage Lingerie Fashion Line, Robyne Grier

Theses

Grier and Associates d/b/a Ellen Couture Designs (ECD) is a fashion subsidiary that creates garments comprised of vintage inspired lingerie and nightwear. This line is paying homage to the owner, Robyn Grier’s, grandmother, Ellen Sutton, who was a professional seamstress, patternmaker and designer. My final project will be an illustration of 10 garments created for Ellen Couture Designs Fashion line.

have sketched 10 designs that will be the initial collection for Ellen Couture Designs. A description of the garment and its historical significance will be provided. It is a common trend for the fashion designers and the industry to create …

Modernizing Handmade Crochet Lace, An Antiquated Craft, Through The Development Of A Blog, Livier Olson

Theses

This project investigates the degree of difficulty involved in initiating a web-based blog and growing its content with the intention to create craft-based entrepreneurship. With the advancement in technology and the help of the internet and social media, this project also aims to express how a vintage craft can be modernized and continue to thrive as a cottage industry. The final deliverable is a blog that intends to educate the public about the history of crochet and its ties to the lace and fashion industry, tutorials for crocheted lacemaking, and the continued use of crocheted lace in modern fashion.

The Discovery Of Lilly Pulitzer And Her Business Of Fashion, Susan Mallott

Theses

This thesis will be an investigative look at fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer. The significance of this project is based on the discovery of Lilly Pulitzer as one of the most successful women entrepreneurs in the fashion industry. Despite Lilly Pulitzer’s success, not much has been written about her. The few articles found written about her restated the same information. The writings about her talk of her privileged background and her social status but do not delve into who she was as a person or the social stigmas that she dealt with by being a businesswoman during the 1960’s. The purpose …

Nepalese Summer, Dikshya Upadhyay

Theses

No abstract provided.

Creating A Responsibly Made Product For A Handcrafted Business, Jordan Khusnulgatin

Theses

The purpose of this project is to build a small scale handcrafted product and business from scratch that incorporates sustainable practices. There are many factors that make up a business. For this project in particular, the main concern will be centered around all aspects of the product and customer experience, including finding a niche, the aesthetic, branding, packaging, pricing, sustainable practices, and creating a business plan. This project will follow the steps described above to discover a niche and the basis upon which this handmade business will be derived from, providing a physical example of what a thoroughly thought-out handcrafted …

Qualitative Research On Pant Fit: To Improve Plus-Size Fit In The Plus-Size Market, Lenora Brown

Theses

This study explored the plus􀂱size apparel fit and the satisfaction of the plus􀂱size women in the United States. According to researchers, there is a well-known gap for apparel grading when it comes to plus-size apparel. This study took a qualitative approach and used structured interviews and surveys with twenty plus-size women size 16 through 22 and ages ranging from 22 through 50 in the Midwest area. The results of the interviews and the survey indicate the plus-size woman is unsatisfied with the fit of their clothing, more specifically the fit of their pants. The results indicate there are many variants …

Apparel For Individuals With Limited Mobility, Ali Robbins

Theses

This project is focused on designing and creating apparel that meets the unique medical needs of those with mobility limitations. A side focus of this project is on post-surgical apparel. The goal has been to create a complete base outfit that address a range of difficulties people with limitations on their mobility face. The apparel is designed to make self-dressing easier and reduce dressing difficulty for care givers.

How Diversity And Inclusion Affect Shopper Attitudes, Melissa Michelle Oliver

Theses

This paper analyzes the effects of consumer behavior in relation to diversity and inclusion in retail advertisements. The primary objective of diversity and inclusion initiatives is to have a workforce that closely resembles an organization’s target audience and the growing group of loyal customers the company wants to retain. Differences in age, race, gender, national origin and sexual orientation should be encouraged in advertisements to ensure optimal organizational performance. People who are different from one another in race, gender and other dimensions bring unique information and experiences to bear on the task at hand. By analyzing consumer behavior based off …

Building A Handmade Business, Jordan Khusnulgatin

Theses

The purpose of this project is to build a small scale handmade product and business from scratch with innovative ways to incorporate sustainable practices. There are many factors that make up a business. For this project in particular, the main concern will be centered around all aspects of the product and customer experience, including finding a niche, the aesthetic, branding, packaging, pricing, sustainable practices, conducting sales, marketing, and creating a business plan. This project will follow the steps described above to discover a niche and the basis upon which this handmade business will be 3 derived from, providing a physical …

Teenage Consumer Behaviour: Factors That Influence Their Purchase Decisions Towards Clothing Brands., Regina Baylor

Theses

This study explores the perceptions held by Irish teenage consumers in relation to branded clothing and investigates the different factors which influence them in their decision-making process. In seeking to expand the understanding of teenage consumer behaviour and the factors that influence their clothing brand choices, this study focuses predominantly on the susceptibility of teenage consumers to peer and reference group influence. This study examines the social and psychological concepts of attributing status, social value and specific purchase intent to clothing brands in relation to teenage consumer decision-making.

This study is therefore interested in exploring the hypothesis that branded clothing …

A Study Of Indian Culture As A Basis For Design, Evevon L. Little

Theses

This thesis will focus on the historical background of Indian-American culture. One key objective is to create a contemporary garment based on the knowledge of Indian traditional clothing.

Research has contributed to gaining knowledge about a continents regional inspirations and understanding how the environment plays a role in many lifestyles. The author sought to gain familiarity with many phases of Indian culture from regional textiles to cuisine.

Today, western influences of India are becoming more contemporary. American designers are mixing the vibrant embroidered textiles of India into their work. Not only is fashion of India popular, their crafts and arts …