The World Global Style Network, a giant trend forecasting website with over 250 experts and data scientists who curate insights and inspirations on fashion, lifestyle, and retail, has been made available to budding fashion designers in the country.
The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Fashion Design and Merchandising Program subscribed to the pioneer online trend library.
“WGSN provides trend forecasts for at least the next three years that covers the whole creative process—from conceptualization to actual product specifications,” shared Benilde FDM program chair Christine Benet. “They have been offering their services to different retail fashion companies and schools in the Philippines.”
She continued, “The fees are quite steep, so only a few conglomerates, certain institutions of learning, and those that invest in research are the only ones capable to subscribe.”
Considering that most students and professionals are currently relying heavily on the Internet rather than on textbooks, Benet believes that WGSN serves as the new platform for research and development.
With its globally available information on hand, Benilde competes with established international design and fashion schools subscribed to the website, such as the international Instituto Maranggoni in Milan, Florence, Paris, London, and Shanghai, and the applied arts Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in California.
“In Benilde, we tap all facets of knowledge. We have distinguished fashion designer Lulu Tan-Gan as our program consultant; a roster of faculty who come from the design, business, and manufacturing industries; and a partnership with SM, the top fashion retail corporation in the country,” beamed Benet.