Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Fashion Designer Eguide
Fashion Designer Eguide
com eGuide
Breaking Into and Succeeding as a
Fashion Designer
By Jennie S. Bev
StyleCareer.com eGuide – Fashion Designer
Legal Notice
2003 © Copyright Notice:
The legal owner of this eGuide is permitted to make two electronic and two print
copies for personal use. Permission for making additional copies must be
addressed to StyleCareer.com.
Disclaimer:
The author, editors, publisher and distributor of this eGuide have worked hard
to provide you with high quality and accurate information. However, we are not
responsible for any damages arising out of or in connection with the use of this
intellectual property. We do not make any guarantees on the income as a result
of using the tips, strategies, concepts and principles contained herein.
StyleCareer.com
Insider Tips to Break Into and Succeed in Fashion and Image Careers
www.StyleCareer.com
How do I navigate?
If you can read this page, you must have already downloaded and installed
Adobe Reader in your computer. Some newer computers even have this
software pre-installed. Navigating eGuides, thus, shouldn’t be a problem.
However, if you’re new to Adobe Reader or reading eBooks, let me assure you
that using this guide is just like surfing the Web. Feel free to move up and down
using the scrollbar located at the side of your computer screen or the arrow
buttons at the bottom of the screen next to the page number box.
When you find an underlined text, feel free to click. It will open up your browser
and take you directly to Web resources from which you can learn more about
the subjects.
Obsolete Links?
Please note that these are external links, which mean they belong to the lawful
owners of the sites and we are not responsible for updating the information
contained therein.
However, we will do our best to update the links in our eGuides periodically. If
you find dead or obsolete links, feel free to let us know at
updates@stylecareer.com, so we can make changes to our guides and send
you a complimentary updated copy.
If you need to download the free version of Adobe Reader, use the
following link:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
As an accomplished author, Jennie S. Bev was named 2003 EPPIE Award finalist for
excellence in electronic publishing under Non-Fiction How-To category. She holds
an MBA from a Southern Californian business school and an MS in Education from
California State University Hayward. She also attended professional certification
programs in Technical Writing at UC Berkeley and UCLA extensions.
Jennie resides in San Francisco bay area, one of the most beautiful regions in the
world, with her beloved husband and 400 books in her living room. She loves traveling
and animals, particularly canines. She has traveled extensively to many “fashion cities”
and around the world and is available for interviews and consulting assignments. She
loves to hear from her readers too, so don’t wait to send off your comments to
editor@stylecareer.com.
StyleCareer.com eGuides for Breaking Into and Succeeding in Fashion and Image Careers
http://www.stylecareer.com
Write Industry Reports: Work at Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per Month
http://www.writingcareer.com/bev001.shtml
Contents
How to Use This eGuide .......................................................................................3
About the Author...................................................................................................4
Contents ................................................................................................................5
Who Is This eGuide for?.......................................................................................8
Drawing ..................................................................................................... 35
Computer-Assisted Drawing ...................................................................... 36
Color Selection .......................................................................................... 36
Fabric Selection......................................................................................... 37
Budgeting .................................................................................................. 37
Pattern-making .......................................................................................... 38
Draping ...................................................................................................... 38
Sewing....................................................................................................... 39
To Go to School or Not to Go to School........................................................ 40
Advantages of Fashion Schools ................................................................ 40
Disadvantages of Fashion Schools ........................................................... 40
Advantages of Self-Study .......................................................................... 40
Disadvantages of Self-Study ..................................................................... 41
Top Fashion Schools................................................................................. 41
Fashion School Directories........................................................................ 42
Alternative and Distance Learning............................................................. 43
When You’re Ready… Design Contests! ...................................................... 44
We have also included hundreds of bonus links to various Web sites from which
you’ll be able to learn more about the complexities of the industry not available
elsewhere.
In a nutshell, this eGuide is all you need to understand the fashion world --its
cycle, the must-have trade skills, the business aspects, and the support needed
to ride the express train to success.
Sincerely,
Jennie S. Bev
Author and Editor-in-Chief
StyleCareer.com
www.stylecareer.com
editor@stylecareer.com
!"Dr. Elizabeth Rhodes, Dean of the Kent State School of Fashion Design
and Merchandising
Not everything you know is true. Not everything you know about the fashion
industry is true. Much of the stuff you heard are no more than myths or
perceived images created by skilled marketers of the industry with the help of
the media.
Some of the myths surrounding the fashion industry and the fashion designing
profession are:
As if it was not reiterated enough, let me assure you that they are nothing but
myths. The realities are far different.
Imagine your favorite pair of blue jeans. It’s so simple and doesn’t look
glamorous at all. You wear them everywhere when shopping for
groceries or attending night school. You even wear them when indulging
in your favorite past time activities: gardening and hanging out on bingo
nights. You purchased them at a K-Mart around the block instead of the
posh Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto.
AHA Moment!
Not all designers sew their designs themselves. They can have a design
made into a wearable product by having someone else sew it for them.
Most beginning designers, however, need to sew their own designs due
to the high cost of sub-contracting.
This eGuide will show you how you can learn the basics of these
valuable skills without spending a fortune. I have also included some
valuable resources where you can get free drawing templates and
pattern making tips that you can use in creating and producing your
designs.
Thus, the next question is: can you then become a fashion designer
without ever going to fashion school? Of course you can, because
there are many ways to prepare yourself for this career.
Designers such as Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren and Todd Oldham –who
are household names-- never went to fashion school. Neither did
thousands other designers: particularly those who work in-house as
corporate designers, worldwide.
Of course, everybody knows that school does help. There you’ll learn
systematic thinking and shortcuts. You’ll be introduced to many people,
including well-established designers who teach the classes. You’ll make
many lifelong friendships with fellow classmates that you will cherish
forever.
TIP
This eGuide will show you how to gain useful trade skills that are
taught in fashion schools through self-study. Imagine how much
money you can actually save by using this eGuide. Even though
it is not a substitute to fashion school, it provides the basics and
resources to help you get started with confidence.
There are many types of fashion designers; of which some can be found
in any city. Are there any clothing stores in your hometown? Most likely
there are. Are there any local, including home-based, fashion designers
in your town? Most likely there are at least a few, if you pay close
attention.
Give it a thought…
o If starting your own studio is your goal, you can literally start it
anywhere, including from your own home, as long as you have
access to the market – people in your hometown.
AHA Moment!
AHA Moment!
Without the help of the industry, sales would be a flat line and the
world is not this colorful.
creative and work long hours for months to bring you the best designs for
the season.
All these glamorous and glitzy images created by the media are
“responsible” for the general perception of the industry. Once you get to
know a fashion designer in person, you will find he or she is just like
everyone else.
So, if you aren’t sure whether you belong to this exciting world of fashion,
let me assure you that you are. As long as you have the perseverance,
the motivation to succeed and the willingness to learn, you will eventually
earn your place.
