Purchasing mannequins

Purchasing a selection of mannequins for a store will provide a range of options to help promote any fashion collection. Whether just one mannequin or a whole group is required, consideration should be given to what they will be used for, where they will be used, and whether their poses will be suitable for the clothing they will be wearing. Remember: a sports-inspired mannequin may not be suitable for an eveningwear collection.

Mannequins come in all shapes and sizes: from adults to children, maternity to action, and stylized to realistic. Before purchasing a range of mannequins, consider the type of business in which they are to be used. A commercial, easy-to-dress range of mannequins that have simple poses will give more flexibility and will adapt to the ever-changing fashion trends. A dramatically posed mannequin may work well in a heavily stylized environment.

A range should be selected carefully so that the mannequins can be used individually or grouped to create a family; this might include a selection of standing, sitting, lying, and leaning mannequins. It is worth thinking about whether you need more dramatic poses; do remember, though, that an expensive mannequin designed for hanging may be used in one scheme but will not be used for the rest of the year. An extreme pose may also be difficult to dress.

At the same time, consider how long the range will last. A dramatically posed, realistic mannequin can easily be used to promote a fashion-forward look with the right hairstyle and makeup, which can then be restyled from season to season. It is worth bearing this in mind if you are working to a tight budget—you may not need to purchase new mannequins if you can reuse existing ones. You can, of course, also save by purchasing some styles of mannequin that can be used time and time again for one style of garment: a rigid bust form, for example, for a man’s suit. An economical range could also be built up from mannequins with no facial features, or even no heads, because they do not require makeup renovations or wigs.

Having said all this, many retailers still prefer just a simple bust form that resembles a torso and will carry clothing without overpowering the garment. These are most suited to men’s tailors and classic women’s fashion stores where, traditionally, stylized mannequins are not used.

The quantity of mannequins you purchase may be costly, but do consider how many are required to create a complete window fashion scheme. Ten windows with three mannequins in each will equate to 30. The interior display sites will require even more, thus adding to the mannequin budget. A range of children’s mannequins, on the other hand, will not necessarily fill a large window because of their size. They will inevitably work better as a large group, so this should be borne in mind if you are working in a children’s store.

It is also worth remembering that renovating mannequins can take up to a month, in which case it may be worth having a secondary collection to use while the first is out of service, especially if your store only retails fashion. Clearly, while the mannequins are away being renovated, this would be a good time for a department store to install a home-related scheme.

A range of mannequins is designed so that they interact with each other. The majority will be standing, but sitting, lying, and leaning mannequins are also introduced to break the pace and add interest. Customers can buy complete ranges or individual mannequins.