Apparel Technical Design Students Participate in Field Trip to Kagan Trim Center
See what's happening in Apparel Technical Design.
Students in FIDM Instructor Rebecca Eliason’s Trim Development & Application Class (MPDV 4200), in the Apparel Technical Design Bachelor’s program, visited Kagan Trim Center last week on a field trip. Stocking over 75,000 different types of trim, the distributor is located on Hill Street just blocks from the Los Angeles campus.
In this class, students research and analyze how trims are used for function, decoration, and support in the development of garments for a variety of product categories and target markets.
After a tour of the facility, the students were given the names of two types of trim of which they were instructed to locate and secure swatches. Among the items on the list were Verise lace, grosgrain ribbon, beaded applique, faux suede fringe, U wire, chainette fringe, and Cluny lace. For their homework assignment, the students were asked to scan and upload the trim, then design something for it.
Field trips to local suppliers enable students to observe and evaluate trim selection and construction methods appropriate for trim application and surface embellishments. Students also learn to document specifications for trims and are challenged to prove innovative solutions for the use of trim when developing garment prototypes.
One of the objectives of this class is to provide networking opportunities for the students so they can build their contact list of distributors and suppliers for future projects. The father of Jed Kagan, the president, started the business over fifty years ago. The trim center is the oldest one in Los Angeles and the largest. Primarily used in apparel, the products at Kagan Trim Center are also used by related industries including footwear, costume, dance, hobby/craft, home furnishings, industrial, millinery, toy, and upholstery.
Kagan Trim’s headquarters are in Los Angeles and they have distribution warehouses located in New Jersey (USA), Guangzhou (China), and Europe.
Categories: Apparel Technical Design
