Bloomsbury Fashion Central - BFBC Writing for Us
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Writing for Us

Are you interested in contributing to Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases? The collection will be periodically updated with new cases to stay at the cutting-edge of the fashion industry.

Here you will find more information on what we’re looking for, how to submit your proposal, and how to write a case.

What are we looking for?

We’re seeking cases from expert academics and fashion professionals, written specifically for students and educators of fashion. Cases must be written about the fashion/apparel industry, should aim to explore key business concepts and principles, and should encourage students to put their knowledge into practice by responding to the business problem set out by the author.

We will publish cases on all aspects of fashion business around the globe. Please feel free to suggest a topic or ask for a selection of our target topics. You may focus on particular companies, territories, sectors, and points in time. Personal insight through industry experience and/or networks is a bonus, but equally valuable cases can be created through research and subject expertise.

Cases may report on real-life business problems faced by real fashion businesses, or they may present a hypothetical (but realistic) situation. They will range between 1,000 and 7,000 words in length. They should be aimed at either introductory, intermediate or advanced levels, to suit students from foundation to graduate.

Submitting a Proposal

Download and complete the Case Proposal Form (.docx) and submit via email with a copy of your CV to Rosie Trethewey.

Proposals should be clear, concise and compelling. You can either suggest a topic of your own, or ask us for suggestions.

Please see our Example Completed Proposal Form (PDF) if you would like some guidance on how to fill in this form.

Submission Procedure

  1. Author submits proposal for review by Regional Editor, Editor-in-Chief and Bloomsbury
  2. Feedback shared with author
  3. Upon acceptance, Bloomsbury sends to the author a contract for publication via an online submission system
  4. Author submits final complete case
  5. Review by Regional Editor. Feedback sent to author
  6. Revised case submitted by author, if required
  7. Upon Regional Editor acceptance, revised case reviewed by Editor-in-Chief
  8. Upon Editor-in-Chief acceptance, case reviewed by Bloomsbury
  9. Bloomsbury approves case and arranges author payment, or requests revisions from author
  10. Case is sent to a Project Manager for copy editing, conversion to XML, indexing, quality assurance and upload to the site.

Tips from the Emeritus Editor-in-Chief

New to writing cases? These short guides written by Emeritus Editor-in-Chief of Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases, Leslie Davis Burns, will help authors who are new to writing case studies:

Editorial Guidelines and House Style Guide

Authors should consult the Editorial Guidelines and House Style Guide (PDF) prior to writing their case.

Case Writing Templates

Authors should use the appropriate word length template to complete the case after they have been issued a contract:

Additional Resources

Image permission request form (.doc) – If you want to use an image belonging to someone else in your case, you should seek written permission from them by way of the Image Permission Request Form.

Interview release form (.docx) – If you have conducted an interview for use in your case, please ask your interviewees to sign the Interview Release Form.

Model release form (.docx) – If you want to use a photograph you have taken of someone in your case, you should seek written permission from them by way of the Model Release Form.

Text permission request form (.doc) – If you want to use any ‘substantial parts’ of published text extracts, you should seek written permission from them by way of the Text Permission Request Form.

Citation guide (PDF)

For further information on obtaining permissions for the use of third party images and texts in your case, please see our Permission Guidelines for Case Authors guide.

FAQs for Authors

How are cases reviewed?

As a form of academic scholarship, published case studies go through two stages of academic and editorial review. Case study proposals are solicited through an open call for proposals in addition to soliciting contributions from academic and industry professionals. Proposals are reviewed by members of the Editorial Team comprised of the Regional Editors (academic subject specialists); the Editor-in-Chief; and the in-house editorial team at Bloomsbury. Accepted proposals result in a contract issued to the author for the case study. Submitted case studies are then reviewed by the Editorial Team. This editorial-review process is similar to contributing a chapter to an edited book. This two-stage process results in a highly curated collection of case studies. Please note that this is not a blind peer review and Editors will liaise directly with authors when requesting amendments and providing suggestions for edits.

What are the benefits of writing cases?

Selection of case studies to be published in the collection is based on the author’s expertise in the subject matter and ability to translate this into a valuable teaching tool. Writing cases not only demonstrates your contribution to educational materials and expertise in the field, it also helps your work reach educators and students around the world who are using the resource.

How will my proposal and case be assessed?

Your proposal and case will be assessed for quality, accessibility, and usefulness in the classroom. It will also be assessed for relevancy to the current global fashion industry.

Will cases be copy-edited?

Bloomsbury will ensure that each case receives a full copy-edit before it is prepared for upload online, following the thorough academic peer and editorial review. Authors are not required to hire a copy-editor to work on their submission(s).

What makes a successful case?

A successful case will present a business problem related to the fashion industry in an unbiased manner. It will raise a topic worthy of debate and promote discussion and various solutions by posing a range of thought-provoking business questions. It will be aimed at a global readership of fashion students. It will be well-written, accessible and engaging, and it will be relevant to the real-world of business. It will provide a clear list of learning outcomes that are met throughout the development of the case. Ultimately, it will aim to develop student decision-making and critical thinking skills as preparation for the real-world of business.

