New Designers - Funding, Publicity and Marketing Your Line

Oak Jeans · 13-06-2007

Hey,

Im a young designer trying to market myself, i have a limited budget and need more ideas on how to get myself noticed.

I have already gone down the route of giving stylists i know free garments, im gaining abit of a following on myspace as well. Other things ive tried is giving free stuff out to boutiques and some magazine editiors. Ive been told to hire models to wear my stuff in clubs etc but does this really work?

Its hard work and i gave up everything to pursue this passion so if any of you have some good ideas on how i can get noticed please let me know!

jazspin · 13-06-2007

Have you tried hiring a PR rep or publicist? I'm freelancer who does a lot of fashion writing and most of the new designers I profile I find out about from PR agencies (I'm established enough that they send me press releases and let me know about new clients). You might be able to write up a press release or make a press kit yourself, or get a friend who's a good writer to help, and send it to local media outlets.

I also check Iqons for new stuff regularly, and keep up with the goings on of the fashion blogosphere (sometimes I'll come across cool new stuff that way).

**BetteT** · 14-06-2007

Oak Jeans,

I'd just like to welcome you to the Fashion Spot.

And good topic! Hopefully you'll get some lots of input here . I don't have a lot more to offer thatn jaspin offered ... all excellent ideas.

educo · 15-06-2007

Have you tried actually selling your stuff? There is a website called etsy.com that's pretty much all independent designers. maybe you could start off small and get your myspace followers to go there and buy.

Oak Jeans · 15-06-2007

Hey

thanks for reading and replying to this, i have have a couple of people ask for a press release and keep meaning to get one done but im pretty sure i couldnt do one myself. If anyone reading this can write them please let me know, i am willing to work something out if someone can help

As for selling my stuff, i have been getting a few sales on my site and i have a few stores carrying my stuff. I will look at that site as im trying to get noticed and its slow right now!

educo · 16-06-2007

Who are you giving the press release to? Did you hire a PR company?

educo · 16-06-2007

I also agree, IQONS is a fab website. It's like a myspace for the fashion crowd. It's great for networking. I just signed up and I'm working on my page now.

Oak Jeans · 16-06-2007

The people from poshglam.com contacted me asking for a press release. I have not written one and after looking at what it requires i think ill ask someone else to do it as i dont want to mess it up. I have not hired a PR company i was thinking maybe freelancers are the way to go until im a little better know.

Oak Jeans · 16-06-2007

I checked IQONS.... very nice

fashion tyger · 04-11-2009

What do you think about the Urban Fashion Network???

Is it worth putting a profile up,or just a waste of time???

FabFashion · 08-11-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by educo

Have you tried actually selling your stuff? There is a website called etsy.com that's pretty much all independent designers. maybe you could start off small and get your myspace followers to go there and buy.

the current PR season 6 finalist Carol Hannah used to sell her stuff on Etsy. i think she still has her account there.

RocknNeedle · 29-03-2010

some great advice. Any updates or news? Or further suggestions, would be a great help to me

Thanks x

farou7a · 25-04-2010

i know this is very cliche, but word of mouth really helps u get recognised b/c if someone likes what a friend of urs is wearing (designed by you) they will def approach you and the chain gets longer that way.
i have seen it happen.
plus u can always also design specifically for the person and again, by word of mouth u will have ppl approach you where u can design specifically for them, hence ur charges going up or down depending on the amount of work/time/cloth/beading etc you put on it.

**daniellat** · 25-04-2010

yeah, word of mouth is the best ad campaig you can get. One thing that worked for me was getting to know my market, try to know the segment of the market you are aiming at and try to get their attention by designing things theyre insterested, what their friends are wearing, what celebs their age are wearing, sort of what they look for or cant find in the stores they shop at, etc Try to look for something that there´s missing so your product can fill that spot.

RocknNeedle · 20-05-2010

***Edited***
Was wondering if anybody had any advice on how these magazines select items from new designers/up and coming brands? Sometimes I see brands who don't have PR agents and haven't been going long but have been featured in Grazia etc under sections such as ' What's hot this week'. Any advice would be much appreciated!

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29-03-2010	12
RocknNeedle scenester Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: London Gender: femme Posts: 56	some great advice. Any updates or news? Or further suggestions, would be a great help to me Thanks x __________________ Liquor mixed with rock 'n' roll

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13-06-2007	1
Oak Jeans windowshopping Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Gender: homme Posts: 9	New Designers - Funding, Publicity and Marketing Your Line Hey, Im a young designer trying to market myself, i have a limited budget and need more ideas on how to get myself noticed. I have already gone down the route of giving stylists i know free garments, im gaining abit of a following on myspace as well. Other things ive tried is giving free stuff out to boutiques and some magazine editiors. Ive been told to hire models to wear my stuff in clubs etc but does this really work? Its hard work and i gave up everything to pursue this passion so if any of you have some good ideas on how i can get noticed please let me know!

