Contextualization

Fashion is a form of personal expression and communication, and it is present in everything that surrounds us. It is mutable, reflects behaviors, historical phases, and is directly related to the economy and technology. At the same time, mathematics is a universal language that allows us to interpret, analyze, and predict phenomena around us. Fashion and mathematics may seem like distinct worlds, but they are more intertwined than one might imagine.

Mathematics is a crucial tool for the fashion world, whether in the way clothes are designed or in the analysis of fashion trends. Designers use mathematical concepts when creating their patterns and designs. Fashion companies use statistics and data analysis to understand consumer preferences, trend seasonality, sales, and logistics.

Theoretical Introduction

In this project, we will explore how mathematics applies to the fashion sector, particularly Statistics and Geometry. We will use mathematical concepts to decipher and analyze fashion trends, explore the proportions of clothing design, and understand how measures of central tendency (mode, mean, and median) are used in fashion data analysis.

First, let's understand the concept of mode (not the fashion theme, but mode in statistics). Mode is the value that appears most frequently in a dataset. In other words, it is the measure of central tendency that identifies the most common element. This is crucial for analyzing clothing sales and understanding which pieces sell the most.

Mean is another measure of central tendency, representing the average value of a distribution. The mean is calculated by summing all values in the dataset and dividing by the total number of values. The mean can provide us with information about the average price of clothes in a fashion store, for example.

The median is the value that separates the upper half of a dataset from the lower half. This can be useful, for example, to understand the median price of clothes sold in a store, which can be helpful in understanding price variability.

Finally, we will explore Geometry concepts such as proportion and symmetry, which are fundamental for clothing design.

Practical Activity: Analyzing Fashion with Mathematics

Project Objective

Examine how the concepts of Statistics and Geometry apply to fashion. Students will conduct market research, statistical and design analysis, and present their conclusions based on the collected data.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 members. This project will have an approximate duration of 14 days.

Each group will select a fashion brand and conduct a detailed review of the brand's last two collections. Through the review of the collections, the groups must identify the main clothing pieces and accessories.

Required Materials

• Internet access for research.
• Writing materials.
• Document processing programs (Word, Google Docs) and spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets).

Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Market research and data collection (Days 1-5): By visiting physical stores or researching online, catalog 100 clothing pieces or accessories from the chosen brand that make up the last two collections. For each piece, record: type of piece (e.g., t-shirt, skirt, shoe, etc.), price, and predominant color. Also, separate the pieces that appear most frequently.

2. Data analysis (Days 6-9): Using the collected data, calculate the mode, mean, and median of the prices of the collected pieces. Identify the clothing piece and color that stand out as the mode. Create graphs to visualize the collected information.

3. Design analysis (Days 10-12): Examine the design of the best-selling clothing pieces (the mode). Discuss the proportions, symmetries, and other geometric aspects of the design.

4. Report preparation (Days 13-14): Based on the analyses conducted, each group must prepare a detailed report containing the following topics: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.

Deliverables and Connectivity with Suggested Activities

After completing the practical activity, each group must prepare a written report according to the following guidelines:

• Introduction: The group should start by explaining the brand they chose and why. They should also briefly describe the brand's last two collections.

• Development: Here, students should explain how they collected the data, what the results of the data analysis and design analysis were. They should explain how they calculated the mode, mean, and median, and present the graphs they created.

• Conclusions: In this part, the group should discuss the main findings of the analysis. What do the results say about current fashion trends? What were the surprises? What did the group learn about mathematical concepts in a real context?

• Bibliography: Groups should cite all sources from which they gathered information, including brand websites, visited stores, videos, books, etc.

The project deliverables are directly connected to the suggested activities, as each section of the report corresponds to a different phase of the project: introduction corresponds to brand selection, development corresponds to data and design analysis, and conclusions correspond to reflection and synthesis of results.