3 ways to start a fashion brand with little or no money

by Sophie | Jan 26, 2021 | Business of Fashion, Fashion Business Tip, Fashion Entrepreneur, Fashion School

Do you want to start a fashion brand but have little or no money for it? You are not alone! I have met and spoken to alot of people who want to start fashion brands but are being held back by limited funds, and I totally understand. Many people do not realize this, but alot of successful fashion brands did not start with alot of money.

There are methods you can use to fund your fashion brand without taking out loans or getting investors. If you are interested in learning how to start your fashion brand with little to no money, read on;

1. Start with Samples

You can startup faster if you launch with just samples of your product and produce for clients when they place orders. With this method, you don’t have to wait longer for mass production because you’ll have samples available for sale in less than a month.

Another pro is that you also won’t be spending alot because you do not need to stock a lot of products. Many fashion business owners have used this method successfully, and you can do it as well with limited funds. (If you will like to start, your own clothing factory, I have a Step-by-Step Blueprint that can guide you.)

2. Use your Day Job

Having a job is very important when starting a business, especially if you have no other means to fund it. You need to be able to support yourself and the business financially until you’re up, running, and making enough to pay yourself a salary.

If you already have a job, you should keep it and start saving monthly. If you do not have a job, you should consider working at a fashion startup. Not only will you earn money but also gain experience.

3. Start a different business

I know this might seem counter-intuitive but hear me out first. You can identify low-cost opportunities around you and come up with creative ways to earn money from them. For example, if you have a 9-5, you can source beautiful thrift bags and sell them to your colleagues to earn quick cash.

It doesn’t have to be long-term or have anything to do with fashion, feel free to monetize any other skill you have such as cooking, baking, or writing. Who says you can’t have more than one successful business?

Starting and growing a fashion brand with little or no money, is not impracticable for you to do. I hope these ideas give you the encouragement you need to get started.

Do you have more ideas, please share them in the comments, so others can learn from them.

Recommended Resources

Tips for Starting Your Fashion Business on a Lean Budget

Fashion Business: How to Start a Fashion Business with No Money

Want to Start a Fashion Business? Remember the words “baby steps”…

Corsetry Course, Weekend Option comes up 10 June 2017. Register now!

by T.Williams-A | May 22, 2017 | @martwayne, Corsetry Course, Fashion Course, Fashion School, Lagos, Martwayne Training Center, Sewing Class

So we had a great class when we launched our Corsetry Course in March. You have seen the pictures already but just in case… here they are:

Yes! You know a well-built corset when it stays on its own without any support! 😀

Well… weekend students, which are of course our busy professionals and others who work during the week, were not happy they could not attend the class so this time, so of course we had to make a weekend option available! SO! Weekend students, this one is just for you! 😀

It’s the same great course and the same content! Learn how to build your own corsets from scratch! And this course is perfect for bridal wear designers and those who want to start their own waist cinching businesses! Yes! Why buy one in the market when you can easily create yours and sell to your customers! In fact you can even create corsets for sale in a ready to wear line as an accessory in the form of a waist corset! The possibilities are endless really!! And it costs next to nothing!

Fees are only N50,000 and this includes your toolkit! Classes are on Saturdays only from 10am to 4pm for 6 weeks. To be honest, you can be done in a shorter period of time but we are giving enough time for those who may not be so familiar with pattern making.

The Course includes learning how to make 2 types of corsets: the paneled corset and the corset with a cup – AND also includes lace moulding!

To register is easy! Simply pay the fees in cash or online transfer into our GTBank account, “Martwayne Limited”, 023 710 3843 and you are good to go! Just show up on the day! Easy peasy!

For more details, please contact us on 0818 395 8856 / 0903 498 5877; via WhatsApp on 0809 787 6075, via Blackberry on D8E9802C or via e-mail: twilliams@martwayne.com

PS.

