Bachelor of Commerce in Fashion

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with the knowledge base, theory and methodology of disciplines and fields of study. The learner will be able to demonstrate initiative and responsibility in an academic or professional context where general principles and theory as preparation for entry into general employment or for a postgraduate qualification are emphasised.

Upon completion of the qualification the learner will be able to

• Demonstrate and apply an understanding of business management concepts in the realm of fashion.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply marketing and brand management principles to the commercial world-of-fashion-merchandising practice.
• Constructively apply buying and merchandising concepts and strategies in the retail fashion industry.
• Apply the appropriate ethical and labour practices in the fashion industry.
• Demonstrate sufficient real-world application of the processes of trend analysis and synthesis.

Rationale

The Bachelor of Commerce in Fashion qualification is designed to provide learners with fashion merchandising knowledge, skills and capability in order to service and develop the occupational field of commercial fashion work in a broad range of fashion merchandising sub-fields, from product development and supply management through to marketing, retail and business management.

This qualification provides a balance in fashion merchandising fields that are broadly enabling in relation to career pathways while providing opportunities for specialisation through vertical articulation pathways. In the increasingly competitive, sophisticated and changing world of commerce, the development of higher order skills both cognitive and practical is essential. The commercial fashion practitioner is increasingly required to access and consolidate (through knowledge reproduction), or to generate (through new knowledge production), detailed and complex information at theoretical and practical levels in order to make effective decisions. This qualification provides a viable platform for knowledge production in the associated fields of commercial practice through postgraduate participation.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL candidates who can demonstrate proficiency in a) the whole qualification; or b) any module contained therein; or c) any part of a module contained in the qualification, may be granted RPL exemption from the qualification, or module/s, and receive credits for same, upon applying to the RPL facilitator and after the successful submission of assessment outputs consistent with the RPL policy and practices of the institution.

Learners who do not meet the technical admission criteria but who are of a mature age and/or hold equivalent knowledge acquired through work and/or life experience may be granted RPL exemption from the technical admission criteria for access to the qualification.

Entry Requirements

Learners are required to have one of the following qualifications in order to be considered for admission

• National Senior Certificate (NSC) with Bachelor's Degree admission

Or

• Senior Certificate (SC) with endorsement

Or

• National Certificate Vocational (NCV).

This qualification comprise of 23 compulsory modules at NQF Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 375 Credits.

NQF Level 5 modules, 147 Credits

• Business Studies and Management 01, 18 Credits.
• Marketing and Brand Management 01, 18 Credits.
• Consumer Buying behaviour 01, 18 Credits.
• Economics 01, 18 Credits.
• Financial Accounting and Management 01, 26 Credits.
• Computer Literacy and Design 01, 7 Credits.
• Fashion Practice 01, 16 Credits.
• Textiles and Fashion 01, 14 Credits.
• Trend Analysis 01, 12 Credits.

NQF Level 6 modules, 96 Credits

• Business Studies and Management 02, 18 Credits.
• Marketing and Brand Management 01, 18 Credits.
• Consumer Buying behaviour 02, 18 Credits.
• Company Law 02, 14 Credits.
• Fashion Practice 02, 16 Credits.
• Trend Analysis 02, 12 Credits.

NQF Level 7 modules, 132 Credits

• Business Studies and Management 03, 22 Credits.
• Marketing and Brand Management 03, 22 Credits.
• Consumer Buying behaviour 03, 22 Credits.
• Project Management 03, 18 Credits.
• Industrial Psychology 03, 18 Credits.
• Trend Analysis 03, 18 Credits.
• Experiential learning 03, 12 Credits.

1. Demonstrate and apply an understanding of business management concepts in the realm of fashion.
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply marketing and brand management principles to the commercial world-of-fashion-merchandising practice.
3. Constructively apply buying and merchandising concepts and strategies in the retail fashion industry.
4. Apply the appropriate ethical and labour practices in the fashion industry.
5. Demonstrate sufficient real-world application of the processes of trend analysis and synthesis.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• The basic business environment including the dominant structures and operational systems that characterise commercial enterprises and the context and nature and management practices in commercial enterprises of different sizes are analysed.
• Business and management plans are prepared and implemented.
• The nature of planning, organising, leadership and control (POLC) as necessary and critical management skills and tasks essential in the development of business structures and strategies are understood.
• Economic systems and their constituent elements, with particular reference to local economic systems are understood.
• The concept of the enterprise (fashion business) as a need satisfying and profit-making institution within the free-market system, and in macro/microenvironments is investigated and subsequently discussed.
• The strategies for innovation within the sphere of corporate entrepreneurship, as well as the stages involved in setting up independent or small businesses are applied.
• Brand building, business idea development and the compilation of comprehensive business plans that are underpinned by commercial viability and critical market research are understood.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• The different marketing and brand management theories and methodologies in Fashion are explained and implemented in the work context.
• Marketing and brand management activities and strategies are identified and developed.
• Practical brand building and business idea development is demonstrated and comprehensive plans that are underpinned by commercial viability and critical market research are compiled.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Different buying and merchandising concepts in retail fashion are critically analysed and examined.
• Appropriate research methodologies are applied and independent thought in buying and merchandising is displayed.
• Concepts in buying and merchandising are to be consolidated and implemented taking into consideration the different work contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The relationship between textiles and the world of industry is investigated.
• The associated qualities, behaviour, and characteristics as well as ethics and trade (laws and technologies) within the terrains of the fashion are analysed and interpreted.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome5

• The mastery of general principles and theories underpinning trend synthesis is demonstrated.
• Ability to contextualise the multiplicity and diversity of the field in terms of creative, technological, sociological, cultural, economic and philosophical influences in an era of advanced globalisation that are impacting the evolution of dissemination and development of micro and macro trends is displayed.
• The academic conventions and relevant applications to the writing, research and development of the study of fashion trends are understood.
• Key terms and concepts necessary to navigate and understand the trend landscape are defined.
• Current fashion trends are contextualised and contemporary influences in the broader fashion context are investigated.
• Knowledge relating to trickle theories and colour research is applied and the practice of trend brailing, trend spotting and trend development is analysed.
• Macro trends in the cultural environment that are shaping fashion direction and movement are analysed and interpreted.
• Concepts within the contexts of both the art and fashion industries, locally and globally are explained.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment practices are open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable and must ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever. For this purpose, an integrated assessment approach is incorporated into the qualification.

A variety of methods are used as assessment and tools, and activities appropriate to the context in which the learner is working.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will consist of assignments and tests.

Summative Assessment

Summative assessment will consist of written examinations.