5 ways that maths is used in the fashion industry

Happy Wednesday! 

Today's post is an addition to our '5 ways' blog series, focusing on the multiple ways in which maths is used in the fashion industry. Based on the feedback and evaluation we received from our last event in Builth Wells High School, we discovered that a number of pupils thought that maths is not applied, and therefore not needed in the world of fashion; this post today aims to prove this theory wrong.   

If you want to be a frow-er, a fashion blogger, a super-model, or even strive to be the next Coco Chanel, you need to be good at maths! 

1) Cath Kidston, Julien Macdonald, Vera Wang, Karl Lagerfeld... 

So you want to be a fashion designer? You can draw, you have an eye for the next big trend, you have imagination, but do you know how to measure in inches, centimetres, and metres? Can you convert European sizes into UK sizes? Would you know how to calculate how many metres of fabric you would need to create that beautiful skirt to fit a model that is a size 10? 

Focus on developing you're maths skills and you'll be the next Christian Dior in no time! 

2) I'm a writer not a mathematician! 

If you're set on becoming a fashion journalist, you're going to have to work with strict deadlines, so calculating how much time you need to write and finish your piece is vital to you succeeding as a writer, and more importantly, to you keeping your job. In addition to meeting deadlines, many writers will attend meetings with editors, other team members, and perhaps you will have to schedule in meeting someone for an interview that could be vital to you developing in your career. 

3) Discounts 

 If you're a fashion blogger, or just simply enjoy retail therapy, you will need to use basic maths to work out how much that new dress is going to be when you take away e.g., 30% off the retail price. 

E.g.,

30% of £30 

What is 10% of £30= £3 

£3 x 3= £9 

£30-£9= £21 

4) You want to be the next Zoella? 

For many, writing an online fashion blog can start as a fun hobby that can actually lead into a full-time job, and profession. But, even though blogging is all about freedom of speech and the blogger's own interpretation of the season's hottest trends, most bloggers plan their time and their posts regularly, managing their time, and resources. Some fashion bloggers will search the high street to find the look for less, therefore using their money effectively as well as saving their money accordingly. Many famous bloggers will be invited to PR events, and fashion shows, having to again use their time effectively to work events around their jobs/lives and plan the succeeding blog posts. Additionally, some bloggers may choose to monetise their blog, therefore having to use their skills as a writer to calculate money from advertisements, and work out how many views they'd have to have make a profit, and a name for themselves. 

5) Sell, sell, sell! 
So you've got the designers, the writers, the models, and the shops that provide a platform for the new ranges, but perhaps you want to be a customer assistant or personal shopper, helping customers find the best outfit for an occasion. In this specific job role, yes, you've guessed it, you'll have to use your maths skills! Most customer assistants will have to know what clothes will suit each customer's body shape, therefore working with clothes sizes, that work in generic 8,10,12 etc., and inches for male clothing. For those that work the tills, they'll have to be able to give correct change and apply discounts and percentages, therefore using their maths skills! 

So, there's our 5 ways that maths is applied in the fashion sphere. 
We hope you've enjoyed this post, and it's proved, or at least highlighted that if you want to be a fashion designer, journalist, or a customer assistant, you need maths to succeed! 

Don't forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and head back to this blog next Wednesday for a blog post just for you.