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CGI Models: The Advantages and Disadvantages in the 21st Century

What are CGI models? The future of fashion marketing has arrived with CGI. CGI is also known as Computer Generated Imagery, and it’s usage within the modeling and influencing industry has been playing a huge role in recent years. These ‘models’ have taken over major luxury fashion brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton and Balmain and continue to be utilised on platforms such as Instagram regularly as promotional materials. One of the most famous CGI influencers is Lil Miquela (@lilmiquela) who has accumulated over three million followers on Instagram and has worked with top designers brands such as Prada and Calvin Klein. As reported by The Cut, she charges around $8,000 per paid Instagram post and portrays a real desirable lifestyle, attending events and dating real-life humans. The British photographer Cameron-James Wilson (@cameron.gram) also created the world’s first digital supermodel Shudu (@shudu.gram) in 2017. He explains that the biggest inspiration when designing the model was his Princess of South Africa Barbie. According to Elle, Shudu has managed to be featured in Vogue and WWD in just 2 years time. While the image of Shudu was born from a Barbie doll, a toy which doesn’t have the best reputation with body image, Wilson wanted to make sure his other designs represented a wider range of people with different looks and sizes. That’s why The Digitals (the world’s first digital modelling agency) has a variety of models, including Bren, who has a curvier body shape and visible stretch marks. One of Wilson’s more ambitious designs is called Galaxia, who looks a bit like one of the blue aliens from Avatar, which shows there really is no limit to what a character can look like. The advantages to CGI models: It has been considered that CGI models could in fact be beneficial to human models as it allows them to create a digital version of themselves easing the strains of modelling jobs, being able to go to multiple places at once and it also has benefits of prolonging a model’s career by halting ageing. They may be a safer option for brands than human models as they are easily adaptable and can be changed to suit any brand or campaign. Also, they can’t get into controversy which could lead to damaging the brand’s image as they are controlled by their creator. Digitised models have sustainable advantages, such as helping reduce waste by minimising the carbon footprint from flying as well as minimising the number of clothing samples and mock-ups, which ultimately cuts tons of fabric waste. 3D design could also save time for brands as they replace the more traditional processes of making sketches and samples. With 3D programs you can cut that down to weeks or even a couple of days, which could massively lower costs for brands. The Disadvantages to CGI models: There are of course downsides to living in the virtual world as they cannot form real human connections, have attitude and expression when walking down a catwalk. Many people think CGI models will make it worse for future generation as they are too perfect and unrealistic, which goes against the body positivity movement. Recently, the modelling industry has come a long way in accepting women and men in all colours, shapes, and sizes. As a society, we have been more accepting of body image and so CGI models are going to have everything go in a different and negative direction. Furthermore, CGI models create an interesting dilemma for ad regulation, because as it stands, CGI influencers don’t have to abide by the same rules as human influencers of the internet when it goes to #ad and #spon content. So, if a digital model wears a label in their Instagram post, they don’t necessarily have to disclose whether their creator was paid. Brands could therefore benefit from this loophole to have their sponsored content appear more authentically in people’s feeds. Are they the future face of fashion ? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. If you are interested in global fashion news check out our other blog posts for similar updates.

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Genderless Fashion – Potential for Growth in 2021/22?

