Milestone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Milestone - Essay Example He notes that, â€Å"Western civilization is unable to present any healthy values for the guidance of mankind (Qutb, 1964, Pg. 1)†. It must be noted that the book was written at a time when America as well as the rest of the world was going through numerous changes that were going towards shaping the modern economic systems, the modern governmental systems and the manner in which civilization was to take shape. The 60s was a formative decade indeed since the affects of the Second World War had been shaken off by most of the world and the countries which had gained independence after the Second World War were just beginning to stand on their own feet. However, many such nations in the Middle East, Africa and Asia were struggling with the changes that were being forced upon them. In this context, the war between the western allies who promoted a democratic system and the communist nations of the world often drew in other non aligned nations who had no particular ideology to hold on to. In this scenario, Qutb (1964) presents his ideas of leading Islamic nations through the means of following a new path which is based on the Holy Scriptures of Islam and the examples set down by the followers of Muhammad who were with him in his life. In fact, it was this book itself which was used to prove in an Egyptian court that Qutb was engaged in sedition against the ruling government and was executed for conspiring against the state (Wikipedia. 2008). The primary point made by Qutb (1964) is that the Muslims have lost their way which was shown to them through the Quran and the words of the prophet. In essence, it seems that instead of taking a modern viewpoint on Islam, Qutb favors something which is closer to a fundamentalist approach to Islam in order to bring Muslims closer to how the prophet and his companions lived their lives (Wikipedia. 2008). In his view, the Quran itself is not seen as metaphysical or theological work but as a code of rules which should be

Chanel and the Little Black Dress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Chanel and the Little Black Dress - Essay Example Clothing by the company is available in both ready to wear formats and haute couture. The firm has about 100 boutiques worldwide, more than 35 of which are in Japan. (Source datamonitor.com- Chanel) Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was the founder of the company. She started small, opening a milliner's shop in 1909. Chanel opened her first fashion boutique in 1913. Her designs were known for their simplicity and the differentiation from the fashions that existed at that period. She basically used men's fabrics and jerseys and created simpler, comfortable clothes along boxy lines that became very popular. Her most famous perfume, Chanel No 5 debuted in the 1920s and was the first perfume that combined natural substances with chemical aldehyde and was an instant hit. She introduced the "little black dress" in 1926, which became a signature piece and was embraced universally. Alain and Gerard Wertheimer acquired the Chanel Company in 1954.Coco Chanel died in 1971. Ready-to-wear fashions were not introduced until 1978, after Coco Chanel's death. Karl Lagerfeld took over haute couture design in 1983 and ready-to-wear design in 1984. Since then Chanel has grown with acquisitions, newer designers and celebrity endorsements. Michael Porter suggested that for an organization to be successful and obtain a competitive advantage they should follow either one of three generic strategies of Cost leadership, Differentiation or have Niche strategies. Cost Leadership is based on the principle of maintaining lowest costs in terms of manufacturing, marketing and distribution and passing on the benefits to the customer and garnering market share due to offering the lowest price. However this strategy is vulnerable to even slight increases in the cost structure. Having a Niche Strategy means catering to a specified product segment with a specialized product. However, having a very focused marketing mix makes it vulnerable to cope with sudden changes in customer trends. Product differentiation is a strategy that induces the customer to pay a little more for the same product category due to a perceived value by the consumer who is convinced to pay a little more for quality. Chanel markets itself as a premium brand and has an invaluable brand image that has placed the brand in the high echelons of the fashion industry. This has created a prestigious brand value to it and coupled with its famous quilted fabric that doe not rip or tear ea sily, has allowed it to claim expensive price tags for its products. The Appeal of the "Little Black Dress" Chanel operates in the fashion and designer clothing industry. The introduction of the "Little Black Dress" was an extraordinary step for Chanel on the road of success. It still occupies an envious position of being credited as a "wardrobe staple" to this day. The design school advocates simple formulated design, that is simple as it is explicit, arrived at after consideration of all the forces in the environment both internal and external. It also offers a prominence of the "architect" role to the CEO that Chanel played with aplomb when formulating designs. Inspiration derived from the ability to read consumer preferences and developing a product that would cater to