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More than ten years ago, a Guardian columnist observed a growth in the charity shop sector due to an increase in the number of such outlets on the high streets of towns and cities in the UK. The Guardian more recently reported on a new charity store image evidenced by brand-new charity fashion boutiques being launched by Oxfam in London. This new mode of charity store sold selected re-styled and re-designed items created by young designers from the London College of Fashion. The article stated that ‘the charity was taking its first step towards a more fashion-conscious image: away from the slightly battered shoes and oversize floral skirts it's known for and into the world of designer one-offs and couture accessories’ (Freeman, 2008). It is unquestionable that charity shops have the potential to offer good value fashion to people on a budget as well as attracting fashion-conscious customers. However, if the charity shop is to make the most of this opportunity then certain retail practices are in need of change. The aim of this research was to explore the current trend of UK charity retailers upgrading towards a new target market through the launching of specialist fashion stores and to examine effective strategies for charity shops to achieve up-market fashion retailing. Three retail models from the literature review were used and the research makes use of illustrated visual evidences to demonstrate the performance of charity shops compared to up-market fashion stores. Structured observations, photography and semi-structured interviews were used to develop a new ‘Mannequin Model’ to provide a strategy for charity shops wanting to move into the mid-upper levels of the fashion market. A synthesis representation of localisation and specialisation was found to have potential for launching a specialist fashion outlet in the charity retail sector.

Topical Meeting on Optical Interference Coatings, 2001, Washington, DC

The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a Catholic missionary institute, founded in France in 1826 by Saint Charles Joseph Eugene de Mazenod, has always placed a very strong emphasis on the importance of high quality, fraternal, community living. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, district communities were usually established in current or former mission territories and in rural areas. Since the Council, that concept has been expanded beyond mission and rural areas to cover urban areas within the Oblates, especially in provinces where numbers are decreasing, institutions are disappearing, and individual apostolates are more common. Contemporary districts, where over 25 percent of the congregation now live, have met with varied levels of success, depending on the manner in which each province has applied the concept. After the 1992 General Chapter, which reaffirmed their existence and importance for the Oblates, the Holy See expressed a specific interest in the theory and praxis of districts and district superiors. The preliminary questions posed in this work are interconnected. What lies at the root of the establishment of districts, and district superiors, within the Oblates? How did the practice spread? How was it viewed by the general chapters of the institute and by the common law of the Church over the century and a half since its beginning? How was it renewed in the light of the call of the Second Vatican Council? What is its current status and future prospects in Canada and the United States? Are the changes to the administrative structures, proposed in 1996 for the 1998 General Chapter, a help or a hindrance to the enhancement of this type of local community? The answers to those preliminary ones build up to the two major questions asked in this thesis: (1) Is there sufficient basis in the common law, the themes of the renewal of religious life as found in the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and in the historic lived reality within the Oblate Congregation, for this concept of districts, with superiors, as local units of apostolic community and government, to be put forward as a clear and practical model for other institutes? (2) Is it possible to propose a canonically-based definition of a district, such that it could be applicable within any apostolic religious institute, male or female, clerical or lay? The first four chapters analyse the history and legal basis of districts; the fifth analyses a lengthy questionnaire on the present status and future prospects of districts, answered by a large proportion of the general administration, North American provincials, and district superiors; the sixth critiques the proposed changes to the Constitutions and Rules on the subject. The conclusion outlines the historical and canonical basis of districts and presents both the comprehensive concept and the definition of a district in such a way that it can be utilized by any apostolic institute having local superiors, be it male or female, clerical or lay. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

45th Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Vacuum Coaters, April 13-18, 2002, Lake Buena Vista, Florida

This thesis describes methods for high-sensitivity detection of trace gases using tunable diode lasers (TDL). TDL absorption spectrometers have been widely used to acquire infrared spectra since 1970. However, high-sensitivity measurements have been limited mainly to the detection of low-pressure gases by harmonic techniques. The detection of atmospheric-pressure gases and the development of a rapid sweep technique for the accumulation of weak-absorption data over ~0.4 cmˉ¹ spectral regions are emphasized in this thesis. The results of this work may be divided into four areas where major accomplishments have been realized. Optical interference fringes generated by scattered light often limit the sensitivity of measurements performed with TDL spectrometers. The effect of fringes can be minimized by applying a jitter modulation. An investigation was undertaken to understand and quantify the effects of the jitter on the fringe and absorption signals. Simple analytical expressions describing the effects of the jitter modulation are derived and compared to experiment. Good agreement between theory and experiment is found. The limiting noise sources of a TDL spectrometer were carefully investigated and identified. Detection methods insensitive to the noise were developed. Application of these methods leads to sensitivity limits equivalent to detecting an absorption of ~10ˉ²% for atmospheric-pressure gases and ~10ˉ³% for low-pressure gases over path lengths ≤ 200 m. This represents a substantial improvement over previous work. A rapid-sweep technique capable of detecting absorptions due to low-pressure gases of ~10ˉ³% over path lengths ≤ 200 m is described. Data accumulation by the rapid-sweep technique allows direct determination of line shapes and linewidths from the measurements. An investigation of the TDL output power and frequency stabilitiy was performed as these laser characteristics directly affect the achievable sensitivity. The development of a new method to determine the TDL linewidth is reported. This technique permits the linewidth of any tunable laser to be quickly and easily measured. Throughout this thesis, the sensitivity of the various detection techniques is demonstrated by the detection of pollutants and trace gases. Whenever applicable, techniques for further increasing the sensitivity are discussed. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This study highlights the potential of new technology as a means to provide new possibility for costumes in fragile condition to be utilised. The aim of this study is to create accurate digital duplicates of costumes from historical sources, and to explore the possibility of developing them as an exhibitory and educational method applying 3D apparel CAD and new media. To achieve this, three attributes for qualities of effective digital costumes were suggested: faithful reproduction, virtual fabrication, and interactive and stereographic appreciation. Based on these qualities, digital costumes and a PC application were produced and evaluated.

—Dress form is an essential tool in the clothing-making process for pattern block development, draping and quality inspection. However, it is noted that a single dress form is not applicable for a large variety body shapes. There are adjustable dress forms and custom-made dress forms to attempt to make up for the insufficiency of conventional dress forms. However, such types of dress forms are rather costly and their effectiveness is debatable. With this is mind, a customised adjustable kit for the dress form was developed, with the aim to cover different sizes and shapes more precisely. The kit adopts 3D printing technology which enables generating and changing the shape of components efficiently.