What is Genderless Fashion? Genderless or gender-neutral fashion has become an increasingly prominent topic over the last few years within the fashion industry. Branching off from the more commonly seen unisex fashion – the idea of genderless fashion focuses on being inclusive of every gender identity with clothing that does not compromise on any aspect. Unisex fashion more frequently features garments that give off more of an androgynous vibe – simple silhouettes, neutral colour palettes, oversized shapes and more basic items that either men, women or gender-neutral individuals could rock. However, unisex fashion can sometimes disregard the fact that men may want to wear dresses or heels that fit them, women may want tailored trousers that are not shaped to be stereotypically ‘feminine’ as usual within womenswear sections, and gender-neutral people may not want to only wear basic items! Genderless fashion, therefore, aims to cater to growing desires for more adventurous and inclusive fashion, bolder choices for men and women as well as a whole range of gender identities that are classified under the gender-neutral umbrella term. Current exploration Brands from all different market levels have started to cater towards the genderless ‘trend’ or movement within society – as the need for representation and an inclusive environment within the industry grows. One of the most notable accounts within the last year was the 2020 shoot from Vogue featuring Harry Styles as the first man to ever appear on the front cover and doing so in a dress! Vogue collaborated with Gucci’s Alessandro Michele who provided the dresses for Styles to wear. This shoot caused extreme controversy when it was released – with many fans extremely excited and proud of Styles for promoting the acceptance of men in unconventional clothing (that does not fit into the stereotypically masculine ideal) at this level. Yet, there were still many critics of this choice – individuals questioning why it was necessary and some even behaving in a derogatory manner. This reaction served as a reminder that whilst there is a call for genderless fashion (especially from the gender-neutral minority) a high percentage of the western population do not feel the same way. ASOS brand Collusion has also become a huge player within the gender-neutral market within recent years – and in an interview with one of their creatives, she explained how Collusion views gender as something that people should not be scared to explore further. Collusion’s whole ideology is that you should be the most authentically you – and their current collection focuses on neutral pieces with bold colours for everyone. However, there is still more the brand could work on in regards to moving away from the unisex box, as they still have multiple items within the collection labelled as only for ‘men’ and ‘women.’ Next steps There is a lot of potential for growth for the genderless fashion movement. Possible next steps for growing genderless fashion into a more mainstream ideology for brands and individuals is to start incorporating neutrality into more and more things. The idea of only 2 gender categories is outdated, and many people do not fit into these or simply want to have more freedom of expression outside of their categories! In order to challenge this, as individuals we can alter our mindsets so that we do not hold the same stereotypes as we may currently have so that we are being more inclusive to minority groups. This might include stepping outside your comfort zone and shopping in a gender category that you may not usually shop in, as the potential to find something you like is actually quite high. Normalising this would be one step closer to the progression of a genderless society. Obviously, if you are a woman that loves to dress femininely, then do not stop on anyone’s account. As the idea of genderless fashion is to create a more labelless industry – you can still wear whatever you choose, there just would not be as many harsh restrictions as there are currently! Brands can build on their current efforts – with transitions from men’s and women’s fashion week to simply 2 seasonal showcases (as many brands including Gucci and Burberry are already doing). Mainstream marketing As well as the tips noted already, things that can be adapted in terms of marketing in order to create more mainstream representation would be to utilise a range of gendered models when promoting collections, this is a way that every brand can get involved with the movement even if they do not want to completely adapt and it also makes gender-neutral individuals feel seen as well as making it more socially acceptable for men and women to wear things that are stereotypically less masculine or feminine. Brands such as Rick Owens already do this, and this creates an androgynous feel even if the garment does not have any signifiers that it is genderless or Unisex. Genderless fashion has the potential to change the way we view the industry as a whole, and by incorporating ideas such as the ones suggested we can make fashion even more diverse by growing freedom through self-expression! Want to find out more about the industry? Thats as simple as clicking here to explore a range of blog posts on our website. We look forward to seeing you more often!

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Ethical Clothing Manufacturing for 2021

