Fashion Slow Lane!

As a fashion consultant to start-up brands in the fashion industry, I have compiled the top 5 mistakes that new designers make. Want to manufacture their products in the USA but expect to retail for Target prices.   The main request I get from new designers is to design their collection and then they request that I help them produce it in the USA, yet they want to retail it for the same price as Target.  I let them know that that is impossible because the cost of production in the USA is 5-10X that of overseas depending on the product.  New designers need to educate themselves on production costs in the USA vs. Asia before they start their collection.  Do not have a core target market.   Often new designers do not have a target market. They want to design a collection for everyone.  Big mistake.  It is nearly impossible to design a fashion item for a target demographic that is everyone.  When I try to pinpoint the demographics of their ...

5   Important Things to Consider Before You Start A Fashion Brand By Tara Sauvage roccodante@gmail.com  www.tarasauvage.com 1.    Do you have a budget?   Before you start any type of business large or small you have to have some type of budget.   Whether its $1,000 or $10,000 you will need to have a budget to get started.    To hire a designer is going to cost money upfront and to make prototypes its going to cost money.     Your initial budget will determine how far you can go to get started in the industry before you look to outside funding. 2.     Who is your target market?    You need to define your core target market, who are you designing for, what type of stores does your ideal customer shop at, what is her basic demographics?   I suggest writing a few paragraphs defining your ideal customer.     Discuss where she lives, shops, what is her income level, family ...