In episode 42, Nazia Siddiqui of Transcend shares her vision for a new normal for the fashion industry focused on ethical, sustainable, and artisan crafted clothes that puts the people at every level of the production chain at the forefront. In this episode, you’ll learn: People and resources mentioned in this episode: Do you want […]
The goal with development is to arrive at a pattern that fits well on as many people in the target market as possible, but even the best-fitting pattern can’t fit everyone perfectly. Because of this, it is worth considering how your designs might be altered so you can design with ease of alterations in mind.
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.
With Illustrator being so widely used and accessible and traditional patternmaking software being so cost prohibitive, you might wonder if you can just make patterns in Illustrator. The short answer is, yes, you can. However, depending on your goals and how you will be using the patterns in your business, you might not want to.
In episode 39, Rachel Thebault and Neda Talebian Funk, the co-founders of Woodley + Lowe, talk about how they keep it cute, comfortable, and socially conscious for their inclusive and sustainable Gen Z fashion brand. Neda Talebian Funk comes from a background in start-ups, fitness and retail companies. She began her career as an equity […]
In episode 37, Laura Briggs talks about the fun, work, challenges, and rewards of starting her petite fashion brand, The Shortlist, without any fashion industry experience. The Shortlist creates gorgeous, limited edition fashion exclusively for petites. In this episode, you’ll learn: People and resources mentioned in this episode: Do you want fashion business tips and […]
Design may be the fun part, but costing is what makes sure your business is making enough money to cover your expenses, pay your people, and make a profit. Target and actual costs each serve different purposes, but both work toward the same goal of keeping your customers happy and your business profitable.
Fittings are the part of the development process where you get to evaluate your garment, test it, and make changes as needed until it is approved. Even during fittings, though, mistakes can happen. Here are five fitting mistakes you might be making and how and why to avoid them.
In episode 35, Terri Stipanovich, founder and CEO of small-batch manufacturing factory The Collective Thread, shares how her background in the non-profit world and mission to empower women to earn a living wage led her to start The Collective Thread as a resource for emerging designers, training ground for industrial sewing, and a place for […]
In episode 32, Elizabeth Frenchman shares what worked and what didn’t about starting a sleepwear brand in her home town of NYC after retiring from a career in graphic design. Elizabeth Frenchman is an apparel designer who adheres to the “less is more” philosophy as well as G-d being in the details. She was born […]
