Example Business Ideas
Starting a Fashion Design Company
Written by Rayzelle Forrest Young for Gaebler Ventures
Explains steps to take in order to become a successful fashion designer. Highlights the importance of having a niche and being hands on in your business.
If you have a passion for fashion and have always thought about designing your own clothes, it might be a good idea to become a fashion designer.
Although the fashion industry is not the easiest business to break into, with hard work and good design skills, your fashion design business could be a success. Here are some tips to follow to get you started in the fashion design industry.
Educate Yourself
Educate yourself in the industry before you actually become a full fledged fashion designer. You of course want to take courses in design as well as marketing and business strategies. Doing this will help you to be a well rounded designer with ample business skills to start a successful company.
Get An Internship
After completing your courses, an internship will allow you to get a taste of the fashion design industry before you start your own business. It also gives you a chance to create connections and alliances that you can use later with your own company. Use this opportunity to learn as much as you can about the fashion business.
Focus On a Niche
Specializing in a certain area of fashion will help your business to be more successful. A good idea is to find a niche that hasn't been tapped into yet or very little by other fashion designers. This will set you apart from the competition and keep you in demand since you are the only or are one of few who are providing the type of fashion that you are.
Enter Fashion Shows
Search surrounding areas where you live for fashion shows. Enter these shows in order to display your clothing line and get your business name out to the public. Fashion shows are will be imperative to the success of your business. Make sure you hire extra models for your shows as well as a diverse group of female and male body types in order to completely show off your clothing line.
Get Help From Interns
Get help from interns to help you with your business. This gives them the same opportunity to learn the business as you had as an intern while providing you with helping hands to run your company. Develop relationships with local fashion design schools in order to feed your intern program.
Locate Suppliers
Get information about fabric suppliers in your local area that have a wide range of fabric options and that fit well into your business budget. Let them know the approximate amount of materials you use per month in order for them to evaluate whether or not they can adequately supply what you need. This should include your fabrics, threads, and other supplies.
Once you have taken the above steps in setting up your business you should be well on your well to running a successful fashion design company. The only thing left to do is get distribution deals with retailers. When doing this, make sure you're involved in every aspect of distribution, right down to how your clothing will be displayed in the stores. Being a hands on fashion entrepreneur will keep the integrity of your clothing line and help with your overall success.
Rayzelle is an entrepreneur and writer. Based on her experiences as an owner of her own dance studio, she will share her personal tips on being a successful entrepreneur.
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