Please note that you have to be able to sew to attend this class. Complete beginners have to attend our Beginners Course first to learn how to sew before they can attend this class! Current Martwayne students need not apply as this is already part of your Bodices 3 course. Except you want to to register for this now and get the fees deducted from Part 3 when it’s time. Let us know so we can make a plan.

Great! That’s it! We look forward to having you! Tell others as well and let’s make this Stream a really fun one!

Have a great week!

Our Textile Design Course NOW has a weekend option! :-D

by T.Williams-A | Feb 23, 2017 | @martwayne, creative, design, Designer, embroidery, fabric painting, fabrics, Fashion Designer, Fashion School, Lagos, Power Through Fashion, textile design, textiles

Yes yes! Based on popular demand, we now have a weekend option available for busy professionals. It will start either on the 11th of March, 2017 with 2 sessions a day! Will keep you posted! 😀

Learn Fashion Design, Fashion Illustration & Computer-Aided Design this February @ Martwayne and take your love for fashion to the next level!

by T.Williams-A | Feb 15, 2017 | @martwayne, Be a Fashion Designer, cad, Computer Aided Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Illustration, Fashion School, Fashion Sketching, Power Through Fashion

This month, we are teaching the CREATIVE side of fashion and our first and really popular course is the Design, Fashion Illustration with Computer-Aided Design Course. This Course is perfect for you if you love fashion and want to explore your inner creativity.

– Have you always wondered how people come up with the most amazing designs?

– Do you have all these awesome ideas but just cannot seem to put them on paper?

– Maybe you are tired of copying people’s designs and want to come up with yours so people can patronize your work.

OR worse…

– Your tailors keep wrecking your ideas because no matter how much you “explain” it to them, they just cannot seem to get it?!

– You keep getting cut out of the final shortlist of candidates in that fashion competition because your fashion sketches were not up to par.

If you fall into any of these categories (and trust me, the list is even longer than this), then this Course is for you! This Course focuses on the real ART of fashion design! Yes! This is where the work really is!

So if you are on the verge of entering for competitions, applying to fashion schools, starting your fashion business and/or meeting with customers OR you have questions like:

– I am not creative, can I start a fashion business?

– I applied to a fashion school but I was asked to submit a portfolio, what is that?!

– Why do my tailors keep spoiling my work?

– How do people come up with all these amazing designs?

FRET NOT! You are in the right place! And the best part is, we teach FROM SCRATCH! So whether you are a complete beginner OR you are a good illustrator but wish to enhance your skills, this Course is for you!

Goodness! Wouldn’t you love to learn how to draw like this?!

I often tell people that if customers give you a magazine to copy, then I doubt they consider you a designer at all. And that is where a lot of designers I chat to have found themselves. And this is simply because, without a portfolio, you cannot get your customers to choose from your designs. It is just that simple!

To really succeed as a fashion designer or start a clothing line, you need to learn how to sketch, how to develop portfolios, how to develop collections and how to defend them! Operating as a designer definitely earns you more respect from your customers and also get them to choose from your designs. And this Course is here to teach you just that! 😀

So What Will You Learn?

The Course in in 3 parts! Yes! One Course, 3 different parts!

Part 1: Design, Concept Development & Portfolio Presentation

Here you will learn the following:

– how to develop your designs from an idea or a concept;

– the design and production process;

– how to choose colors and fabrics;

– how to create technical drawings which you will use to communicate your ideas to your tailor to minimize errors;

– how to develop the documentation required in a design project;

– how to create moodboards, concept boards and storyboards; and

– how to develop and defend your fashion collection.

Part 2: Manual Illustration

– Drawing the Fashion Figure;

– Body & Spinal Movements;

– Facial Features & Hair;

– Clothing the Fashion Figure.

Part 3: Digital Illustration with Computer-Aided Design

This is the portion where you learn how to perform the magic on your designs using CAD – turning your manual illustrations from drab to fab!

And you know what the best part is?! You can choose to do all 3 parts (which is of course what I would advise) OR decide which of the parts you want to learn based on your level of experience, your finances or your time.

