Designer Fashion Panel Feedback

The Designer Fashion Panel assesses applications in the following categories:

• Marketing;
• Business Development; and
• Partnerships for Skills Development

The Panel noted the overall quality of applications has improved over the course of the two-year Program.
The Panel requested that all applications be submitted on an a Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA) application form and on the DCA budget template.
The Panel noted its support for regional initiatives and welcomes applications in this area.

 
The Panel provided the following advice to applicants:

• Include a track record of your business (sales figures or data relating to stockists) to demonstrate the commercial merit and marketability of your product.
• If an application builds on previous DCA funding, your application must demonstrate previous outcomes of DCA funding as well as how this new project will build on previous success.
• If funding is requested for a project similar to one undertaken in the past, you should demonstrate the outcomes of the previous project.
• Discuss the strategic importance of the timing of your project, in other words: ‘why now?’
• Include quality visual support material to demonstrate the creative aspect of your project. Include detailed images that give a sense of the quality of the garments and extent of your range. Where possible include professional support material such as look books, catalogues and other publicity and sales materials.
• Make sure all support material (letters of support, press clippings, look books, catalogues) is current.
• Ensure you include letters of intent/confirmation from all participants in the activity.
• Include information and biographies about other key personnel named in the application (eg. photographer, website designer, agent).
• Address why each company/person is the appropriate choice to participate in the project and discuss their professional history. Where possible include samples of past projects they have undertaken.
• Be clear in the application about which aspects of the activity require DCA funding.
• Ensure that the budget is both realistic and accurate.
• Check that all aspects fit within requested amount and are eligible and include quotes where possible.
• If an increase in sales is projected you should discuss your ability to supply in order to demonstrate your capacity to undertake the project.
• Provide a precise outline of schedule/itinerary of the activity. Include all preparation and follow up to demonstrate your ability to manage the project.
• Where possible include a marketing plan as support material and description of how project fits into your overall planning if you are applying in the marketing category.
• You should always include a profile/bio and never assume that the Panel knows your work. 

The Panel provided the following advice to applicants applying for website projects: 

• You should include a precise description of the website you are proposing to develop, in order for the Panel to assess the artistic nature of the website;
• You should include a description of the functionality of your website including your strategies to increase the ranking of your website on search engines.
• You should include a description of how you will monitor the website, including usage statistics your web hosting service will be able to provide; And
• Include a break down of the design fee in your budget