About the Collection

Fashion Education Books

teaching manuals ▪ reference handbooks ▪ resources for creative inspiration

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The series is comprised of three integrative volumes that can be read in any order. Collectively, the books explore many areas of fash- ion: the history of fashion, the business of fashion, the creators of fashion, the direction of fashion, the influential forces driving to- day's fashion industry, the role of fashion in our social and cultural evolution, how style trends began, and the aesthetics of design and dress.

Each title covers a different area of fashion and yet each is con- nected to the others by the inter- play of principles between them. In this, you continuously progress and enrich what you are learning.

The books are designed to be read more than once. Not only be- cause of the moving, changing nature of fashion, but also because just like a good movie, new and subtle details will be revealed to you that you somehow missed the first go around.

The quest to find a better way....

It all began with a vision. Janet wanted to broaden her reach as a fashion instructor to anyone and everyone interested in learning about fashion. This meant developing a way to connect with all of them - those who were enrolled in a public college or private trade school program, those who lacked the funds to go to college, those who lived in a remote or less urbanized area, those with an interest in fashion but due to personal commitments needed to choose their own place and time to study, and those who sought structured curri- culum within an independent, self-learning study environment.

Using the medium that from its roots was designated as an "information highway" and had become a common universal device by the start of the 21st century, Janet developed the first browser-based textbook on fashion. She designed a learning format that could be accessed using a standard computer taking the static elements of a traditional book and combining them with Internet interactivity, audio and video interface, and an unlimited use of color which produced an enhanced, engaging learning experience for the reader.

Janet's mechanism gave her the ability to administer changes to the content at will to reflect current season trends and industry news. Through her quest to find a better way, Janet established a new standard in fashion education publishing. It was more than a breakthrough. It was a fashion revolution!

If you are interested in fashion as a career, the series will initially help you define your focus and area of interest. As you advance in your career, the content becomes even more beneficial as each book will serve as an ongoing resource of information, a reserve for new inspiration, and a measure of your developing wisdom.

There are infinite paths and boundless ideas to be dis- covered and rediscovered in fashion. Discovery is the spark. The springing forward with a fresh new idea creates the underlying excitement and energy those of us in the industry have grown accustomed to. And while this attracts us to stay season after season after season, we also enjoy the excitement of the challenge. It is impossible to know it all in fashion because it is always changing. Style trends may be brought back, but they are never repeated in exactly the same way. Instead, we discover a new and different way to do it.

Then there is mastery - the highest achievement. Should one ever attain this level, the personal reward of fulfillment supercedes any other form of success.

For all the stages in your life and career, the collection will be a guide and reference to stimulate your creative sources and enhance your growing knowledge.