Why should you adopt ethical manufacturing practices for your brand in 2021? It is no secret, today’s compulsive shopping habits and overconsumption have brought demand in the garment industry. It has pressured brands and manufacturing to practice mass production. In addition, the continuous surge in mass production has made an ongoing threat to the garment industry worker’s living and working conditions which has caused a series of ongoing tragic incidents and the rise of labor rights violations in the garment industry. By now, you have probably heard about sweatshops. This occurs when employees are forced to work in a poor working environment to meet the high demand in a short period of time with, of course, very low wages, especially in the fashion industry when the manufacturers are just focused on maximizing profit. One of the famous examples of the workplace, violations is the deadliest Rana Plaza incident in Dhaka,2013. It is the worst accident in the history of garment manufacturing where 1,132 people’s lives were lost and more than 2,500 workers were injured, just to meet the demand of the consumers like us. Just 5 months before the incident at least 112 people were trapped and lost their lives in another serious incident, Tazreen. The real truth is, these incidents could have been avoided if the right measures were taken into consideration. Unfortunately, Incidents like this happen every day in different parts of the world, yet this issue remains unreported in the mainstream media due to the complexity in the supply chain of dominant global fashion brands. These events have also brought an online global movement of #whomademyclothes by Fashion Revolution, to encourage and to revolutionise the fashion industry towards greater transparency and to anyone who is on the journey towards ethical and sustainable fashion. Consumers today are more aware of the ethical implications in the garment industry and have understood being ethical starts with them. Thus, there has been a high demand for ethical consumerisms, and brands are forced to change their perspectives, and look out for ethically sourcing and manufacturing. Hence, there has been a rise in ethical clothing manufacturing yet there are still questions as to what it really means. What does the term ethical mean? The term ethical is a set of morals. Ethical manufacturing means reducing any negative impacts on people and the planet throughout the manufacturing process. If a Manufacturer is ethical their values and principles could comply with the following list: People: Employees are treated well with respect They receive fair living wages for the employee Health and Safety for the workers – no bonded labor, no underage employment, and employees are free to leave at any time. Good working conditions No Child labour and enforced labour No long working hours Planet: Aims to lower their carbon footprint whenever possible Sourcing sustainable materials and supports the ethical sourcing process Reducing waste So, is ethical manufacturing the driving force to sales? The simple answer is no, ethical manufacturing is not and should not be the USP for your products. Even though research has shown consumers are willing to purchase ethically sourced and manufactured products there is no guarantee it will drive your sales and maximize profits. Your brand should always aim to produce high-quality garments with a competitive price point with your competitors, alongside ethical procedures. Also, although there is no manufacturer that is 100% ethical, your manufacturer should always aspire to be one in their long-term goals. Why should you care and adapt to ethical manufacturing? Ethical fashion manufacturing is on the rise, and we should care about ethical implications. It starts with small brands to change the perspectives of the bigger brands. When you make a decision to opt for an ethical manufacturer you are building relationships with people who actually respect the time, effort for each individual alongside the process of finishing products without harming the environment. You should also adopt ethical manufacturing: For a better future, the fashion industry is the second largest polluting industry and we have the power to reduce it. Employees can get a fair wage to support their families. You will be able to sleep better knowing exactly how and where your products are being made. Better brand equity: Research shows as more consumers are leaning towards circular fashion, and having ethically sourced products improves your brand equity in the long run. Overall, Having the right attitude, the right values, morals, and principles not only helps your brand but will also inspire future generations and have a positive impact on society. Consumers today are savvy more than ever. Consumers are smarter when purchasing a product. Having ethical transparency with your consumers will gain trust from your consumers and gain brand loyalty which will help your brand in the long term. We are moving towards a conscious future and each small decision you make shows what type of business person you are and your company values. If you would like to read further about ethicality within production and the fashion industry – click to check out our range of blog posts featuring sustainability including greenwashing and packaging.

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5 Things Successful New Fashion Businesses Have In Common!

