Watching fashion reality TV, you might think that every designer knows how to sit behind a sewing machine and whip up an outfit. In reality, though, many designers don’t or can’t sew at all. There are some things that are important for every designer to know – especially if you don’t know how to sew.
Many business owners fund their startups with their time and passion in the beginning – and sometimes this is necessary, but I want to make the case for why paying yourself as the business owner will benefit your business in the long run.
Finding the right factory for your fashion brand is kind of like dating. There are a lot of good ones out there – and a fair share of bad ones – and it takes time to find someone that is the perfect fit for you. So, how do you know when you’ve found “the one”?
Whatever prompted you to start this business and however eager you are to get your design ideas out into the world, you need a realistic timeline for developing your collection so you can plan your launch. Getting a first collection ready to launch may take longer than you think.
Throughout product development and production, you’re going to be communicating with many different people. Clothing is very physical and visual, so having reference samples to look at during these conversations will keep everyone on the same page. So, what exactly can you use reference samples for?
I often get asked “should I make pattern blocks for each category before developing and launching my collection?” Blocks and slopers are what we all were taught to start with in fashion. However, I recommend a different approach that gets you testing your market quicker and is more efficient for future development.
In fashion and especially during product development, we talk alot about fit and making sure designs fit well. We all agree that fit is important and can make or break the success of a design, but what even is a good fit? And, how do you know when you’ve achieved it?
Measurements are found all over within the fashion industry and fabrics are no exception. Whether you are looking at a Bill of Materials, ordering fabric or swatches online, or doing some fabric testing, understanding how fabrics are measured and listed will help you make the best choices regarding your fabric.
During development and even pre-production, there are times that you might get a sample back that isn’t quite how you wanted it. But, when the sample doesn’t fit, how do you determine whether cutting, sewing, shrinkage, markers, or the pattern itself caused the problem and what needs to be done to correct it?
Despite the lack of physical samples to touch and feel at a virtual show, though, virtual sourcing is totally possible and doesn’t have to be daunting. Here’s my step by step guide to navigating a virtual sourcing trade show before, during, and after the show.