13-06-2007	2
jazspin scenester Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chicago Gender: femme Posts: 72	Have you tried hiring a PR rep or publicist? I'm freelancer who does a lot of fashion writing and most of the new designers I profile I find out about from PR agencies (I'm established enough that they send me press releases and let me know about new clients). You might be able to write up a press release or make a press kit yourself, or get a friend who's a good writer to help, and send it to local media outlets. I also check Iqons for new stuff regularly, and keep up with the goings on of the fashion blogosphere (sometimes I'll come across cool new stuff that way). __________________ my fashion blog: The Fashionable Kiffen my personal blog: Chasing the Southern Cross

14-06-2007	3
BetteT V.I.P. Mod Squad Leader Design Team Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles Gender: femme Posts: 19,353	Oak Jeans, I'd just like to welcome you to the Fashion Spot. And good topic! Hopefully you'll get some lots of input here . I don't have a lot more to offer thatn jaspin offered ... all excellent ideas. __________________ Bette It's All in the Details! http://www.musecube.com/BetteT/

15-06-2007	4
educo fashion insider Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NYC MUTHA F*CKA!!! Gender: femme Posts: 2,361	Have you tried actually selling your stuff? There is a website called etsy.com that's pretty much all independent designers. maybe you could start off small and get your myspace followers to go there and buy.

15-06-2007	5
Oak Jeans windowshopping Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Gender: homme Posts: 9	My site Hey thanks for reading and replying to this, i have have a couple of people ask for a press release and keep meaning to get one done but im pretty sure i couldnt do one myself. If anyone reading this can write them please let me know, i am willing to work something out if someone can help As for selling my stuff, i have been getting a few sales on my site and i have a few stores carrying my stuff. I will look at that site as im trying to get noticed and its slow right now! Last edited by BetteT; 05-11-2009 at 04:57 PM.

16-06-2007	6
educo fashion insider Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NYC MUTHA F*CKA!!! Gender: femme Posts: 2,361	Who are you giving the press release to? Did you hire a PR company?

16-06-2007	8
Oak Jeans windowshopping Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Gender: homme Posts: 9	Press Release The people from poshglam.com contacted me asking for a press release. I have not written one and after looking at what it requires i think ill ask someone else to do it as i dont want to mess it up. I have not hired a PR company i was thinking maybe freelancers are the way to go until im a little better know.

16-06-2007	9
Oak Jeans windowshopping Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Gender: homme Posts: 9	I checked IQONS.... very nice Last edited by BetteT; 05-11-2009 at 04:58 PM.

04-11-2009	10
fashion tyger scenester Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Gender: homme Posts: 148	Urban Fashion Network??? What do you think about the Urban Fashion Network??? Is it worth putting a profile up,or just a waste of time???

25-04-2010	13
farou7a V.I.P. Join Date: Jan 2010 Gender: femme Posts: 4,079	i know this is very cliche, but word of mouth really helps u get recognised b/c if someone likes what a friend of urs is wearing (designed by you) they will def approach you and the chain gets longer that way. i have seen it happen. plus u can always also design specifically for the person and again, by word of mouth u will have ppl approach you where u can design specifically for them, hence ur charges going up or down depending on the amount of work/time/cloth/beading etc you put on it. __________________ Fashion is not about utility. It is merely a piece of iconography, to express an individuals identity.

25-04-2010	14
daniellat Fashion Designer Mod Squad Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mexico Gender: femme Posts: 2,825	yeah, word of mouth is the best ad campaig you can get. One thing that worked for me was getting to know my market, try to know the segment of the market you are aiming at and try to get their attention by designing things theyre insterested, what their friends are wearing, what celebs their age are wearing, sort of what they look for or cant find in the stores they shop at, etc Try to look for something that there´s missing so your product can fill that spot. __________________ Fashion Illustration BLOG

20-05-2010	15
RocknNeedle scenester Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: London Gender: femme Posts: 56	*Edited* Was wondering if anybody had any advice on how these magazines select items from new designers/up and coming brands? Sometimes I see brands who don't have PR agents and haven't been going long but have been featured in Grazia etc under sections such as ' What's hot this week'. Any advice would be much appreciated! __________________ Liquor mixed with rock 'n' roll Last edited by BetteT; 20-05-2010 at 01:17 PM. Reason: Splitting a post ... removed response to post in another thread.