A once-in-a-lifetime RADICAL shift in the fashion landscape is leading the way to create exciting possibilities for Fashion Designers to build successful brands from their OWN HOMES.

Consumers now actually WANT to buy authentic products from small artisanal designers and social media is providing low cost or free ways for designers to promote their designs on a much more even playing field.

This will result in a NEW AGE for designers to work in a more ethical, sustainable way around their lifestyles and many designers have already adapted to this SHIFT building successful brands from their KITCHEN TABLE or spare BEDROOM.

Over the last 3 decades big fast fashion companies made it impossible for independent designers to compete with their large marketing budgets and exploitative low manufacturing costs. 

So, while these big companies were polluting the planet, overproducing and undervaluing staff ambitious designers had to give up dreams of running their own fashion busin...

After consulting for many London fashion designers I noticed that lots of startup brands are not making it past their first three years.  

It occurred to me that they all had similar really big problems that no-one is talking about and if you’ve been doing at least one of these it means that you’re likely dealing with something I call the Curse of the Fashion Designer:-

1.

After 2 or 3 years trying to grow your fashion business you’re still only selling a handful of designs each week. 

2.

Every 3 to 6 months each new collection goes over budget so now you’ve lost so much money you even wonder if you can afford to do another season.

3.  

You’re posting on Instagram or Tik Tok every day but no-one is interested to engage with your posts.  You feel it’s such a waste of time and there must be some secret people aren’t telling you about.

4.

For every ten items sold you receive two returns and its eating into your profits. 

5.

Your family and friends love your pr...

This is only the start of a major shift that will bring exciting opportunities for fashion designers to work independently on their passion and create a work/life balance doing what they love!    

Society has been set up in such a way that prevented people going after their dreams.  The large retail chains dominated the market for so long and most graduates gave up their dreams of having their own fashion brand to work for these companies instead.    I was one of them….. When I left college I initially worked as an employee, working all hours, underpaid and I felt as if I was stagnating in “designer jail” …. Yet I did it for five years before finding the courage to be my own boss. 

Working really long hours, as an employee, in an understaffed, pressurised environment actually gave me a chronic health condition, so it has been my mission ever since to prevent young designers experiencing the same.

Yes, I found the courage to take the leap of faith ….  But most people who ...

If you have a burning desire to create sustainable hand crafted unique products but are still procrastinating about starting your fashion business or if you have started but can’t make a profit…..then you’re more than likely, what I like to call a Floundering Fashion Designer 😜.

If you are a Floundering Fashion Designer then you more than likely are doing one of these three things:

• NOT MAKING A DECISION about which business model to start, who your customers will be and at what price points.
• You have a business model in mind but are not sure if customers will pay high prices points for your unique EXQUISITELY created artisanal products…because they can buy it Primark for £2 and your manufacturer quoted you £80 JUST TO SEW and embroider it!!!
• You have already started but UNDERPRICED your products that took hours of love, devotion, blood sweat and tears to create!

So, this indecision and fear keeps you:

• FLOUNDERING in procrastination, not getting across the starting line.   
...

YOUR FASHION BUSINESS REQUIRES YOUR MIND BEFORE YOU GIVE IT YOUR MONEY!

Throwing a rich sauce over tough chewy chicken won’t improve the chicken…

…And it’s the same in your fashion biz.   Just throwing money at your business only MASKS the problems.

Instead, successful fashion designers plan strategically with a launch formula.   They know the best areas to spend money that will move their business forward.

Look, I get why you might think that you need a huge investment.  In the past you had to produce large 40 piece collections for wholesale buyers to take you seriously.  You also had to pay for large studio & showroom space….

...But what most people don’t realise is that TIMES HAVE CHANGED allowing you to start a fashion business with just a small budget.  In fact waiting to find that huge investment or backer could be preventing you from taking action and getting started!

In the Twenty Twenties you can work from a small space with some of your team working remotely.   You c...