Ever wondered what successful fashion businesses are doing to be at the top of their game? Many will have similar strategies in order to maintain their position within the market, so these are the top 5 things successful new fashion businesses have in common that you can apply to your own brand. 1. Being financially stable and maintaining it Budgeting in business is crucial – it is important for start-up fashion businesses to always keep track of their finances. Research shows, the main reasons start up business fails in their first year is due to lack of finances. A strong cash flow will mean you are able to control cost, a stock loss which is important to run a business smoothly. Tracking your finances daily makes you financially aware of your company finance, which allows you to plan ahead and avoid any loss, make thoughtful decisions beforehand. Hence, you must always keep your finances under control. 2. Work on making connections In a world full of millions of new fashion businesses, there is a high risk of getting lost in the crowd. It is vital for a start-up business to build networks and connections with different people from the industry. Building new networks have allows new fashion businesses to increase the chance of creating your brand awareness; such connections do not just satisfy the needs of the company but also help the business grow by understanding new perspectives, generating new audiences and potential customers. Building relationships through proper communications are critical to assist a designer in bringing their work to the attention of a diverse audience. Attend fashion events if that is not possible, take advantage of social media. 3. They Have Loyal Customer bases Brand loyalty is one of the most important factors contributing to the success of fashion brands, and unfortunately one of the most difficult for independent fashion brands to achieve Building loyal consumers is always a priority than just creating a new customer base as this not only saves money but will create strong business equity in a long run. It’s difficult to get customers to stay loyal when there are so many new brands for them to choose from, but not impossible. Raising the lifetime value of your customers means providing products and services that will not only keep them coming back but recommending your brand to family and friends based on their experience. 4. They’re always Consistent The most successful fashion brands are able to keep customers coming back and recommending their friends by offering a consistently pleasant shopping experience. From the moment they hit your homepage, your user interface should be easy to use and your products easy to view. Due to the pandemic, it has been easier to work from home. Read our tips on how to work remotely in the fashion industry. 5. Fashion Businesses Get Great Exposure Big fashion brands have a huge reach because they have huge marketing budgets and existing industry connections. In fact, the rise of social media has democratised fashion to the point where independent fashion labels are able to reach more potential customers than ever before. You may not have either, but that doesn’t mean you can’t become an established brand by gaining exposure. Instagram and Tiktoks has been the most popular social media platfrom to great a great exposure and There are thousands of blog and instagram just for marketing tips @sophieolivemarketing @marketingwithamber. where you are able to gain tips from on marketing in social media platforms. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below. And be sure to check out the rest of our blog posts to stay updated.

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9 Exciting New Pantone Colour Trends!

In 2021, the colour trends you are going to see will largely feel calming and uplifting. We’re not going to see a surge of neons or crazy contrasts. Instead, the upcoming color trends are softer, richer and feel like they were picked for humans, not for computers – with a smooth refreshing edge. The past year pushed us to reconnect with our humanity, and in 2021, we’ll see that connection play out visually. Colours inform how the viewer should start to feel. So from a branding perspective, they should represent the purpose and personality of a product or brand. For example, the colour blue is perceived as reliable and trustworthy, making it a popular choice for corporate businesses. 1. Neutral tones In 2021, brands and designers are going back to basics with a more neutral approach to colours. In 2021, designs will instead work within the colour range of our organic rainbow, frequently making slight neutrals the star of their ranges. 2. Super-saturated, juicy colours These deliciously juicy and rich colours have a rejuvenating and uplifting effect. They are warm, but not hot. Refreshing, not brash. And the combination of pale pinks and creamy tones creates an intriguing contrast that just works. In these designs, the pale background is as important as the focal colour, grounding it and making it pop. 3. Marigold #FDAC53 Marigold is the ideal colour choice for customer-facing brands that want to emphasize their caring brand message and personality. Marigold is also likely to be popular in branding for children’s centred brands and products, thanks to its youthful and gender-neutral qualities. 4. French Blue #0072B5 Another Pantone 2021 prediction, this shade is a close relative of cobalt blue. But, where cobalt is striking and electrifying, French Blue feels more homely and nostalgic – with a refreshing take on a darker blue alternative we have been seeing gracing walls recently. As Pantone themselves put it, it’s “a stirring blue hue that awakens a vision of Paris in the springtime.” 5. Harmonious palettes In 2021, people strive for harmony in all aspects of their life. We will grasp the comfort that comes from unity and togetherness, leading to the expansion into the colour trends of new designs. One of the upcoming colour trends we’ll see a lot of is analogous color palettes; palettes that easily blend into each other. 6. Surreal and expressionist colour Adding to the list of harmonious, feel-good color trends we’ll see in 2021, we will be seeing a lot of designs that use colours in unexpected, even surreal ways to create dream-like images. These designs make a statement by colouring objects in hues they normally are not associated with. The goal here is to be playful and create escapist landscapes where people can find a few moments of solace away from our challenging reality. 7. Pantone’s Ultimate Gray & Illuminatin This combination is the colour of the year for Pantone. On one hand, Ultimate Gray feels solid, impenetrable and bleak. On the other, we have the lighter, hopeful and current Illuminating yellow. Bring these two together and you can recognise a warm resilience in Pantone’s colour choice. A fitting combination that we’re sure to see a lot of in the remainder of the year. 8. Worn and faded This theme presents long faded colours with stress lines – reflecting the past year and the struggles we have faced and developed with over time. Designers are capturing the acceptance of our past and embracing these changes into a new and innovative future. There is much more to this trend than distressing colours to make them look well-loved – designers are also using rough, frayed textures to make objects and images seem like they have stood the test of time. 9. Amethyst Orchard #926AA6 Amethyst Orchard straddles the line between regal elegance and floral femininity. This makes it a great fit for brands with a more exclusive or luxury feel. It also works well in graphics for sentimental personal events, such as weddings and baby shower invitations. The trend feels like an awakening into a frest start – and will likely continue to develop throughout coming months, so expect to see more. These colours will build the base for a new start, going into the next year with high hopes for a more positive and human centred approach which we can all relate to more easily. You will surely see more of these colours throughout the market and within new designs.