Also, don’t ever forget that all clothes are designer clothes, including
the simplest and the most modest ones. You can choose a specialization
that will help you produce everyday clothes instead of glittery evening
dresses, exclusively designed for Oscar nominees.
AHA Moment!
AHA Moment!
To satisfy your curiosity, I’ve included the following site from which you
can learn more about “Who’s Who” in New York fashion industry. This
walk of fame honors exceptional designers who contributed to the
industry. They include Coty award winners.
AHA Moment!
Industry Size
According to The Garment Industry Development Corporation (GIDC), a non-
profit consortium of labor, industry and government dedicated to the apparel
industry based in New York City, the apparel market is a $172 billion industry
nationwide.
For more detailed information of the U.S. fashion industry, you might want to
check Infomat.com. This site includes a list of links covering the statistics of the
apparel and textile industries. For Canadian fashion industry, Strategis.ic.ga.ca
covers the details.
For data from other countries, International Apparel Federation includes the lists
of associations in foreign countries, from which you can get detailed information
on each country’s market size.
AHA Moment!
Now that you know how large the fashion market is ($172 billion in the
United States alone), you’ll be able to use the information to help you
map the pathway to your dream career and to see what to expect from
the competition.
You might have been wondering how fashion designers “know” what the trends
are (such as when to design more mini skirts, use pastel colors or create those
grunge-vintage looks) and who are “responsible” for them.
OK, the answer is: every six months, trendsetters determine the upcoming
seasonal trends 18 to 24 months in advance. Thus, we can say that the whole
fashion cycle is 18 months -- from trend creation to the final products. Next
time when you purchase a new piece of clothing, you’ll see it in a different light.
It takes the industry 18 months to have the product readied for you, from the
time of its conception to its release.
Trends Creation
Twice a year, Committee for Colors and Trends (an international organization)
and Color Association of the United States determines the seasonal color,
texture and material trends, 18 to 24 months in advance.
The Committee for Colors and Trends provides forecasts in the following
categories:
2. Footwear
o Dress/Tailored;
o Casual;
o Fun/Active;
o Last, heel and construction concepts;
Because of their financial value, the trend reports are available for purchase.
They are divided as follows:
o Spring I
o Spring II or Summer
o Fall I
o Fall II or Winter
For complimentary trend reports, which are quite limited, you might want to try
NPD Fashionworld’s Web site, a research firm that specializes in the fashion
industry. From time to time, they publish free articles on fashion industry trends.
NPD Fashionworld
http://www.npdfashionworld.com
Now the color and material trends are pre-determined, textile mills are among
the first ones to use them. They need such trend reports to design new fabrics
for the upcoming seasons, which are usually 18 to 24 months away.
Major textile mill showrooms are located in fashion cities, such as New York,
Paris, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Smaller mills usually participate in trade
shows, which can be found in most major cities around the globe.
Textile Contact
http://www.textilecontact.com
Textile News
http://www.textiles.com
After the prototypes of new fabrics are ready, apparel companies represented
by fashion merchandisers and designers go to the showrooms or trade shows
to purchase textile samples. These will be used to create new design samples
of the wearable final products.
In the next stage, fashion designers of apparel companies work hard to create
40 to 60 new designs per line. Of course, prior to having the samples produced,
they draw hundreds of sketches adhering to the forecasted trends.
With the help of fit models who try on the prototypes made of “muslin” (an
inexpensive type of fabric), the design committee makes its 25 to 30 semi-final
choices from those 40 to 60 new designs. Next, they make several samples
using the actual fabric for each of the final 15 to 20 designs ready to offer to the
retailers.
Overall, it would take six to twelve weeks to prepare for one line up to this point.
HINT
Promotion
This stage is probably the most challenging but extremely rewarding for fashion
people. Fashion marketers work closely with the designers to buzz the new line:
o Boutiques;
o Retail department stores;
o Online and mail order companies; and
o Budget and seconds stores (such as K-Mart, Ross, TJMaxx, etc.)
In this period, marketers and buyers come together to learn from each other: to
see what are offered, to negotiate for better prices and eventually to close
deals. Members of the press are usually invited to cover shows in order to
generate publicity in mainstream and industry media.
A closed deal is sealed with Purchasing Agreement, in which the terms are
explained. Failure to fulfill the agreed terms will result in penalties or, even,
legal suits. The agreement includes the following clauses:
o Quantity;
o Price;
o Delivery method;
o Delivery address;
o Penalties for late and unsatisfactory delivery;
o Choice of legal resolution methods (court or arbitration) should a suit
arises; and
o Other terms that both parties have agreed upon
After deals are closed, apparel manufacturers work to fulfill orders. First of all,
they place orders with textile manufacturers, which would take a few weeks for
the fabric to be ready.
Therefore, during this period, fashion designers make sure that their designs
are ready to go. Patterns are carefully constructed and details are thoroughly
considered.
HINT
As soon as the fabric is ready, textile mills will ship it promptly to apparel
manufacturers, where it is properly cut, sewn and finished as ordered. During
the manufacturing process, the quality of every piece is carefully monitored.
Irregular and defective pieces will be separated from the perfect ones and
placed in the so-called “dump” pile.
The good pieces will be packed and shipped to the buyer utilizing freight
forwarding service under the agreed terms. The defectives and irregulars will be
offered to seconds stores or be destroyed.
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
“In the next five to ten years, I believe that young designers will push
toward wearable yet special designs. Instead of throwaway clothing, I
see a movement toward greater quality and less excess.
In the United States, people wanted to fill their closets in excess, while in
Europe they have always spent more money for fewer items of greater
quality. I see the trend in the United States moving in that direction.”
o Spring I
o Spring II or Summer
o Fall I
o Fall II or Winter
Classifications
There are several ways to classify fashion:
The U.S. classifications of men’s, women’s and children apparel are as follows:
Men’s
Women’s
o Outerwear (coats);
o Evening/bridal (wedding gowns, evening gowns, cocktail dresses and
prom/pageant dresses;
o Active wear (athletic wear);
o Sportswear (casuals, shorts, pants, and sport shirts);
o Maternity (clothing for pregnancy);
o Uniforms (work pants, work shirts, and cotton uniforms;
o Furs (coats, hats, and muffs); and
o Intimates (bras, shapers, petticoats, panties and slips)
Children
Children’s apparel is classified by age and size from infancy to young junior.
Clients are carefully measured to ensure exact fit and ultimate comfort. The
apparel is usually sewn by both hand and machine for perfection. A prototype
made of muslin material will be created for fitting purposes before creating the
actual one.
After several fittings, the actual clothing will be created using expensive fabric.
Again, the client must be present for at least one fitting before the final touch-
ups. For all the legworks and expensive materials, a piece of haute couture
costs anywhere from $15,000 to $100,000 or more.
