Collection Development: What Is Directional Shopping?

365 days of fashion: the e-ncyclopedia of fashion

Thursday, March 21, 2024

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Did you know designers often go shopping?

Here I don’t refer to the recreational shopping we are used to doing, but another concept used by fashion industry professionals: Directional shopping.

Directional shopping is an essential component of a designer’s creative process. The main purpose is to gather research and inspiration to create collections that resonate with the current market and consumer preferences. 

To search for new ideas for their future collections, designers do a range of activities, such as:

Exploring Retail Spaces:

Fashion designers often engage in directional shopping by visiting retail spaces, both physical stores and online platforms. This allows them to observe current product offerings,