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Greenwashing – How Ethical is Fashion in 2021?

With the switch to a more sustainable fashion model becoming a pressing concern within society, the way brands are positioning themselves is more important than ever before. Fashion brands are trying to align themselves with a ‘sustainable’ approach by putting more emphasis on traceability – advocating for a positive ethical model by making changes that will benefit the environment. Whilst some brands are making huge steps in the right direction, there are still some brands that are simply ‘Greenwashing’. This refers to companies making false claims in relation to their sustainability or evading key factors within their processes to make them seem more ethical than they really are. The most important thing within a truly sustainable fashion business is evidence – reports and data that back up their claims and provide traceability in terms of supply chain management including accountability for their workers and suppliers as well as any sustainable materials being used throughout. Greenwashing relies on misinformation and misunderstanding. Many individuals are not aware of the amount of damage that the fashion industry as a whole has on the environment and because of this, they do not fully understand why certain brands may be inherently negative. This means that when brands talk about how sustainable they are – consumers will likely believe them as they do not think that they could be harming the planet as much as they are. This allows certain brands to get away with Greenwashing customers – with 83% of citizens feeling mislead by green and sustainable buzzwords in advertising. What are brands doing? Currently, there are some brands within mainstream media that some consider to be greenwashing. The most notable one is Scandinavian retailer H&M – with multiple critics pointing out the flaws in their Conscious range which utilises recycled and sustainable materials. If you were to think of fast-fashion and sustainability at once, H&M would be the majority of consumers’ first thoughts. This is because they have done a lot over the past few years that would suggest that they are moving to a more circular model. Yet, there are still issues with their ‘sustainability’. Even though they are using innovative materials such as Pinatex within their Conscious range, this is an extremely small portion of their business, and they have been criticised in the past for destroying $4.3 billion worth of clothing as well as not paying garment workers enough. This is the definition of Greenwashing and something hopefully the brand moves away from in the future by focusing on reducing their carbon footprints. Slow changes against Greenwashing There are many fast-fashion brands worldwide, many of which are promoting their so-called ‘changes’, but the most important thing to consider is that in order to lessen the impact on the environment, Greenwashing has to be abolished so that real improvements can be made. The change to complete traceability and sustainable fashion is not likely to happen all at once. Therefore, slow changes can be made by brands including being more honest and ensuring that everything they claim to be doing is 100% true. It is not necessarily a negative thing to work slowly, as many brands will have far more changes to make than others. In fact, all changes in the right direction (no matter how small) can be considered positive. For example, stopping production altogether for brands such as Boohoo or Pretty Little Thing due to their low prices and poor quality materials would actually be unsustainable for multiple groups of people – especially low-income people who rely on brands like this, as well as the garment workers who rely on their wages to live. However, currently, for Boohoo or Pretty Little Thing to call themselves sustainable would be considered Greenwashing – as they have very unethical production processes. Therefore, they would have to keep making small changes over a long period of time so that they can reach a more sustainable model, or simply remove any branding claiming ‘sustainability’ to make sure that consumers are not being tricked into buying from these brands. The new regulations As of Summer 2021, Greenwashing is being tackled by Europe’s governments, with new regulations coming into place to try and ‘level the playing field’ by making it much more difficult to get away with. These regulations – labelled as the Taxonomy Regulation – will stop businesses from making vague claims and will require them to provide all of the necessary information when highlighting their sustainable and ethical progress. The initiative requires all of Europe to move together, including the UK who will have to work closely with the EU to maintain the right laws needed to implement the process. This means that brands cannot gain an advantage in one country, and will require them to change their behaviours. These changes will allow for smaller, more green businesses to thrive and set the standard for sustainability within the industry. Hopefully allowing customers to feel more at ease with their purchases and will show bigger brands how much they value transparency and honesty in relation to sustainability and our environment. In order to transform the industry into a truly sustainable entity, brands should fulfill the sentiments they are already claiming they are doing through green marketing, working with the new regulations instead of against them to continue down a more ethical pathway. This will mean that eventually, we will have a more sustainable fashion industry with more regard for businesses carbon footprints and how this will impact our future.