1. Adeline André
2. Pierre Balmain
3. Carven
4. Chanel
5. Christian Dior
6. Christian Lacroix
7. Dominique Sirop
8. Emanuel Ungaro
9. Frank Sorbier
10. Givenchy
11. Grès
12. Jean Paul Gaultier
13. Ted Lapidus
14. Pierre Cardin
15. Thierry Mugler
16. Valentino
17. Versace
18. Yves St. Laurent
Unless you’re among the only 2,000 clients of haute couture worldwide (of
which 60 percent are Americans), the clothes in your bedroom closet most likely
belong to Ready-to-Wear category. As it goes without saying, the market of
Ready-to-Wear clothing is unlimited.
The sky is the limit in this category. Anything that brings out the “style” in you,
can be considered an “accessory.” The classifications are:
Special Sizes
For both men’s and women’s classifications, there are two special sizes that
some designers and apparel companies specialize in:
o Plus size (sized as Xs, such as Big & Tall, Avenue); and
o Petité (sized as Ps, such as Alfani Petité, Petité Sophisticate)
Price Zone
AHA Moment!
There are many classifications in the fashion industry but none is better
than the other. The only difference is the target market (customers).
Designer, bridge and better categories, however, enjoy more media
coverage and upscale image.
Personality Traits
There is no specific formula on who will succeed and who will fail in fashion
industry. However, in order to break into it, there are at least three major traits
that will influence the quality of your journey: creativity, willingness and
perseverance.
Creativity
Creativity is the buzzword in this business. Designers are paid to create. They
must make something outstanding, wearable and marketable out of a blank
canvas.
We can see the differences in styles and moods in different designers, which
distinguish one from the others. But how creative is “sufficiently creative” for a
designer?
The answer is not written in stone as it depends on various factors. The first
factor is of course your personal style. Your personality and preferences
determine the styles and designs you create.
The second factor is “what types of creativity are needed”? There are 3Cs.
Unlike working in other professions, designing requires the ability to project new
ideas frequently. The ideas must be fresh and interesting. Some variations of
existing concepts are acceptable, as long as there are new elements that fit in
the pre-determined trends for the season.
Therefore, the ability to keep new ideas flowing is of utmost importance in this
career. Without it, repetition occurs, which would hurt the business. Now, how
can you train yourself to be creative?
You can draw any style you want, as extravagant or as artistic as possible. Just
make sure that your designs can actually be constructed three-dimensionally.
Drawing does require imagination and flow if creative juices, but turning a
design into a wearable piece is a different skill altogether.
You will have to break down the design into parts and create the flat rendition of
it, which is called pattern. This requires a different type of creativity, which can
be learned in school or through self-taught activities.
Pattern-making skill will be covered in the following Skills of the Trade section.
However, even though you understand the principles, it is not a guarantee that
you’ll be able to make perfect renditions.
Creativity, once again, comes into play. The more creative you are, the more
you will be able to “improvise” in making pattern structures and shortcuts that
ensure comfort for the wearer and the best possible final look.
Isaac Mizrahi was one of the most talented designers in our lifetime. He has
won many awards and his designs have received accolades for being artistic,
innovative and highly skillful. Thus, why did he close his design house in 1998?
The answer is simple. His designs were not wearable. While they were great
on runways, when worn by models, regular customers did not find them
wearable. They might have been too bold or too cumbersome to wear, or,
customers couldn’t find an appropriate occasion to wear them.
This explains why everyday clothing lines enjoy high acceptance. Casual,
career and work clothes are among the best-selling products. After all, if you
can’t sell them why did you design them in the first place? Unless you inherited
$50 million from your rich uncle, it’s very likely that you’ll eventually need to
earn a living from your designs. Agree?
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
“Personal attributes important for this career: good color sense, feeling of
what is going to happen in the future, appreciation of textiles, rampant
creativity, thick skin, massive self-confidence, self-motivation and luck.”
“The most successful fashion designers are also excellent business and
marketing people. Look at Tommy Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren, for example.
Their design style is not extremely creative, but marketed well.”
Very often fashion designers are not taken seriously, they are thought of
as daydreamers and the profession is looked at as just an interest or a
hobby. It is important to describe a fashion designer as someone who
can put the design into production and put out a garment that will sell.
A fashion designer must have a good head about the business end of
the industry, especially if he is self-employed.”
Willingness to Learn
Only with continuous learning that you’ll be able to take your skills to the next
level. Apprenticeship, thus, plays an important role in nurturing what you
already have.
Perseverance
It is true that everybody fails. Some people must fail times before they rise.
Oftentimes, failing means you’ll rise higher than before you fall. Perseverance
keeps you in check when you fail and to make it a great learning experience
instead of freezing you out.
Remember, it is not how many times you fall but how you rise from it that
makes you a better person.
following list, you’ll find the description of what they are and whether you can
substitute them whenever possible.
1. Basic anatomy;
2. Visual synthesizing;
3. Drawing;
4. Computer-assisted drawing;
5. Color selection;
6. Fabric selection;
7. Budgeting;
8. Pattern-making;
9. Draping; and
10. Sewing
Basic Anatomy
The key to perfect and comfort fit is correct body measurement, so the first skill
you need to master is the basic anatomy. Since not everybody is a “perfect”
size 10, get familiar with different body types, sizes and how they differ from
each other. Adults and children have different proportions as well.
TIP
When you’re taking measurement, make sure that you give some extra
space (a few millimeters) between the surface and the measurement
tape. Don’t be too tight or too loose. The tape should be able to move
freely but not too loose that it could fall.
Visual Synthesizing
By “visual synthesizing,” I’m referring to the ability to distill visual ideas from
various sources to benefit your own designs. Please don’t confuse it with
copying others’ designs.
IMPORTANT
Synthesizing is more like writing your own song after listening to the
breaking waves at shore, copying is simply acknowledging others’ ideas
as your own.
Drawing
Most designers hand draw their own sketches and renditions, unless they are
senior designers in a top design house, this skill will come very handy.
Beginners may also find drawing templates useful.
TIP
Computer-Assisted Drawing
Many designers use computer software that draws the sketches and renditions
for you. If you have this computer skill, you may use it instead of drawing by
hand.
TIP
Color Selection
A good designer works hard to make her clients look good. Unless she is
familiar with the color wheels and theory, this task is an impossible mission.
Glamour Girls Inc., “How to Wear Color to Enhance Your Eye Color”
http://www.glamourgirlsinc.com/eyecolortut.html
HINT
Colors create the dramatic effect to make a piece of clothing stands out
without overbearing the wearer.
Fabric Selection
Experiment with different kinds of fabric: find out how they can come together,
how they perform and drape. Some fabrics complement each other, while
others are simply disastrous when assembled together.
TIP
Try constructing a piece of clothing utilizing two or three types of fabric,
such as cotton, silk and polyester. See how they drape. Analyze what
works and what doesn’t.
Budgeting
Unless you’re a registered haute couturier, you can make the most beautiful
evening gown in the world that costs a fortune, nobody would want to purchase
it. You need to be creative yet realistic at the same time to create clothes that
are wearable, comfortable and affordable.
