MSc Fashion, Apparel and Luxury Management

This module is designed to provide students with knowledge and understanding on diverse luxury, fashion, lifestyle and related industries of the modern world, while elaborating on theories, models, tools and methodologies used in the field of contemporary management specifically within these businesses. It presents core strategic management concepts along with an consumer behaviour and encourages students to develop a critical, analytical approach to solving work-based management issues.

Businesses in today’s world are experiencing a rapid shift from using conventional methods to utilising E-technology to increase productivity and reach. In recent times, there is an exponential growth in the interest to shop online, as opposed to traditional methods

Managers in luxury fashion and lifestyle industries should look into ways which they can use automation and contemporary technologies to improve business efficiency, improve customer satisfaction and remain competitive. This module looks into some of the technologies that luxury fashion, lifestyle and related businesses are using in order to remain competitive, and emerging technologies that can have a significant impact in the field in the foreseeable future.

The module explores the need for collaboration between people and technology to boost efficiency, effectiveness and enhancement of customer experience.
Aims of this module are to:

1. Evaluate how managers can utilise technology to improve productivity and customer satisfaction.
2. Explore how technology can assist in improving overall customer experience.
3. Explore the impact of technology on decision making in luxury fashion and lifestyle industries.

The business processes in luxury, fashion, lifestyle related industries shift constantly and is required to adapt to new business opportunities emerging around the world. It is a fundamental process in these industries to develop, manage and source materials in such a way that the timely delivery of the products can be ensured in all conditions. Building profitable relationships with partners and suppliers, balancing both cost and risk with lead times are the key challenges faced in luxury, fashion and lifestyle industries. This module explores a variety of perspectives on product sourcing and supply chain issues, along with forecasting and customisation strategies, agile models and the role of technology in supply chain, so the students can respond efficiently and effectively to constant changes in consumer demand

Aims of this module are to:

1.  To understand the role of global logistics and supply chain management within the context of fashion and lifestyle industries
2. To have a critical appreciation of the emerging trends and concepts in logistics and supply chain management in fashion and related industries

Innovation thinking and design thinking is essential for the product development process in the luxury, fashion and lifestyle industries. This module is designed to enhance the design and innovative thinking abilities of the students while introducing them to strategies such as trend forecasting, product development and lifecycle planning. Furthermore, this module will also explore how technologies and design thinking can be utilized to create a competitive advantage in luxury, fashion and lifestyle industries.

Aims of this module are to:

• Introduce strategic design thinking and skills for product innovation fashion and lifestyle industries
• To identify emerging trends in fashion and explore trend forecasting in fashion and related industries

Marketing is fundamentally important in luxury, fashion and lifestyle industries, and it is necessary to develop a comprehensive understanding on all aspects of marketing including merchandising, marketing communication, brand building, brand marketing, e-marketing and marketing strategies.

Understanding the theory and application of international marketing in a diverse cultural context is central to marketing in the era of globalisation and digitalization. Thereby, this module is designed to provide a comprehensive and up to date overview of global marketing landscape of luxury, fashion and lifestyle industries.

Aims of this module are to:

1. Provide an overview of marketing management in luxury, fashion, lifestyle and related industries.
2. Develop necessary skills and knowledge necessary for formulation, implementation and control of marketing programmes in fashion and lifestyle industries.

In this module, students will be introduced to associated principles, academic research, contemporary analytical and planning tools used in retail management in luxury, fashion and lifestyle industries. This module explores in detail, the mathematical concepts in retailing industries along with theories such as role of employees in retailing, the role of personal service in retailing and the management of customer relationships. Attention will also be given to service quality issues in retailing.

It is designed to provide students with knowledge of the meaning, role and application of contemporary frameworks in the retail sector. The importance of the concepts such as fashion pyramid, assortment planning and OTB will also be explored.

Aims of this module are to:

• To provide students with a critical insight on key aspects concerned with retail management in fashion and lifestyle industry
• To provide students with an understanding of the theory and practice of retail management and strategies pursued by leading organisations, including retail mathematics

This module is intended to provide the students the necessary skills required to design their business research project as well as to bring together different areas of the course, allowing the student to reflect on their learning across the course and equip the students with necessary professional skills for professional development in their respective sectors of employment.

The module aims to introduce students to the different skills necessary for effective research and project writing, including research techniques and requisite standards of data collection and analysis.

Aims of this Module are to:

•  To introduce students to research philosophy, methodology and design and their application to researching business-related issues in diverse range of contexts.
• Introduce data analysis using a range of tools for both qualitative and quantitative data.
• To formulate a coherent research proposal with appropriate aims and objectives and a realistic plan of execution
• To foster a critical awareness and deep interest in the research topic of their choice in their specialist area of employment or interest and to combine knowledge and analysis acquired in core MSc modules to explore that topic fully.

This module builds on the research skills gained by the students in the Research Methods and Skills module, by which students have identified their research topic, and developed a research proposal in consultation with the supervisors.

Students will demonstrate an understanding the sector and the significance of issues within it via high level analysis, assimilation and interpretation of key information and statistics.

Aim of this module is to plan and conduct an original review of how research and theory can be applied to the investigation and solution of a defined business issue / problem, knowledge gained from other modules on the MSc Fashion, Apparel and Luxury Management programme.