So say, for example, you already know how to sketch beautifully but all you want to learn is how to use CAD to add that extra oomph to your designs, you can just register for Part 3! Yes! It is really that simple! Why pay to learn what you already know right?!

SO what are the benefits of the Course you ask?!

You are actually on your way to starting a new career in fashion illustration, establishing yourself as a fashion illustrator who designers can patronize! Easy! So really, you will make your money back easy!

So the Course goes beyond just you learning how to draw! It helps you know who you really are as a fashion designer and if you love fashion sketching, then you can easily establish yourself as one! PLUS you also learn the value of learning from constructive criticism. Trust me the Course is the ISH!

Course Fees & Duration:

The Course begins on 28th of February & 4th of March, 2017.

We have a weekday and a weekend schedule. So yes! If you have a full-time job or you live outside Lagos, you can still register for this Course which will happen on Saturdays only (2 sessions a day for 8 weeks from 10am to 6pm).

Weekday students who have a more flexible schedule can attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 8 weeks from 12 noon to 4pm.

Here is the breakdown of the fees based on whichever option you choose to register for! Please note that most options include your training materials (except otherwise stated) but exclude your tablet if you are running the CAD option.

Option 1: The Full Course (Parts 1-3)

This lasts 8 weeks for both the weekday and the weekend schedules and the fees are N80,000 only!

BUT you will need a tablet for the Course. If you have your tab like an iPad or a Samsung, then that is great! Just come with it. As long as you can download the software, you are good to go!

BUT if you do not have a tab, then you can order a graphic tablet from us which you need to connect to your laptop. You should budget about N30,000-N35,000 for the tablet but the actual fees will depend on the cost at that point and the exchange rate. But it should not exceed this amount! If you use a Windows 10 laptop, please contact us before you register!

Option 2: Part 1 Only

The fees are N35,000 and it lasts 2 sessions.

For weekday students, this is one week, for weekend students, this is 2 weeks (one session per day).

Option 3: Fashion Illustration with CAD (Parts 2 and 3).

The fees are N65,000.

You will need your tablet or you can buy one.

The duration is 6 weeks for the weekday option and 8 weeks for the weekend option.

The times vary and your Course Calendar will have the details.

Option 4: Fashion Illustration Only OR CAD Only (Part 2 OR Part 3 Only)

Either option costs N50,000 only.

If you are running the Fashion Illustration Option only, you will have to pay an additional fee for your drawing kit and if you are running the CAD option only, you will need your tablet or buy a digital tablet from us.

Duration is 3 weeks for the weekday schedule and 6/7 weeks (1 session per day) for the weekend schedule depending on the Course.

Your course calendar will list the details.

Option 5: Design & Fashion Illustration OR CAD Only (Parts 1 & 2 OR Parts 1 & 3 only)

Either option costs N60,000 only.

Weekday schedule: 4 weeks, 2 days a week

Weekend schedule: 6/7 weeks depending on the option. This will be confirmed on your Course timetable.

How to Register:

Registration is easy!

Simply pay the fees into our bank account by cash or online transfer:

“Martwayne Limited”, 023 710 3843 at any GTBank branch

Please contact us when the transfer has been done so we can get your materials ready before the day.

Once you are done, please contact us through any of the following means to confirm your payment and get the venue details:

Telephone (Office Hours): + 234 818 395 8856 | + 234 903 498 5877

WhatsApp: +234 809 787 6075 | Blackberry Pin: D60D886F

E-Mail: info@martwayne.com | twilliams@martwayne.com

Join us on the day at the scheduled time prompt! We always start early so please be here early!

All classes take place at our Training Center in Surulere – Lagos – about 2 minutes from the National Stadium before you get to Alhaji Masha Roundabout.

You are welcome to visit us to be sure we are genuine but not to worry, we really are! BUT if you want to come over, do contact us so we can make a plan! 😀

If you have any question whatsoever, do contact us as well.