1. Materials, such as
o Fabric;
o Buttons;
o Thread; and
o Ribbons
2. Labor
o Hourly
3. Electricity
4. Miscellaneous
o Transportation;
o Depreciation (software, instruments, etc.)
TIP
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
Pattern-making
TIP
Draping
TIP
Use a mannequin that comes with adjustable measurements.
Sewing
YES – You must know how a piece is sewn, so you can create the pattern and
cut the materials. At minimum, you must understand how a piece of apparel is
going to be sewn.
NO – You don’t need to sew by yourself, if you’re considering using the help of
assistants or outsourcing manufacturers.
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
If the designer wants to earn a living with the design process, then he or
she must be able to communicate what is in his or her head to others
and that will require developing some drawing skills.
While all these skills are being learned, the student also has to acquire
some business savvy-ness and understand the business of fashion.
Because great designs that don’t market well are seldom economically
productive and therefore emerge the ‘starving artist’ problem.”
Advantages of Self-Study
Disadvantages of Self-Study
The following fashion schools are selected based on research of the most-
mentioned schools in the media, which should not be taken as endorsements
or professional advice. Every school has its own strengths and weaknesses.
TIP
I’d suggest that you make every effort to ensure that you choose the right
one. After all, you are the one solely responsible of your future.
USA
Canada
France
Italy
Polimoda (Florence)
http://www.polimoda.com
UK
Asia
These online directories contain tons of direct links to fashion schools and
programs in the United States and around the world.
FashionDegrees.com
http://fashiondegrees.com
FashionSchools.com
http://www.fashionschools.com
Hemphill Schools
Dressmaking and Design Program
http://www.hemphillschool.com/english/sew.html
Fashion Design Program
http://www.hemphillschool.com/english/fashiondesign.htm
They offer certificate classes in English and Spanish.
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
The most important skills are business skills that apply in the real
industry. They teach you that fashion design is more than being creative;
you need to produce real clothes for the real world.”
There are many avenues for acquiring skills. A degree usually also
carries with it a certification to the employer that the person has a liberal
arts foundation and has been repeatedly asked to use critical thinking
and logical progression skills.”
For professional designers, the most prestigious fashion award in the United
States is called Coty Award granted by American Fashion Critics. It is the
“Oscar” in fashion industry.
o Alexander Julian;
o Calvin Klein;
o Coco Chanel;
o Donna Karan;
o Mary McFadden;
o Oscar de la Renta;
o Ralph Lauren; and
o Stan Herman
A committee of fashion critics gives this award to the designer of the best line in
each U.S. apparel classification in the particular year.
Not all design contests are identical. Some contests focus on wearability, while
others on originality and aesthetic elements. Make sure to participate in a
contest that suits your specialty or career goal.
o Originality;
o Wearability;
o Aesthetics;
o Technical skills; and
o Appropriateness for the particular season
With a workable game plan, all these are within reach. Remember to keep
yourself motivated and be willing to learn continuously.
o Steady income;
o Entry-level designers earn $20,000 to $35,000;
o Senior designers earn $80,000 to $200,000;
o An excellent way to learn from fellow designers and your employer;
o A great way to network with like-minded people;
o Need to follow the style guidelines, so highly creative people may find it
quite limiting; and
o Instead of you, credits go to your employer
Gaining Experience
OK, I know you’re ready to roll. At this point, I assume you already have actual
experiences in designing apparels, because you’ll need to include some of
them in your portfolio.
Locating Employers
First things first, you need to locate companies that hire fashion designers. You
can use several approaches to locate apparel companies, fashion designers
and fashion recruiters:
o Use local directories, such as The Yellow Pages, local publications and
local Chamber of Commerce; or
o Use the Internet
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
o Vertical retailers;
o Manufacturers;
o Textile companies;
o Trend services; and
o Print studios
She also said that product-driven companies with many product lines tend
to hire more designers.
Career Choices
As a beginning fashion designer, you have several paths to choose. Each has
its own pros and cons, so I’d suggest that you carefully assess your strengths
and weaknesses. Most entry-level positions are technical positions, which
require strong technical skills rather than creative skills.
o Junior Designer
A junior designer is responsible for cutting the initial flat pattern and
assembling the selected fabrics for the approved styles. This position is
ideal for a well-rounded beginner with strong skills in pattern making and
cutting.
o Sketching Assistant
A sketching assistant is responsible for making technical sketches based
on the approved drawing of the approved styles. This position is ideal for
those with strong skills in drawing and pattern making.
o Cutting Assistant
A cutting assistant helps fashion designers by cutting the fabrics based
on the flat patterns and specifications required. This position is ideal for
those with strong skills in pattern making and body anatomy.
o Manufacturing Assistant
A manufacturing assistant helps fashion designers and the
manufacturing division by working closely with the team consisting of
junior designers, sketching assistants and cutting assistants.
HINT
Please note that these descriptions are not written in stone. In many
companies, the tasks overlap significantly. Make sure that you are
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
The ‘creative’ designer comes up with the entire look, color scheme, and
identity of the collection. They typically execute only the initial looks.
Whereas the ‘technical’ designer does the first draping and pattern
making; they do the engineering part, and often the result is quite
different from the original scheme.”
Résumé
Although résumé is necessary, it is not the most important part in applying for a
fashion-designing job. Portfolio is. We will discuss how to compile an attractive
portfolio in the following section.
Professional Résumé
Another proven way is to include your internship and related experiences as the
focal point. Don’t be shy to elaborate the job descriptions in order to provide a
clear picture of what you’ve done and are capable of doing.
Chronological Résumé
TIP
While it’s not recommended for those who have already had experiences
in the field, a chronological résumé is ideal for fresh graduates and
those who have limited experienced.
Portfolio
As in other creative professions, portfolio is the most important part of your job
application. Many fresh graduates and career-changers are so talented that
they can be accepted for positions higher than entry level posts.
Therefore, make sure that you provide the best samples of your works include
the followings (at minimum):
o Two original design drawings (by hand or CAD) along with information
about color and fabric choices; and
o Two flat renditions of the designs (also called “patterns”)
If time and resources permit, you may also include actual fabric choices and
fabric assembles.
TIP
How you “package” your portfolio also matters. Make sure to use an
attractive professional-looking folder to keep all your samples. As it goes
without saying, an employer prefers to hire an organized person.
The interview stage is used to assess your compatibility with the company. To
“score” it, all you need to do is present yourself in a positive light. Showcase
your willingness to learn, hardworking attitude and creativity.
TIP
Some employers ask you to draw a design sketch based on their preferences.
The purpose of this test is to evaluate your originality, creativity and ability to
“create something out of nothing” within short notice.
Internship
Internship with fashion companies and design studios are rarely advertised;
therefore, you need to look for an internship or entry-level job by yourself.