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Pinkwashing – LGBT+ Representation in Pride Month

Pinkwashing is a term that can be described as ‘presenting something LGBT+ friendly, usually in an effort to soften negative attention’ and is often found in marketing campaigns and collections from brands and organisations, especially throughout June (which is considered Pride month for most of the world). LGBT+ pride collections As the LGBT+ community continues to grow and representation continues to increase, the opportunity to cater towards this increasingly profitable market is large. Many fashion brands have been attempting to capture the attention of this minority group for some years, releasing annual Pride collections featuring rainbows and slogans promoting self-love and acceptance. ASOS, Levi’s, H&M, Converse, Vans, and Primark are some of the few major retailers who have been producing Pride collections throughout the last few years. They often feature a diverse set of models and sometimes even donate a small percentage of the profit to related charities. One brand that has received a lot of coverage for their Pride collection this year is Vans, donating $200k between 4 LGBT+ organisations. They centered the collection around the ‘spirit of creative self-expression’. What is the issue? Despite how it may seem face-on, however, there have been many questions from LGBT+ people around the authenticity of these ventures. Creating specific featured collections with the intention to help may seem like only a positive thing – yet it actually could be damaging to some. When referring back to the term Pinkwashing, brands could potentially only be openly supporting the community to cast a positive light on themselves – advocating for inclusivity whilst collecting profits. Even with donations to charities, the brand themselves will usually make 9x more than their pledge. You may be wondering why this is an issue – surely any attention and donation is inherently positive? But, to members of the LGBT+ community, this can feel exploitative, and can seem like brands are only being accepting if they know they are going to make money out of an already underrepresented minority. The LGBT+ community wants to feel included, and oftentimes it feels good to be able to walk into a store and buy a shirt that makes you feel proud of who you are knowing that others will be able to recognise your fight. However, when looking at the selection this year – it is clear that brands do not truly understand what it is to be LGBT+, and what people really want. Looking at ASOS’ range for 2021 – they featured rainbow sequin blouses and skirts and fluffy slides, but how prideful really is this? In reality, the majority of the community prefers more a more subtle way to represent themselves. Be it through aesthetics, symbols, or accessories. They also prefer to support LGBT+ individuals rather than just a retailer who they may not be sure truly understands them. How to adapt? This does not mean that in the future brands should stop marketing for Pride altogether, as I’m sure some individuals do love the opportunity to buy accessible LGBT+ friendly clothing from their favourite brands, it just means it can be adapted going forwards. In order for brands to maintain their relevance within this growing market – a good option would be to involve more LGBT+ people in the creation of their Pride collections. It is extremely evident when this is the case, and the community respects the decision to involve them in the decision process. It also widens diversity inside of the industry which is extremely beneficial! Another positive change would be to work with communities throughout the whole year, not just during Pride month. The fact many retailers only seem to care during the 1 month period where Pride is a top priority is why so many people see these efforts as Pinkwashing. Instead, brands could make a more active effort to keep up with the LGBT+ community, creating a positive space that feels inclusive. If you would like to read more about news within the fashion industry, head over to our blog where you can see a breakdown of all the latest and upcoming trends and developments.