Our contact details again are as follows:

Office Hours:

Mondays – Fridays: 9am – 5pm

Saturdays: 12 noon – 5pm

Sundays & Public Holidays: Closed

Telephone (Office Hours): + 234 818 395 8856 | + 234 903 498 5877

WhatsApp: +234 809 787 6075 | Blackberry Pin: D60D886F

E-Mail: info@martwayne.com | twilliams@martwayne.com

Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media at the following handles:

– Instagram: @martwayne

– Twitter / Facebook / YouTube / Google + : @martwaynedotcom

Great! That’s it! Thank you so much! We can’t wait to have you on the Course!

Be Creative this Month @ Martwayne! Learn Textile Design, Corsetry, Fashion Design, Fashion Illustration & Computer Aided Design coming up this month!

by T.Williams-A | Feb 5, 2017 | @martwayne, Be a Fashion Designer, bridal, bridal wear, cad, corset, corsetry, Fashion, Fashion Illustration, Fashion School, february 2017, Power Through Fashion, Sewing, textile, textile design

Yes yes! February is always a FAB month indeed! Valentine’s day, my birthday 😀 and of course the birth of new courses @ Martwayne! After spending the whole of January planning and planning, I can safely say we are good to go on the following courses coming up:

Design, Fashion Illustration & Computer Aided Design

Yes we finally have a date! 😀 28th February & 4 March, 2017 and we have weekday and weekend options available.

The Fashion Illustration portion of this starts on 7 March 2017 for the weekday option.

_____________________________________________

Short Course in Textile Design

Our brand spanking new course which teaches BOTH manual and digital textile design techniques! Oh you really want to be a part of this one, trust me! It comes up on the 7th (weekday) & 11th (weekend option) of March 2017.

_____________________________________________

Short Course in Corsetry

Bridalwear & Eveningwear designers, this is one treat for you! We are teaching proper corsetry this month! You will be mighty pleased! It comes up on the 7 March, 2017 and only the weekday option is available for now.:-D

The great thing about these Courses is you can register for more than one! So if you are interested in Textile Design & Fashion Illustration with CAD for example, you can register for the Textile Design on weekdays and the Fashion Illustration on weekends. OR you can register for any of our Sewing Courses and still combine it with any of these courses since they happen on different days. It is that simple! 😀

5 Tips to Prepare for & Live Your Dreams in 2017!

by T.Williams-A | Dec 22, 2016 | @martwayne, 5 tips, Best Fashion School in Lagos, Fashion Beyond Stitches, Fashion School, hope, Lagos, Power Through Fashion, prepare for 2017, the audacity of hope

Image from: https://t4.ftcdn.net/jpg/01/14/06/19/240_F_114061948_bwndnGf8VLfcgOUgAZb2hWcdhICBrb1J.jpg

Planning actually begins before 2017 hits not on the 1st. I see that happen too often where everything shuts down and people wait till January 1st – like January 1st comes with some major changes or something. But guess what I discovered over the years…

a. The sun will still rise – the same way it rose all through the year;

b. The sun will still set – the same way it set all through the year; and

c. You will still be YOU!

Not a brand new You like you have always promised yourself you will become once the clock strikes 12 on the 1st of each year. Not a different you! Still the same fabulous YOU! SO why must you wait till the 1st to live your dreams or do what you’ve always wanted to do?! As my favorite quote goes…

“You are the You that Makes You the You that You are!”

Besides many people seem to have forgotten that 2017 is just next week! So why waste another minute hoping to change this in the New Year when you can start NOW. AND guess what?! You still have (what today is 23rd right?!) 8 WHOLE DAYS to make things work before the New Year hits!

It has been a really tough year for a lot of us! The economy, the crime rate, the lack of power, the people who have duped you (oh yes – I have been through it at least three times this year – the Wajus, the Oluokuns and the Johns of this world who were paid to do a job but never delivered) BUT despite all, I still somehow, managed to make it work. And we are still trying to make it work! NOW is the time to learn from past mistakes and have a concrete plan (well as concrete as can be) for the New Year.

