[AnneMarie]

I agree with the above comments and I would go one step further and try and find someone locally who already has these skills and get some private lessons. With other forms of group lessons, it will take much longer to learn! Start small and build up your experience of the techniques you will want to use.

It is no good outsourcing your designs if you cannot see where problems could lie and you may not appreciate 'shoddy' work. Remember that buyers turn garments inside out to check the finish ... if you are leaning toward the more designer/upmarket clientele.

Keep your dream and work at it one day at a time. Believe me if you do that, you will get there.

AnneMarie

[nangnangnj]

I think if you want to start a line of your own you really need to consider a serious business plan. Even if you knew all the other stuff about garment construction, you still need to know about running your own business.
We have guest speakers come along to our Uni who have their own small labels etc and one of the things they always bang on about is getting clued on business practise. There are many short courses around you can take for this. I thinking of doing one when I graduate, even though next year we will cover this topic a little in my current course.

Don't take this the wrong way, but the examples you gave make me think that maybe you need to be a little more realistic.

[_Andrea_]

Everyone was so clear and i agree. You need to learn pattern and sewing to be able to tell people how you want your outfit. Appart from that, obviously you need a good business plan, if not, you can have all the great ideas you want but you wont get a thing.
There are also agencies for labels, such as models agencies but with labels. One you've got your line done, try to go there with a good presentation of your work, with a portfolio, etc. and ask them to put your label there. If they see something interesting they will promote you.

Btw, sorry for my mistakes and "hi", it's my first post here

Good luck!

[Meg]

I agree about the business plan. It's also a solid business plan that will help you secure state sponsored funding/backing (not sure where you are from, but my province has many business loans and grants for entrepreneurs) as well as other financiers.

My point about the Mulleavy sisters is straight on then, they might have done art history but they didn't do sewing/fashion construction/etc. All great advice in this thread.

[tigerrouge]

If you have a strong vision of what you want your business to supply, you can leave the job of 'making the product' to your workers. Your job is 'company figurehead' - you represent the company, promote the company's image, make contacts, etc. The product is made by your workers.

Consider - the man who owns a car factory doesn't necessarily know how to make a car, he just understands the car industry.

If however, you want to be the person who makes the clothes, I'd reckon you'll have to do some academic training plus some sort of on-the-job work experience, so you gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience of the craft of clothes design.

[_Andrea_]

Well, i'm also interested in the costs on a new label and i've been looking a bit. This is what i found:
You can registrer you label only in your country, troughout the Europan Union, or internationally.
The cost, obviously, depends on the registrer you get. In Spain, the costs are more or less:

200-300€ for the national label.
1000-1300€ for the comunity label (EU)
and the internationaly it says it depens on the country. But for you i think your interested in the Europe label, right?
Well, it's a really basic information, but i don't really know anything else :p
Hope i helped though

[BetteT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mynn_plastic I'd like to know more about it. Especially the costs of a new label in Europe, more especially in Paris. xx

I've merged your thread into the ongoing thread about starting up a new line/lable/design business .... assuming that is what you are talking about ... starting a new business .

I've heard that in the US ... it can cost a minimum of about $100,000 to start a new line. Probably similar in Europe.

I think that there is some talk about the earlier in this thread .... maybe you could take a look through it.

[pout306]

A serious business plan will be necessary. If you don't want to take courses or anything I would suggest doing an internship even if for half a year to see how things work.