TIP
Be nice to people you’ve just met. You’ll never know who may go home
and pull some strings to recommend you to decision makers and
influential people in the industry. New York City offers the best internship
and entry-level opportunities.
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
“I broke into this career by enrolling in a short course to learn the basics,
accepting a minimum wage jeweler position, which provided training and
did piece work for other jewelry designers, while I developed my own
designs and began producing and marketing through art/craft shows,
wholesaling and eventually through my Web site www.jennsjewels.com.
This is the first question you must ask if you’re serious in going the path less
traveled: opening your own fashion studio. Therefore, you should approach it
scientifically, rather than instinctively.
One of the best and proven methods to assess one’s inventory of interests is by
taking Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Local colleges usually have a
career center that provides career counseling to their residents. A trained
counselor should be able to administer the assessment test free of charge.
TIP
The test merely shows your skills inventory. It should never be used as a
prediction of your success or failure in the field. If your motivation is as
high as the Himalayan Mountains, nothing can stop you from achieving
your peak.
Another way to find out whether you’re ready to go solo is by answering these
eleven questions honestly. Write down the answers, so you’ll remember.
Question One:
Do you have the financial resources to cover the first year expenses of
your business?
Be ready for the unexpected. Most new businesses must start from
scratch without any client base. Making sure that you can cover at least
the first year of your business, if it hasn’t made any profits yet, will give
you the much-needed peace of mind to focus on the new business.
Question Two:
Can you take risks (both major and minor)?
Question Three:
Are you self-motivated and self-disciplined?
If you think working by yourself means that you can wake up late and
finish early, think again. Most self-employed people work more than ten
hours a day, particularly in the first few years of their business.
Remember, if you don’t work, you won’t be receiving any income: unlike
working for others, in which you’ll be paid for your time regardless of the
outcome for the day.
Question Four:
Are you comfortable working directly with clients?
Working directly with clients can be quite frustrating because they will tell
you like it is. Many clients are nice, so it’s very fulfilling; but not all of
them are like that. It is unlike working for others, in which your supervisor
is usually very encouraging in order to boost your morale.
Question Five:
Do you have the trade skills to serve your clients?
Be honest. You may feel you are the best designer in the world. How do
others think, really? Find some unbiased people (not your family or
friends) who will tell you like it is.
Are your works good enough for a professional? If not, find out what
they think your weaknesses are (but don’t take them personally). Use
their opinions to upgrade your skills.
Question Six:
What’s your specialization?
Question Seven:
Can you toot your own horn (to market your services)?
Unless you’re proud of your work and willing to toot your own horn about
being a self-employed designer, the business is unlikely to succeed. You
might encounter some people, who are close to you, that may become
skeptical when you tell them about your new profession. But always
remember the following!
REMEMBER
Question Eight:
What are your personal and professional strengths that you can bring to
the business?
Question Nine:
What are your personal and professional weaknesses that you may bring
to the business?
Question Ten:
Can you identify opportunities to grow your business?
Look around and ask questions. Be brave to see beyond the surface.
Look within and without. Identify anything and everything that may
increase your opportunities to grow your business. Some considerations:
number of competitors in the area and their specializations, new niche
markets, etc.
Question Eleven:
Can you identify threats that can harm your business?
Opportunities may turn around and become threats. Basically there are
two types of threats: direct and indirect. Carefully screen an “opportunity”
to see if it’s really an opportunity or a threat.
TIP
Resources
To begin with, you might want to consult the following Web sites before getting
into the details of setting up the business. These sites provide free information
that you can use right away. Some even provide free mentoring service to learn
from those who have talked the talk and walked the walk –which is invaluable.
My Own Business
http://www.myownbusiness.org
Provides a free online course on starting a business, which comprises of
11 sessions that you can take in any order.
I’d suggest that you carefully choose the specialty of your business. Make sure
that your interest has a large enough market. Many designers prefer to work
with female clients because they are the largest (niche) market. Designing
women’s apparels also give you a lot of freedom to be creative.
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE:
Market Research
Market research may sound a bit intimidating and may make you consider
hiring a professional. While it is always recommended to consult an expert, you
may be able to perform your own “simple” market research.
In order to make wise decisions when working for yourself, choosing a suitable
and profitable specialty, and choosing a niche market, here are some TIPS to
get you started:
Now, what to look for? You will need to obtain information on their:
o Location (which part of the city says a lot about the consumers);
o Captured market (existing clients);
o Interior design (upscale or mediocre style?);
o Work quality (high or mediocre quality);
o Customer service (how did they carry their image?);
o Price (price tells a lot about the consumers as well); and
o Others
To find their:
After you collect the information, use it to analyze your and their positions. Here
are some suggestions on performing the analysis:
o Recognize patterns;
o Recognize similarities;
o Recognize irregularities;
OK, if you have finished with the analysis, now it’s time to relate the findings to
your situation. Make thoughtful decisions based on this research for it might be
your key to finding your niche and becoming successful. To get a larger picture
of the business, repeat the procedures as necessary.
TIP
Always write down what you find. This way, you can easily refer to them
when comparing the findings and make a thoughtful analysis.
Your business legal structure will affect how you run the business: its costs,
taxes, and liabilities for any occurring debts. I’d suggest that you consult a
lawyer and an accountant for their professional opinions.
Most likely, in the beginning, you will be working by yourself or with one or two
partners. If this is how you’re going to structure your business, a sole proprietor
or a partnership (LLP) is probably a good choice. (As if it wasn’t reiterated
enough, I suggest consulting a lawyer and an accountant to be sure as every
person’s needs are different.)
TIP
Partnership?
The more heads and hands, the more things can be done and
overcome.
The more heads and hands, there will be more ideas and more
disagreements.
TIP
Choose people with whom you can work well professionally as your
partners. They may or may not be your close friends or family members.
Since the well being of your business is very important, never choose a
partner based on your personal relationship.
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
“If you are not good with the business aspects –as most creative types
are not—you have to get a partner to handle it. That’s the biggest bit of
advice I can give.
unbelievable stress, and fear. It’s a scary journey and you have to keep
believing it will eventually be worth it.”
In setting up a fashion studio, there are three types of workspace that you must
carefully design for functionality, comfort and image.
o Customer space;
o Working space; and
o Management space
Customer Space
The front part of your studio is what your customers will see. If it’s a home-
based studio, make sure that it is the first part of the working space that they
see as soon as they open the door. A strong image of style and professionalism
in the interior design is highly recommended to project a positive vibe.
Decorate this space with fashion gimmicks and some stylish mannequins with
your new designs. If you intend to sell ready-to-wear apparels, place them here
as well. Whenever possible, separate it from the working space.
TIP
If you use pre-owned items, you may expect to spend at least $800 to
$1,000. If a professional interior designer is consulted, the price varies
greatly. An expenditure of $4,000 is expected.
Working Space
This is the place where all the dirty works will be conducted. A good workflow
design is a must to ensure maximum efficiency; the design comes second.