So how do YOU make a plan for 2017? Well… without sounding like a motivational speaker or anything – that’s not what this is about. I am merely speaking to those who have asked me this particular question relating how to start off something in 2017!

This is what I’m doing so maybe it can work for you!

http://emilysquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/EmilysQuotes.Com-visions-desire-need-reason-Audre-Lorde.jpg

1. Start with this: – your desires! As this image says, it shapes your vision.

What do you hope to achieve in the near future?! Not 2017! Think about yourself NOW. What do you wish you were doing? What have you always wanted to do?! Remember, we still have 9 days to make it work! Is it to learn fashion? Is it to start a business? Is it to leave your job or that abusive relationship – be it work, spouse or friend. Be specific!

Because it didn’t happen before now shouldn’t depress you. 2 projects that I was working on that looked so bleak earlier in the Year suddenly all came together in the last week or 2! Imagine if I had told myself “oh nothing happens in December, I’ll wait till 2017”, I would not have made those huge milestones. And 9 days is just a few days short of 2 weeks! Plenty of time to still make things happen!

2. Pick Your Catchphrase for the Year NOW!

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/df/66/a6/df66a6c39b560d7b75fe1da1c11c4c50.jpg

You don’t have to wait till 31st December crossover service or wait till what the church tells you your phrase for the year should be. That’s living in a Fool’s Paradise in my opinion. Those things are too general in nature. Pick yours NOW based on No. 1 and stick to it! I already have mine and I bet you’re dying to know what it is! Haha!

Well, I’ll tell you! Actually, I have 2 (whoever said I had to have 1) but I’ll share just 1!

2017 is my “Year of Praise & Thanksgiving”

It might seem very abstract to you but it makes too much sense to me and it ties in directly into No 1! I already know the exact things I want to achieve so all it takes for me is to work towards it.

And based on that, I did No 3!

3. Changed my phone’s ringtone!

http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-visualize-this-thing-you-want-see-it-feel-it-believe-in-it-make-your-mental-blueprint-robert-collier-53-65-67.jpg

Haha! What better way to create a “neural pathway” (a la Pastor Poju’s favorite term) of your vision than to listen to it every single time! It gets imprinted in your memory!

Praise comes when you hit a milestone or when you WIN! So based on my specific goals for 2017, I plan to WIN at each of them. Of course, it takes a lot of prayers but I know God has my back so… I just have to do my part.

Truth be told, changing my ringtone happened by accident but that’s just the way God works right?! But remember it all stemmed from 1.

So I went for a wedding, [fab wedding by the way] and the DJ kept playing only the intro of one of my FAVOURITE SONGS of all time – “All I Do is Win” by DJ Khalid & Ludacris

As I was leaving, and I was already at the gate, he played the intro again. Excited, I literally ran back into the hall thinking he would finally play the whole song but alas, he broke my heart. There and then, I had my Eureka moment! Why not make it my ringtone also because it tied perfectly into my upcoming goals!

And that was how I spent 3 PAINFULLY LONG HOURS till like 3am in the morning trying to figure out how to make it my ringtone! I finally aced it!

So now, anytime people call me, it simply reinforces my goal to WIN every single time! And when you win, you have no choice but to praise and give thanks to He who made it happen.

So my advice to you is to find something that will continue to reinforce your own specific catchphrase for the year! It could be a typed one-liner or quote or something someone said that you will have no choice but to see or read wherever you go! It could be a welcome message on your phone or laptop screen or even a typed piece of paper on your ceiling. It will help to reinforce that vision!

4. Use this break to study!

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It’s called research! By now, you should know what exactly you want to achieve so asking the right questions should not really be an issue. Now you need to find out everything you need to know about how to actualize that vision. It doesn’t have to be like some serious jacking or anything or making an “outright effort”. That will bore you out soon enough.

