Some Class for the Class : The Fashion Institute’s sale of designer goods at bargain-basement prices is a merchandising lab.
Designer Bob Mackie donated a beaded black sweater that would carry a lofty price tag of $600 at Neiman Marcus. Fancy-dress maker Holly Harp provided a flounced frock that still had the Bergdorf Goodman label in it and might have sold for $1,200.
Such a deal at $100 each.
That will be the asking price for each of those designer pieces when Dollars for Scholars, a temporary “store” operated by students of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, opens Thursday at the school on Seventh Street in downtown Los Angeles.
The nonprofit store, stocked with clothing, jewelry, toys and household items donated by 300 retailers and manufacturers, is a “merchandise laboratory class” designed to give the students hands-on experience in retailing, according to Myrna Glenny, a faculty adviser.
This is the fifth year for the retail venture, which raises funds for scholarships. Last year’s take was more than $67,000, and students this year hope to hit $100,000. About 400 students pursuing careers in the fashion industry will participate in the 10-day exercise.
Major Retailers Donate
So far, they have spent six weeks preparing the 3,000-square-foot space. Late last week, they were scrambling to take inventory, build dressing rooms and tag and hang merchandise.
By the time that the sale officially begins, students will have collected 40,000 pieces of clothing and 30,000 yards of fabric that they expect to sell at 50% to 70% below retail cost. Items will include brands from such clothing makers and designers as Gilda Marx, Sandra Garratt, Koret, Christian de Castelnau, Lanz, Patti Cappalli and Jessica McClintock. For men and children, brands include Hanes, Quiksilver and Kennington.
Robinson’s, the Broadway, Lady Foot Locker and Contempo Casuals were among retailers that donated items. Frederick’s of Hollywood supplied the mannequins (sans sexy lingerie).
Not all the garments will be one-of-a-kind treasures like the Mackie sweater. In some cases, damaged, irregular or sample items will be priced at as little as $2. But even first-quality merchandise will go for bargain-basement prices, relatively speaking, with the average cost ranging up to $50 for moderate sportswear and $60 to $70 for designer garments.
“We like to think of our store as Pic ‘N’ Save with Nordstrom service,” Glenny said.
Good Training
To get the word out, students are mailing reminders to previous customers and are handing out flyers to pedestrians.
Student Cheryl Cedrone, 18, said she viewed the exercise as good preparation for a career as a manufacturer’s representative.
“When this started off, this was just an empty room,” she said proudly as she surveyed the jam-packed space.
Fund-raiser or no, students realized that they had to take a realistic attitude toward thievery, one of the retail industry’s biggest headaches. The project’s budget allows for a bit of “shrinkage,” Glenny noted, and signs posted at the door note sternly: “Shoplifters Will Be Prosecuted.”