Sorry but the people that the thread starter listed has something I call, the EASY way in. If you are married to a rich man like Rachel Roy, or Kimora Lee Simmons for that Matter. If you are a Heiress or a Socialite, its a lot more easier to get a line up and running than if you have no prior experience in fashion at all. Patternmaking, Sewing etc... I am not talking a bout if you are a model lol. Which is why I mostly admire the Designers with real skill and talent and worked their way up in the industry. I usually look at the Bio's of many of the people who have their own line and I make a distinction between Fashion designers and the "Fashion Designers". Theres a big difference in my book. But that is just my personal opinion. Once I find out that someone has some type of connection to a rich man, a rich father...they are the heiress of some rich family or some socialite, I overlook them. Next!! Thats just my opinion. On the flip side I am sure there are business minded people who just want to start a line and then hire someone to do the fashion designing for them. Or even team up. I consider that a lot more reputable then celebs, trophy wives, heiressess and the like. I am sure someone is going to say your jealous, because they are upset at what I said which I am not lol. I am just stating my opinion.

This makes me think about when I was a business major in college. When professors ask about designers today people were like Sean John, Baby Phat, Rocawear lol. I did not hear not one REAL designer out of their mouths. Okay I don't want to go any further. Im out.

Good luck and many of the previous posters are correct.

[Willow_100]

This may seem like a silly question but........ how would you start a sleepwear company? Im interested, and would like to design my own. Do you think it is necessary to have studied in fashion design? i'm just unsure how to go about it all.

Thanks so much
x

[romeoelliott]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fashiongirl1 Sorry but the people that the thread starter listed has something I call, the EASY way in. If you are married to a rich man like Rachel Roy, or Kimora Lee Simmons for that Matter. If you are a Heiress or a Socialite, its a lot more easier to get a line up and running than if you have no prior experience in fashion at all. Patternmaking, Sewing etc... I am not talking a bout if you are a model lol. Which is why I mostly admire the Designers with real skill and talent and worked their way up in the industry. I usually look at the Bio's of many of the people who have their own line and I make a distinction between Fashion designers and the "Fashion Designers". Theres a big difference in my book. But that is just my personal opinion. Once I find out that someone has some type of connection to a rich man, a rich father...they are the heiress of some rich family or some socialite, I overlook them. Next!! Thats just my opinion. On the flip side I am sure there are business minded people who just want to start a line and then hire someone to do the fashion designing for them. Or even team up. I consider that a lot more reputable then celebs, trophy wives, heiressess and the like. I am sure someone is going to say your jealous, because they are upset at what I said which I am not lol. I am just stating my opinion. This makes me think about when I was a business major in college. When professors ask about designers today people were like Sean John, Baby Phat, Rocawear lol. I did not hear not one REAL designer out of their mouths. Okay I don't want to go any further. Im out. Good luck and many of the previous posters are correct.

well said

[ksl8313]

Quote:

Originally Posted by romeoelliott well said

^agreed,

[kathleen fasanel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fashiongirl1 Once I find out that someone has some type of connection to a rich man, a rich father...they are the heiress of some rich family or some socialite, I overlook them. On the flip side I am sure there are business minded people who just want to start a line and then hire someone to do the fashion designing for them.

Money makes anything easier, doesn't matter what kind of endeavor it is unless of course it's something like modeling. Plastic surgery only goes so far . However, that is not to say that business minded people who want to start a line have to hire someone to design for them anymore than people with money do.

In real life, it's more typical that celebs are more likely to hire it all out, everything from design to production. The reason is, a celeb is a brand, a clothing line is just another revenue stream, another branch of products they can slap their name on. Most celebs don't design or produce at all. Rather, they license their name to someone who already produces a given range of products (sunglasses, footwear etc). At best, the licensee presents a range of style ideas and the celeb selects the items that resonate with their image. This is the most typical course of affairs. There's a few exceptions tho, like Gwen Stefani. She's been sewing since she was a kid. It was in the news a couple of years ago that she broke her finger sewing her own samples.

[west63]

very very basic outline for you.
1.sketch
2.patternmaker
3.fabric(for simplest look for one that you can buy bulk later on)
4.sales samples (oh and fittings)
5.show to stores/boutiques
5.get orders
7.get patterns marked and graded
8.send markers, patterns, samples and fabric to factory

[semolinapilchard]

west63, nice to see it broken down to bare bones. appreciate.