An easy way to do this is to simply take your phone and run a quick search on your specific vision or goal on Google. Click on one or two of those links. What you have just done is store whatever your vision or goal is on your phone. Chances are the next time you visit Facebook or Instagram, a lot of content about what you searched for will jump out at you! They will literally stalk you! And the best part is, most of that content is free!

Also read through… okay actually “scan through” people’s broadcasts and emails that manage to pop into your box. I know it can be annoying but you just might find some hidden gem of information in there somewhere. I always scan through every broadcast I receive and have learnt over time how to sift between the serious ones and the unserious ones. If it is not relevant, I just move on! Besides, some broadcasts even force you to do research and you learn even more from there. You will also find that someone right there on your contact list may have the information you have been searching for for ages!

5. Share Your Vision with Everyone and Don’t be Afraid to Collaborate!

http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-our-vision-is-only-actionable-if-we-share-it-without-sharing-it-s-just-a-figment-of-simon-sinek-82-47-09.jpg

The whole “what if they steal my idea is sooooooooo old-school”! If you have done No.s 1 – 4, you will eventually discover that people with like minds will suddenly begin to gravitate towards you! That’s just the way it works! It has happened to me several times. I guess that’s what the book, “The Secret” was talking about, though to be honest, I haven’t read it. But I do know what my Bible says in Isaiah 55: 11:

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish that which I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”

When you live, eat and breathe your vision and talk about it every single minute, it reaffirms the vision! And you even begin to believe it, even when the evidence on the outside contradicts your vision! Trust me, you will be shocked when things begin to fall into place.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0e/1e/7f/0e1e7f27d240a434be3b5bfd9068c0f3.jpg

And look for partners that can help you achieve that vision – even if it means collaborating with them. Look.. money is tough to come by these days, so if you want to make it work without money stopping you, then find like minds to work with. I am BIG on collaboration! Why be a lone ranger when you can be part of something bigger and greater?! There is strength in numbers so work with people and you all can own part of something than all of nothing!

And I am speaking from my own direct experience. The projects that somehow suddenly tool shape out of nowhere, trust me when I tell you that I had no clue how it was going to materialize. I kept telling people categorically that I would do it without having a clue how it would happen. But now, I can safely say my willingness to collaborate with 2 of my students has moved us from 0% to 65% in just 2 weeks! And there is no stopping us by God’s grace! So don’t feel the need to do it on your own. Put aside your egos and fears and find people to work with. What’s the worst that can happen? It does not work out and everyone goes their separate ways. Dasall!

And FINALLY… I know I said 5 tips but I’ll throw in a freebie!

6. TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH!

http://www.ladiesliveandlearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/leapoffaith3.jpg

It will never be perfect! You just have to continue tweaking it as you go along! But what is important if of you to just do it! Don’t overplan. A time comes when you just let go and and let God. Call into existence those things which do not exist as though they did (Romans 4: 17b). Remember your words will never return to you void if you truly believe in it. And take action! No matter how little!

Remember, the only thing that’s worse than fear is the REGRET you will feel knowing another year – not even year – another DAY has passed you by, a day you will NEVER get back!

Left Image: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/20/1f/d1201f8f0e713a96e93d8ded840b0891.jpg

Right Image: http://www.courtneyluv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/quotes-about-your-vision.jpeg

SO WHAT’S NEXT YOU ASK?!

Simply start from No 1 and you’ll be fine!

I’ll leave you with this AMAZING Quote from one of my MOST FAVOURITE PEOPLE of all time who wrote a book with one of the best titles a book can ever have ” The Audacity of Hope” – which…oh… I also haven’t read by the way… 😀

http://www.stmartinsuc.com/images/hope-obama.jpg

Have a FAB day ahead and enjoy the looooooong weekend ahead!

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Oh PS!

I have not forgotten the audio series or podcasts. Keeping my fingers crossed it goes live sooner than later! It is work in progress!