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Chanodil Platform Version 2 – A Simple Introduction to Our Newest Update

Contents: 1. Ethical & Sustainable Suppliers / 2. Arrange Calls with the Team / 3. Timeline Tool / 4. Email Alerts / 5. Personalised Activity Log / 6. Open-Communication Chat Feature / 7. Organised Enquiry System / 8. Specialised Around You / 9. Service Types / 10. A Walk Through of the Platform Ethical & Sustainable Suppliers The Chanodil platform allows you to conveniently connect with audited suppliers (directly from our team) that have responsible measures in place to ensure ethicality within the production process and sustainability throughout the supply chain to ensure that you receive high-quality sustainable products that do not harm the environment. Our team has to approve all new suppliers, and we work directly with them to ensure that their code of conduct is in line with our values. If the supplier does not meet the necessary standards then we work to improve their business so that they can still become part of our network and create a better environment for workers and practices. We continuously help all of our suppliers to maintain the high levels of service that we are known for. Arrange Calls with the Team Our platform stands out from competitors by offering you the opportunity to personally call with a member of our team. We understand that sometimes you may have queries that are easier to solve through a real-time conversation, and therefore we offer this option to be able to discuss anything you may need support with. Book a 30 minute or 1 hour-long slot at a time and date that is convenient for you. You can then talk with the Chanodil team, understand our processes and the options available to you, and we can take it from there. Timeline Tool A key feature on our platform that you will find extremely beneficial is our timeline tool that tracks the process of your enquiry. Once you have created your enquiry, any key updates and progress are visible on the timeline in order to make it simple to keep track of where your order is at that current moment in time. Each timeline is personalised to that individual enquiry, so there will be no issues with confusion, especially if you have multiple orders open at the same time. You will never have to worry about missing any key deadlines as you will be able to quickly view everything in one place when you log into your account on the platform. If you have any worries about delays or progress reports the timeline tool will ensure that you are up to date – enabling you to stay organised and never lose track. Email Alerts In addition to our timeline tool – we will also send you email alerts for updates or progress within your enquiry. This ensures that you will never miss something important, even if you have not had the chance to log onto our platform. We understand that operating a business is very time consuming and therefore you may not always have the opportunity to keep coming back to the website to remain updated. Email alerts also ensure that everything can be kept organised on your end as well as ours – with the opportunity to create a folder for all of your Chanodil enquiries. You will receive email alerts for new messages sent by the supplier or by the Chanodil team, as well as progress along the timeline tool and in the activity log e.g. when quality control has been completed. This makes viewing and managing your account much simpler. Personalised Activity Log The personalised activity log is located in the top right-hand corner of the platform, it is the middle icon featured above. Simply click the bell icon to locate your log. Our personalised activity log is key when it comes to viewing important information related to all of your enquiries in one place. The activity log keeps track of all messages, updates with your order/s, progress reports including individual enquiry related issues such as order shipment, and everything in between. It is a tool created with you in mind – we want to be able to provide the most proficient service and this allows us to do this. Keeping you updated is important to the Chanodil team to ensure your trust and involvement in the process we are committed to helping you with. We always want to provide you with the best service and with this option, we are always able to be transparent with you. Open-Communication Chat Feature Our chat feature gives you the opportunity to chat one-on-one with both suppliers and the Chanodil team, as well as in a group. Send messages and receive replies in an efficient way within the chatbox. This option allows for an open-communication line where you can communicate with the necessary people and get responses to any questions, keep on top of changes, and engage with the people who are fulfilling your requests. This makes any progress run seamlessly and means that there won’t ever be a time where you are stuck for no response or struggle with miscommunication. You can search your messages to find the correct people to talk to instantly. Attach emojis and files within the chatbox, add images and see all the information about your enquiry alongside the chat. You can also create new chats at any point – allowing you to discuss freely with the person you may need to talk with. Pin messages of high importance so that there is no worry about forgetting it, this feature is extremely easy to do and will save you time going through messages to find the one you are looking for. The pinned feature allows you to relax knowing that you are up to date on the latest communication between you and the supplier/s. Organised Enquiry System Organisation is at the heart of our platform, which means that maintaining smooth operation for all of your enquiries is extremely simple with our new system. All of your enquiries for

