Apparel Production and Merchandising

Before you start searching for sources, take some time to prepare to search. Spending time preparing to search will save you time and it helps to reduce some of the frustrations.

Begin with developing your topic. As you think about possible topics, ask yourself:

• What am I interested in? (but avoid topics too personal or emotional)
• What topics are related to my expertise?
• What topic fits with the assignment?
• Is there a current problem at my workplace to investigate?

Once you have a general topic in mind, as yourself

• What do I already know about this topic?
• What do I need to know about this topic?

You can search for background information on your topic to understand it better. You will also want to do some preliminary searching regarding your topic to see if other people have published on this issue.

Watch these videos to learn more about developing your topic.

Learn more about your topic as you work to figure out your focus.

Read about your topic in a reference resource (like a textbook, encyclopedia, or reference database/website). These sources will contain the background information you need to help you further understand issues within your topic, identify key terms, and narrow your topic.

Try searching in Gale eBooks. This collection includes 

• Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion (2005)
• Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear Through the Ages (2013)
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (2016)
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (2017)