Make sure that you arrange the furniture properly, so your workflow will not be
affected.
TIP
The cutting table doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive. You can use a
pre-owned dining table to begin with. Extend its length by placing a piece
of smooth plywood on top of it, if needed. Make sure that it has a
smooth surface (not to scratch the fabric).
This room doesn’t cost much because you can use existing or used
furniture pieces. Anywhere from $200 to $1,000 is needed for the set-up.
Management Space
The ideal place for a management space is in between “customer space” and
“working space,” because that is where you’ll make careful rendition of the
design, using either computer (CAD) software or by hand. This is also where
you’ll make calculations of fees to charge, earnings and expenses (or even
payroll, if you have assistants).
TIP
The most expensive item in this room is the computer and the CAD
software. With the declining price of new computers, we can now get a
fairly sophisticated PC desktop or laptop for slightly over $1,000.
OK, let’s start with the two possibilities: you can either create custom-made
clothes or sell Ready-to-Wear lines under your brand.
Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The two major
disadvantages that may hinder new designers to start RtW lines are the high
cost of mass production, which contributes to higher risk, and the level of
difficulty in breaking into it. Unless you’re well covered financially (as companies
have 30 to 90-day payment turnaround time) and have received actual orders,
I’d suggest not walking this path.
Custom Made
Nobody can tell you how much you should charge your clients. It’s completely
your prerogative.
TIP
Another way to set up your rates is by multiplying the total hours needed to
complete an order from start to finish with your “estimated hourly” rate. An
estimated hourly rate is the price you give for an hour of work.
TIP
Give some room for alterations and other unexpected activities, such as
travel time to purchase supplies pertaining to the particular order.
Most likely, if you make RtW clothes, you either sell them yourself or have other
retailers sell them for you. Whichever route you choose, pricing RtW lines must
be done carefully due to the many types of expenses and, possibly, many
unexpected costs.
Now that you have the grand total, calculate the profit margin mark-up, which is
usually anywhere from 10 to 50 percent. Again, this figure is solely your
prerogative.
TIP
The lower the costs are, the higher your profit can be. Always negotiate
for a better price for the raw materials.
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
“Make sure that you have sufficient funds in the event you get a big order
right off the bat.”
Most fashion designers, who work for themselves receive orders from individual
or corporate customers, create the designs and manufacture them into actual
products. Some, who take their business differently, provide the following
services:
o License their designs to corporations (and earn royalties from them); and
o Provide consulting (a.k.a. freelance) services to corporations that need
on-going or occasional assistance
AHA MOMENT!
In the above professions, you don’t need a studio, workshop or your own
showroom, which is a huge cost-saver.
TIP
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
“I found out that if I worked freelance, I could make five to ten times as
much for the same work, which was scary at first but much more
challenging and rewarding.
Also, I didn’t want the influence of an employer’s design and I am just too
independent.
I usually sell the rights or partial rights for publication of the design. This
allows me to sell the same design more than once to different sources
and leaves the door open for licensing opportunities.”
Being Successful
There is no definite recipe for success other than an optimal and balanced
execution of internal and external resources. Some examples of what I meant
by it:
o Your personality traits must be in alignment with success traits (you can
have all the good traits but if you don’t have the traits that can make you
successful, your battle is an uphill one); and
o The quality and quantity of your business’ stakeholders must be in
alignment as well (how many people know about you is as important as
who these people are)
To put it briefly, what you have must match with what you can deliver (and be in
the future).
Success Traits
Three of the most important success traits are: perseverance, entrepreneurial
spirit and customer service.
Perseverance
TIP
Five to ten years is not uncommon for a new fashion designer to make
her mark. Do you think you can take it? If not, you better reconsider your
choice.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Many extremely talented designers (some with several awards in their résumé)
fail because they don’t know how to do business. They are creative and artistic,
but don’t really know how to keep their clients satisfied or to manage their
business.
An entrepreneur is an artist, too. At the same time, he must be creative and firm
in running the business, if he intends to earn sufficiently for a good living. So,
what does “entrepreneurial spirit” mean and how can one attain its highest
level?
Having your own business requires more than your present resources. It
demands lasting commitment to focus and self motivation. The flame set
ablaze in the beginning must be maintained for as long as possible. This is
what I call as preserving your “entrepreneurial spirit.”
TIP
How, then, can you maintain it? Here are some suggestions to begin with:
HINTS
For instance, everywhere she goes she hands out her business card and
chats about what she does. When she makes new friends, she realizes
the potential to take it to “professional” and “profit-making” levels in which
a “friend” may become a business partner when the time is right. Of
course, sincerity in friendship is the key and business shouldn’t be
the only reason why you go out and make new friends.
Customer Service
Excellent customer service pivots around the needs and wants of the
customers’, not yours. You are identical with your business, so whatever you do
would enhance or impair your existing professional image.
1. Find out what the needs and wants are and how to fulfill them;
2. Be proactive in improving your services, always looking for ways to
satisfy customers; and
3. Prevent and resolve mistakes and misunderstandings
TIP
Many businesses don’t take their customer service seriously. They think
that a good product is sufficient to keep customers coming back. If you’re
still unsure of what good customer service constitutes, you might want to
consider taking short workshops or seminars on this topic. There are
also many books that cover it.
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
The following methods are proven, meaning that many fashion designers have
used them with excellent results. With your entry-level budget, I won’t
recommend placing expensive ads in glossy magazines. Those are for
established designers.
Here are some low-cost promotional strategies you can include in the marketing
plan:
Publicity
First of all, let me assure you that a great publicity can generate more
orders than you have ever imagined. While ads can help with the branding
process of a product, publicities help with the building of reputation. The logic is:
if the media is interested in covering it, then it must be something really special.
Because you never pay for publicity, the media is some sort of a “guarantor”
that you’re worth the coverage. Also, because you never pay them, the scale
tips towards them. They have the position to select who they want to cover, for
how much space and when.
TIP
How do I know if a piece of news is newsworthy? Simple, if it
gives value to a lot of people. After all, media circulate to make
money.
TIP
The ideal length of a news release is 250 to 300 words. Limit
information to one or two paragraph to answer each of the What-
Who-When-Where-Why-and-How questions.
Depending on the type of news you’d like to convey to the media, you have the
options to choose one of the following four strategies, which can be used
concurrently. Make sure that you follow the above three important aspects of
successful publicity for better results.
4. Written and Verbal – Media Advisory. Get visibility by the media. Let
them know that you exist, so they can contact you for expert advice.
After sending off a media kit, follow-up periodically. Update the media of
latest developments, trends and upcoming important events in fashion
TIP
There is no way to ensure media coverage after a news release is
distributed. You can expect to increase the chance of coverage by
tailoring each release to fit the media’s target audience. This, of course,
can be time consuming if you’re distributing to hundreds of media
simultaneously.