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Effective Tiktok Marketing – How to Market for the Modern Age

Many fashion brands have started to pick up that Tiktok has incredible potential when it comes to marketing – with the possibility of going viral so accessible with only a couple hundred followers and the right hashtags, and the growth of the Generation Z consumer that spends hours a day scrolling through the platform – there are so many ways that Tiktok can be utilised to grow businesses. With over 800 million worldwide users (and that number growing every day) – fast-fashion and designer brands have been capitalising off of this within their marketing strategies. There is no shortage of content being created with the aim of capturing new consumers. Brands on Tiktok An example of a mainstream brand that has been successful on Tiktok is Gucci, using their already existing large platform to grow their Tiktok presence. Gucci has built a successful Tiktok account by keeping up to date with trends but still adding their own twist to it, they utilise a mix of influencer marketing including both celebrities and Tiktok influencers, as well as more organic content including stories, personable and relatable videos. They also balance this well with their product promotions and do not focus too heavily on getting people to buy specific items. They invest in paid ads as well but make them stand out with intriguing videos that get the viewers to stay and watch. This makes it more likely that they will eventually click through to buy. The algorithm A key feature on Tiktok is the view count, with a focus on getting people to rewatch videos, meaning that marketing should be kept short and sweet. Minimal heavy branding and relatable, sometimes even comedic content leads to customers wanting to keep watching. Some brands have a hard time grasping how to attract customers in the right way, not quite understanding the algorithm. The Tiktok algorithm is extremely personal, and if you miss the target market you are aiming for then it is likely that you will not reach the desired audience. It also takes time and patience, and sometimes brands that have a following elsewhere do not achieve the same success on Tiktok. This can be for multiple reasons – one being that they do not post regularly enough in order to grow. For example, small sustainable business ByMeganCrosby that includes extremely viral friendly designs with bright fun colours and patterns evident through their Instagram success does not have success on Tiktok – with only 1 post and under 40 followers. Independent brands One example of an extremely successful retailer that has Tiktok to thank for their business becoming so successful is Hissy Fit clothing run by Danielle. She started promoting her business on Tiktok during the Covid-19 pandemic and went viral almost instantly – transforming her almost unprofitable ravewear brand into a more casualwear selection that people loved. Danielle’s personal and transparent approach to Tiktok is the reason the brand is so popular today – she often vlogs her day-to-day activities including factory runs, sample making, and packing and she talks a lot about the sustainable aspect to the business including being manufactured in the UK with all deadstock fabric. The Hissy Fit account often features Bill – their primary garment worker and shows all the ins and outs of running a fashion business that many viewers find refreshing and interesting. Keep it authentic It seems the key takeaway from these examples is that in order to be successful on Tiktok, you have to promote an authentic and personal front – the best videos being the ones with humans behind the cameras. Tiktok does not even require the most professional camera work (although it can be beneficial) and brands can incorporate their employees and their customers into their videos – some of the most successful ones being reviews and hauls! Keep it relevant To stay relevant on the app, brands should always be staying up to date with everything happening. Oftentimes by using current hashtags, popular sounds, and trends on the app you can grow your engagement quickly and maintain your audience. It is also useful to have people who understand the prominent Generation Z audience help with ideas, as many brands are often slated on the app for being out of touch and this can decrease the effectiveness of any adverts or promotions being worked on. Most importantly though, Tiktok is about having fun. There are no hard rules to follow like Instagram to maintain engagement, and there is no need for formalities such as on LinkedIn. The app is a place to enjoy, so that should be at the heart of everything you do. If you are interested in reading a range of articles with a fashion focus, head on over to our blog!