I’ve never written a case study before. Can you provide guidance?

We welcome first-time case study authors and will provide as much guidance as possible to help you publish your case. Please read through the author guidelines and writing templates available on this page. Our Editorial Team will be able to answer specific questions and your case will receive a full academic review for comments and suggestions for improvements before it is accepted for publication.

Can I turn research I’ve already conducted for other purposes into a case study?

You can create a case based on research you have already conducted (for papers, presentations, articles and so on) if you can develop the research into a narrative with a central problem to be resolved. For example, you may turn a research paper about the mass-production of 3D printed garments into a problem-based narrative, whereby the student is expected to respond to a dilemma in the production cycle. Take a look at one of our writing templates to see if your research could fit the case format, or contact us to discuss.

Please note that cases should be original to the collection, and we will not reproduce cases that have been published in full elsewhere. If you wish to reuse verbatim extracts of text from your previously published work, you may need to seek permission from the publisher of the original work.

Will my case be published in print?

Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases is an online-only resource. We will provide institution-wide access to subscribing libraries, meaning that students and faculty can easily access content without individual purchasing fees. All of the cases will be available in full text on Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases as well as a downloadable PDF.

Can I reuse my case in other publications?

As is customary, after publication of your case and upon your written request, we will grant permission for the republication in any recognized scholarly or professional journal or book written or edited by you, subject to full acknowledgement to the first publication. Third parties wishing to use your case in a journal or book may be required to pay a permission fee for such use, whereas in cases where the republication is for a publication written or edited by you, whether singly, jointly or severally, the fee will be waived.

How much time will I get to write my case?

On average, authors are normally allocated two to three months to write a case. Occasionally this timeframe will be shorter, depending on the length and format of the case, and amount of research required.

Can I write more than one case?

Yes, we would encourage authors to write multiple cases if they wish. You can stagger delivery dates if appropriate.

Can multiple authors collaborate on one case?

Authors may work in pairs or teams to write cases (we would suggest no more than four contributors to one case, especially for shorter cases).

I don’t have direct access to a fashion business to conduct research; can I still write for you?

Yes! We accept cases that are based on research conducted with reliable primary and secondary sources, which does not require access to a company. We also accept cases that are hypothetical, outlining a realistic scenario that could face the fashion industry, which are best used to illustrate basic concepts.

Do I have to have taught with my case in order to publish it?

Cases that have been tried-and-tested in the classroom are warmly welcomed, but this is not mandatory for publication. If the case has been used in the classroom, we would encourage the author to elaborate on the successes and/or challenges of using the case in their teaching notes, so that users can learn from the author’s experiences.

English is not my first language; can I still write for you?

Yes, we accept cases from non-native English speakers if the author is able to write the case in the English language to an acceptable standard. Bloomsbury will ensure that cases receive a thorough copy-edit to correct any spelling or grammatical errors. Authors are advised to make use of writing support at their institution in order to submit in the English language.

I’m a student; can I write for you?

An important criterion in evaluating proposals is the expertise and/or professional experiences of the author(s). As such, it is unlikely that an undergraduate student will have the necessary expertise unless the student has been a professional in the industry for some time. It is recommended that any student author (undergraduate or graduate) also include a faculty member or professional leader as a co-author.

How do I cite a case from Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases?

You can generate a citation for a case using the “Cite” icon at the top of the case page. Citations are provided in the following formats:

APA format

[Surname], [initials] ([year of publication]). [Case title]. Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases. London: Bloomsbury. Retrieved [month] [day] [year], from [DOI]

Example:  

  • Chatzopoulou, E. (2018). The Case of Ancient Greek Sandals: Ethnic Heritage and Celebrity Endorsement. Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases. London: Bloomsbury. Retrieved April 23 2018, from https://dx/doi.org/10.5040/7668484848484

MLA format

[Surname], [first name]. “[Case title].” Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases. London: Bloomsbury, [year of publication]. Bloomsbury Fashion Central. Web. [day month year of retrieval]. [DOI]

Example:  

  • Chatzopoulou, Elena. “The Case of Ancient Greek Sandals: Ethnic Heritage and Celebrity Endorsement.” Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases. London: Bloomsbury, 2018. Bloomsbury Fashion Central. Web. 23 Apr. 2018. https://dx.doi.org/10.5040/949494949449_XXX.

Chicago format

[Surname], [first name]. “Case title.” In Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases. London: Bloomsbury, [year of publication]. Accessed [month day, year]. [DOI].

Example:  

  • Chatzopoulou, Elena. “The Case of Ancient Greek Sandals: Ethnic Heritage and Celebrity Endorsement.” In Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases. London: Bloomsbury, 2018. Accessed April 23, 2018. https://dx.doi.org/10.5040/474747474747.

Any other questions? Please contact Rosie Trethewey.