In episode 49, Erika Neumayer Ehrat shares how she’s built a niche business – Rare Dirndl – creating fashion-forward styles that still honor traditions to help American women celebrate German culture. “I started Rare Dirndl in 2010 because, as an active member of the German community in Chicago, I was so disappointed to see that […]
Many brands I’ve talked to want to become size-inclusive, but have had to limit their initial size range due to financial or logistic reasons in the meantime. So, when you are able to invest in extending your size range, how do you go about adding the new sizes to your existing styles?
In episode 47, Morgan Shapero shares how after over 20 years working as a designer in NYC, she relaunched her own brand Shapero in 2021 – and how that experience provides both freedom to design and do business her own way as well as new skills that help her in her day job. Morgan Shapero […]
The thing about design is that it is subjective. So, how do you know which designs to produce and when the development process is complete? Today’s post is all about how to know when you’ve perfected the design and fit of your garment. (Hint: it has almost nothing to do with the garment itself.)
These last five years has taught me so much about business. And, specifically, about fashion business. Today I’m reflecting on the top five things I’ve learned that have made a difference in my business (and the businesses of my clients, colleagues, and podcast guests) that I think can make a difference in yours as well.
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.
In episode 40, Victoria Cates gives us a peek into the creative dollhouse of her whimsical, vintage-inspired slow fashion brand: Potion23. Victoria Cates, Owner and Designer of Potion23, was born and raised in New York, earned a degree in fashion design at the Beverly Hills Design Institute in Los Angeles, and now calls St. Louis […]
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 […]
In episode 25, Alexis Giger talks about her career in fashion from design school, to working for fashion brands big and small, to starting her own mending business during the pandemic in order to make loved clothes last. Alexis Giger is a fashion designer and textile mender based in St. Louis, MO. She graduated in […]