CHARGING LESS FOR YOUR FASHION PRODUCTS IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL FASHION BRAND

If you have lots of unsold inventory I know how tempting it can be to lower your prices THINKING that it will increase sales….

But that could be the worst thing you can do to build your brand! 

I know it can be really disheartening when no one is buying....

But have you ever considered that if lowering prices meant increased revenue then all cheap garments would fly off the shelves and we all know that’s not the case!

Customers queue to buy £3000 Chanel handbags and bespoke Ferraris have a 5 year WAITLIST! ... Yet I’m sure you’ve seen all the images being circulated showing huge landfills of cheap clothing!

If you are lowering prices like the Floundering Fashion Designer then you’re probably burning yourself out working more hours, attracting the wrong customer and deterring those who ACTUALLY want the best, most expensive products…. Or, perhaps resorting to...

Every Bodacious Fashion Entrepreneur knows that it pays to keep ahead of the curve when it comes to retail trends and to build a UNIQUE brand that embodies their individual style. 

 If you enjoyed last weeks blog about the demi-couture business model, and you are still not sure about the best business model route for you, then you’ll definitely like this post.   I’m about to give you another really EXCITING business model that I’m sure you’ll love.

Are you still procrastinating in indecision about which business model is best for you and making these mistakes:

• You don’t know who your customers are;
• Have no idea what the price points should be for your market;
• Have not yet gone past the starting line and you’re feeling FRUSTRATED because you don’t know why it’s taking you so long;
• Have no clear direction so are overwhelmed by SCATTERED business advice and can’t retain anything because it’s all too much.

Or perhaps you have already started your business but you: 

• c
...

Do you know how the workers in your factory are treated?  For example are they allowed to join other workers in a trade union?  

Forming or joining a trade union to protect the interest of themselves and colleagues is a fundamental global human right as set out by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  It's something I am passionate about and in Fashion Entrepreneurs Academy (my group coaching programme) I only advocate manufacturers that uphold their workers rights and treat them fairly.

The trade unions are empowered to negotiate with employers in “collective bargaining”….basically this just means that the union negotiate with employers (collectively) on behalf of the workers for things like salaries, equalities, human rights, fairness, responsibilities, working hours, working conditions, sustainability etc. to arrive at a collective agreement that will form the basis of the employment relationship. 

Collective bargaining involves a specific process of joint de...

If you read last weeks blog you’ll know how to get the most out of attending a large fabric trade fair…..You might already have attended last weeks London Textile Fair.

The next event on the calendar is Premier Vision New York which is on 20th and 21st July and Premier Vision Paris   21st to 23rd September.

PV New York,  held at Centre 415, 5th Avenue (bet 37 & 38th Streets), will have 200 exhibitors and highlight a new emphasis on sustainability highlighting responsible industry measures.

In addition to the huge selection of  fabric suppliers and agents they also have a new Smart creation area based on a global eco-responsible approach which is based on:

• Social and ethical responsibility
• Environmental performance
• Traceability
• Finishing & Dyeing processes
• Recycling technologies
• Organic content
• Alternative materials

Most fabric fairs are not only the best place to source fabrics at wholesale price they are also a good place to discover the seasons major trends...

So, it’s that time of year again……Time to design your next collection…..and find some fantabulous fabrics that will inspire sell-out pieces and get your Instagram followers all in a tiz!!!

So, where do you start looking for fabrics?    If you are still over-paying retail stores its time to stop that and take your business seriously. 🧵

You could use dead stock fabric or start some up-cycling etc, but if your brand really needs metreage you should start attending the professional trade events.   These will be taking place worldwide over the next few months showing fabrics & trends for A/W ‘22 and the London Textile Fair starts in just a few days!

Fabric fairs are opening live for the first time since the pandemic and the London Textile Fair starts on Wednesday 13th July.   Premiere Vision New York is 20th & 21st July and Premiere Vision Paris is 21st & 23rd September live or 20th to 24th September on-line.

The fabric fairs are not only the best place to source your fabric...