I’d recommend that you write a few releases with different angles: one
for local media, one for trade magazine, one for consumer magazine and
one for broadcasting media. Since it’s easier to get coverage by the local
media, start from there.
MORE TIPS
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
“Hire a publicist, get exposure that way. Editorials and blurbs are far
more credible than ads.”
!"Vivek Nagrani, Founder of The Ovadafut Hosiery Company
“My partner and I tell everyone about what we’re doing; you have to
shamelessly promote to everyone. You have to create a buzz, and if you
don’t have tons of money for advertising and PR, you have to do it
yourself.”
PR Web
http://www.prweb.com
Free Web-based news release distribution.
PR Newswire
http://www.prnewswire.com
News release distribution service for a fee. You can choose nationwide,
regional or industry-specific distribution points. For an additional fee, you
can be included in their expert database (when journalists submit their
query, you’ll be informed so you can contact them directly). It is, indeed,
one of the best resources so far.
Trade shows and fashion weeks are excellent to take your business to the next
level. In these events, buyers come from all over the world to find out what’s in
and what are worth purchasing. Participating in these annual events put you in
an equal position with experienced and larger apparel companies.
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE
“The New York trade shows are the most important ones. We started
our business by going there and putting ourselves to the test.
Even if you are not selling, it is the easiest way to meet and talk to
people in the industry. By attending these events, you will find out very
quickly if you are happy in the industry and passionate about it.”
“I pounded the pavement. I faxed every company I could find. I hung out
in the garment district buildings and talked to people. I went to MAGIC
trade shows in Las Vegas twice a year to meet people. Eventually I was
getting referrals and didn’t need to market myself anymore.”
A fashion market is a place where wholesale sellers and buyers meet and make
transactions. Basically, it works just like any other market. It is similar to fashion
week in many ways except for it is permanent. (Note: fashion weeks and trade
shows are annual events.)
Most large department store chains and specialty stores have the so-called
“Buyers’ Open Calls” day. On this day, which is usually once a month, buyers
open their doors to manufacturers and their representative, introduce
themselves and propose their products for selling them.
TIP
Many buyers consider “manufacturing conditions” seriously. Questions
regarding where the products are manufactured physically (country of
origin) and who work in the factories (are there under-age people?) are
often asked. Make sure to answer them honestly as they may visit your
plant for assurance.
MORE TIPS
Where can you find information about Open Calls day? Call up the
corporate number of the stores you’re interested in (make sure that they
carry lines of the classifications and themes that you specialize in). Ask
for information on Open Calls day. It might not be advertised, but trust
me, most large department stores have it.
Manufacturer Representatives
You pay for her services after a sale is closed, so this system pays by itself. In
many cases, she also helps you in finding buyers by:
o Quantity; and
o Total amount
I’d suggest that you carefully screen potential manufacturers for their
experiences and quality of services. Some questions to ask in the selection
process:
TIP
o Payment terms;
o Quality (make sure to give a test order);
o Names and locations of existing clients; and
o Testimonials and references from satisfied clients
TIP
Before joining an organization, make sure that you have studied and
understood their:
o Mission statement;
o History (when and how it was established, any historical events that
triggered the founders to establish, etc.)
I’d recommend that you become an active member of your regional chamber of
commerce. You’ll be updated of latest regulations pertaining to your business
and businesses in general as well as have the opportunity to network with the
members who may have become your future business partners.
1412 Broadway
New York, NY 10018
1-212-302-1821
1-212-768-0515 fax
New fashion designers will find such events highly inspiring. Whenever you’re
ready to market your own lines, contact the coordinator to register as an
exhibitor.
Mode a Paris
http://www.modeaparis.com/va/index.html
The following Web sites cover the various aspects of the industry, including
news, market and business trends. Most of them provide complimentary
services, while some require subscription to access the information.
TIP
Women’s magazines are good sources to see what the trends are. One
thing you must remember is that they are intended for customers, not
designers. As a member of the industry, you need information pertaining
to professionals.
Apparel News
http://www.apparelnews.net
FashionWindow.com
http://www.fashionwindow.com
Just Style
http://www.just-style.com
Stores Magazine
http://www.stores.org
Success Profiles
Ulla Bazant
Fashion Designer (Women’s), Entrepreneur
Ulla Bazant New York
New York, NY
www.ullabazant.com
Photo by
www.UllaBazant.com
What She Does:
Ulla calls herself a fashion designer and an entrepreneur. She has been a
designer for her entire career, having started in textile design and then
launching a successful freelance studio in 1999 called Shack of Style, Inc. In
early 2001, she embarked on starting her Ulla Bazant of New York, which was
her life-long goal.
Ulla was born in Warsaw. She grew up in Warsaw, North Africa and Germany.
She moved to the United States with her family as a teenager. Now she lives in
Manhattan.
Ulla is a cum laude graduate of the world renowned New York Fashion Institute
of Technology, where she won prestigious design awards. She holds degrees in
fashion design with specialization in art and intimate apparel, and in fabric
styling.
Her Achievements:
My first job was as a textile designer. Such jobs don’t pay much, are stressful
and didn’t attract me much. I got fired, and then I started my own textile design
studio by pounding the streets in the Garment district.
People would give me a trial project to do for one of two reasons: they
happened to be in a bind and needed something overnight and were desperate
enough to try someone new, or they were trying to go out with me. When I
could actually do the work –meaning that they could sell my designs—they
were stunned. I’m not just guessing that: that is what they told me. So that’s
how I built my first client base.
From there, I expanded into being a designer for several companies. I hired
assistant designers for a while, but eventually, I realized that it was time to start
my own line. My boyfriend quit his business; we borrowed a bunch of money
from the bank, and got to work. A year later, we were about to open a store with
our own Spring 2003 collection.”
Survival Tips:
“Think long and hard about going into this industry. It’s a horrible industry and I
can’t recommend it to anyone. In the beginning, it’s low paying, unethical and
nasty. But if you have an insatiable desire like I did, you’d better have a thick
skin.”
Aimee Capobianco
Fashion Designer (Vintage Handbags and Accessories)
Manufacturer
Aimee Capobianco, LLC
Burlingame, California
www.aimeecapobianco.com
Photo courtesy of
What She Does: Aimee Capobianco
After seven years, Aimee was approached by one of her designer clients about
a design position. She immediately jumped at the opportunity. That was five
years ago and she has been actively designing ever since.
Survival Tips:
Jennifer Dewey
Fashion Designer (Jewelry, Accessories)
New Orleans, Louisiana
www.JennsJewels.com
Photo by www.JennsJewels.com
What She Does:
Jennifer is a jewelry designer who works for herself and for other designers,
such as Thomas Mann and Margo Manning. She has been in the business for
approximately six years.
She learned this trade through self-study and apprenticeship, with occasional
training sessions in specific areas. She is a bachelor’s degree holder --majoring
in Communications with minor in Psychology from Ripon College, where she
also attended art courses.
Jennifer was exposed to arts as a part of the many disciplines in Liberal Arts
education. Her visits to China, Japan, parts of Europe and Brazil also influenced
her learning and artistic appreciation. She hopes to continue traveling, which
she believes helps her better appreciate others’ similarities and differences;
thereby fostering a more harmonious and peaceful world.
“I broke into this career by enrolling in a short course to learn the basics,
accepting a minimum wage bench jeweler position which provided training and
doing piece works for other jewelry designers, while I developed my own
designs and began producing and marketing through art/craft shows, wholesale
and Web site.”
Survival Tips:
Senior Citizens
http://www.seniorcitizensmagazine.com/03_12december/Page_17.htm
Karen Hipwell has been designing clothing since she was in third grade. She
later studied fashion and design at the School of Fashion Design on Boston’s
Newbury Street, where her talents were highly recognized.
Prior to becoming Karen’s husband, Warren Hipwell was her partner in the
start-up phase. He took Karen’s first line of clothing to the fashion shows in New
York City in 1989 where he received nearly $35,000 in orders. He was a former
Emerson College student.
Their Achievements:
Even prior to graduation from fashion school, Karen was hired as an assistant
clothing designer for a Massachusetts company that sold moderately
sportswear fashion. When the company was sold to Leslie Fay, she left to
pursue her career as an independent designer.
Warren started out in a communications career but found himself in a new role
as the company’s representative when he took his fiancee’s designs to New
York trade shows.
Survival Tips:
“The quickest way to fail as a fashion designer is to get into a rut and not listen
to the customer. It’s hard to hear criticism, but if you don’t listen to the
customers and retailers then you’re not providing good customer service and
you will fail. Many people become self-absorbed as designers and lose touch
with what people want.”
Her Stories:
Photo courtesy of Elisa Jimenez
Dress by Elisa worn by model
Papermag.com
http://www.papermag.com/stylin/fashion/shows/03spring/new_york/elisa_jimene
z/elisa_jimenez.html
Microsoft.com
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2003/Feb03/02-13Butterfly.asp
Elisa is known as a successful fashion designer based in New York City. With
her background as an interdisciplinary artist, her designs are pulled from other
disciplines and genres in order to manifest a cohesive concept and philosophy.
Her designs are renowned for their “radical” feel, in which mythical qualities are
transformed into wearable artistic pieces.
She accidentally “stumbled” into this field but she had always been raised with
the idea that who she was and what she did was going to depend on the way
she was going to make money for herself.
Survival Tips:
“My biggest advice for anyone attempting to live more is to listen to your own
vision, stay true to the best parts of yourself while being open to allow yourself
to change.”
Alexander Julian
Fashion Designer (Men’s)
Five Times Coty Award Winner
Youngest Inductee to the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame in 1980
The First American Clothing Designer to Create Exclusive Fabrics
Colours by Alexander Julian
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
www.julianstyle.com
What He Does:
Photo by www.JulianStyle.com
Where He Studied:
By the age of 16, Alexander had tried his hands on clothing design at his
parents’ clothing store Julian’s College Shop, which served as his virtual
classroom. By 19, he opened his own boutique “Alexander’s Ambition” in
Chapel Hill. He studied at University of North Carolina.
His Achievements:
At the age of 29, he won his first of five Coty Awards for Outstanding Men’s
wear in 1977. In 1980, he became the youngest inductee to the Coty Fashion
Hall of Fame.
He has won every major design award in men’s wear, including nine times on
the International Best Dressed List and a special Coty Award for Textile Design.
His movie and TV credits are as long as his list of achievements. Among them
are Paul Newman, Cosby, Michael J. Fox, Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander.
He also designed the uniform for the basketball team of his alma mater –the
University of North Carolina.
His exposure to retail since an early age gave him the learning opportunities to
see what’s hot and what’s not, what works and why, and ultimately what’s
missing.
Survival Tips:
“Working for yourself makes you ultimately responsible, the buck stops here.
You market through networking, and as far as finding clients, you have to
pursue them relentlessly.”
Shawn K. Lively
Fashion Designer (Women’s Handbags)
Work-at-Home Entrepreneur
Charmed I’m Sure Boutique
Austin, Texas
www.charmedimsureboutique.com
Shawn designs personalized cigar box purses at home so she can be at home
with her children.
She has a degree from California State University at Northridge but she learned
more about arts and her artistic side when she renovated and ran an art gallery
from 1992 to 1994.
Her Achievements:
Shawn began creating charmed bracelets and cigar box purses as a hobby. So
when many retailers approached her, she had to start a business.
Survival Tips:
“I personally keep up on current fashion trends and try out different styles on all
of my friends to find out what they love and what they hate. I gear my style
towards 30 to 40-year old women. Just basically knowing what is out there and
updating as you go along makes all the difference. Personally speaking you
need a lot of drive and determination to succeed in this business.”
Vivek Nagrani
Fashion Designer (Men’s Hosiery)
The Ovadafut Hosiery Co.
New York, New York
www.ovadafut.com
What He Does:
Model Sophia Hinnant in Redford
Photo by www.Ovadafut.com
Vivek designs men’s hosiery (socks),
which is made in France and Italy and
available in upscale men’s stores in the United States, Canada, London,
France, Italy and Japan.
His Achievements:
He created his first line and called the stores he liked to shop at. He started with
smaller boutiques, which are more open to doing new businesses. He also used
direct mail because it’s inexpensive and hired a publicist to get exposure
through blurbs, which are more credible than ads.
Survival Tips:
“Give your customers what you say and they will appreciate it. False
expectations lead to big disappointments.”
Kathy Peterson
Fashion Designer
Craft Designer
Book Author
TV Show Host
Columnist
Consultant
Kathy Peterson Productions, Inc.
Tequesta, Florida
www.KathyPeterson.com
Photo by
www.KathyPeterson.com
She designs fashion and crafts for books, publications, TV and manufacturers.
She sells rights or partial rights for publication of the design. This allows her to
sell the same design more than once to different sources and leaves the door
open for licensing opportunities.
Her Achievements:
Kathy was nominated “Craft Designer of the Year” in 1998. Her byline has
appeared in 16+ publications and four books (see below). All books are
available via her Web site.
“I was lucky to hook up with wire and fabric manufacturers that design fashion,
accessories and home décor designs for publication and advertising. I was
approached by two book publishers who liked my works as well as a number of
magazine editors and TV producers.”
Survival Tips:
First, be patient,
Second, don’t wait but look for opportunities and
Third, be a trendsetter not a follower.
StyleCareer.com publishes the following eGuides to help you breaking into and
succeeding as a:
o Fashion Designer
o Fashion Writer
o Fashion Photographer
o Image Consultant
o Interior Decorator
o Model
o Modeling Agency
o Spokesmodel
o Stylist
o Talent Scout
StyleCareer.com
http://www.stylecareer.com