Hello good people!!!!! Β I’m sure you all had a GREAT holiday! Β I know I did! Β I am already looking forward to the next one… (who knows when the next one is coming up?!) Β Anywayz! Β I had a pretty restful one – totally thankful!Β Β
Haha…. I thought this was hilarious! Β I just could not resist!
Image from: Β http://trulteskogen.com/onewebstatic/04cb45fd25-24.gif
Ok! Β So here is my BN post! Β I have actually had this question thrown at me so many times, I knew writing about it was only a matter ofΒ time. Β Seeing I managed not to lift a finger over the holiday, here is the article which was actually posted on Bella Naija on Thursday. Β I made minimal changes to it since IΒ realised it was edited and some portions of my thought process (re: punctuations and brackets) were lost in the editing AND I also added more pictures…Β
Tope Williams-Adewunmi: Β How Exactly Do I Start My Fashion Business?
Image from: http://www.bellanaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/dreamstime_xl_29485026.jpg
Great! Β Glad youβve taken the first step and decided to take your love for fashion more seriously. But you have no clue how to go about it. Β So, weβll start from the very beginningβ¦ hopefully these steps will help shape that vision and move you from concept to reality.
Β
Ohβ¦P.Sβ¦ It will not happen in one day, or a week, or even a month! Β If you want to do it properly, it will take a while. So remember these wordsβ¦ baby steps.
Β
First Step? Making the decision!β¨
Image from: http://davidduke.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Decision-Making.jpg
You need to decide what exactly what you want to do in the industry and stick to it! This really is the hardest part because you might not even have a clue. And even if you do, people will advise you to go down a different route. So please make that decision before you start off or else you will be miserable β or worse, act on that advice and end up wasting a lot of money in the process.Β
Β
But the money isnβt really the issue here. The issue is you waking up one morning 10 years from now wondering how exactly you got there.
Β
So if, for example, all you always wanted to do was design wedding gowns, find a way to make this work even if there is a lot of money to be made from sewing uniforms β EXCEPT you are doing it just to gather enough funds to start off. In which case, give yourself a time limit and stick to it as best as you can.
Next Thing?!Β
Β
Writing a life plan for your fashion idea!Β
Image from: http://i2.wp.com/homeschoolinghelp.com/wp-content/uploads/smiley-2.JPG?resize=244%2C258
Β
β¨No noβ¦ donβt roll your eyes yetβ¦ I am not talking about a business plan here. Yes many of us tune off when we hear the term βbusiness planβ (including me). Β Donβt worry, the business plan will come later and you can always outsource that. Β For now, get a notepad and a pen and begin to write β in clear terms what you want to do. If 5 years you have deviated from this plan, you can find your way back.
Β
For example, you can start off withβ¦ (letβs pretend you’re in italics andΒ Iβm the voice in your head [in brackets] guiding you along OR you can do this with a friend):
Β
β’Β Β Β I know I like fashion: Β [Okβ¦ yes we have established that. What aspect of fashion do you
like?]
Β
β’Β Β Β Ladies wear: Β [Oh nice! Why ladies wear?]
Β
β’Β Β Β I donβt knowβ¦ I just love clothes and dressing ladies up: Β [Okβ¦ so why do you need toΒ
become a fashion designer to do this? Β You donβt have to be fashion designer to dress
people up. Perhaps all you really want to be is a stylist.Β Or do you want to do this because
being a fashion designer sounds cool?]
Β
Wellβ¦ At this point, you need to know who a fashion designer really is. So conduct some research and be sure this is what you really want to do. Convince yourself of why you want to be the person designing the clothes the ladies will wearβ¦ while I move on from this pointβ¦
Β
[Ok great! So ladieswear! What aspect of ladies wear?]
Β
β’Β Β Β Β Everything! I would like to design everything a woman can wear! Β [Errrrβ¦Β Seriously?Β Β How is that even possible? Even if you can, letβs take one idea at a time.]
Β
[Letβs get downΒ to specifics. What do you want to start off with?]
Β
β’Β Β Β I think Iβd like to design ladies casual wear: Β [You think? Youβre not sure?! Letβs try
again. What is the first thing you sketch when you put pencil to paper?]Β
Β
Now would be a good time to quickly sketch something. Β Even if you are not great at sketching. Β You can also explain your design in words. Β That will determine who exactly you are as a fashion designer. You might think you want to design casual wear but find yourself designing Β evening wear.
Β
β’Β Β Β Okayβ¦. Done! I know I want to design casual wear: Β [Oh-kay! Nice! What type of casual
wear?]
Β
β’Β Β Β Maybe t-shirts: Β [Maybe? Or certainly?! Β Try your hand at another sketch]
Β
β’Β Β Β Actually Iβve always wanted to have my own T-Shirt line: Β [Ok great! T-Shirts then!
What type of T-Shirts?]
Β
β’Β Β Β Printed Tees with an interesting twist: Β [Okβ¦ now Iβm rolling my eyes. Please narrow it
down.]
Β
β’Β Β Β Okay, Iβve always wondered what it would be like to draw faces on t-shirts with safety pins and sea shells for example:Β Β [This is the point where I tell you it does sound bizarre but heyβ¦ stranger things have happened in fashion. So who knowsβ¦ it can work.]
Β
And thatβs it! You go on and on until you begin to narrow it down or till you hit a road block. If you do hit a blockβ¦ take a breather and start over from where you left off.
Β
When you are done with soul-searchingβ¦
Β
Itβs time for Research! Research!! Research!!!β¨
Image from: http://s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/accounts/12722/images/ResearchIcon-300×300.jpg
Β
Oh this part is vital! Many of us hate doing research but it is key! Obviously, the Internet Institute is your first point of call! Many consume themselves with just the production aspect of design but I believe it is important to start from scratch.
Β
Find out everything you need to know about making T-Shirts, right down to the history of t-shirts, how they evolved over time, who buys t-shirts, who wears the most t-shirts, how much do T-shirts costs, where are t-shirts produced e.t.c. Why? You might think ladies wear t-shirts but find out during your research that the type of t-shirts you want to design might actually appeal to teenagers. The question is, do you want to design for teenagers? Itβs all up to you. Talk to people, ask questions, meet with t-shirt designers, etc. The research never ends β even when you start off. Β And whatever decision you make based on that research goes into that notepad as well.
Β
After research (which is on-going by the way), the next step is to:
Β
Get theΒ Relevant Knowledge to Excel in That Fieldβ¨.
Β
Love both pictures so decided to use both π
Image 1 (left) from: Β http://www.cliparthut.com/clip-arts/269/study-girl-smiley-emoticon-clipart-royalty-free-public-domain-269958.png
Image 2 (right) from: Β http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uAZ-NIHKUVI/USO3tx45tZI/AAAAAAAADDM/XI1FfKf84rQ/s1600/Smiley+Book.jpg
Now is the time to get the skills β either through some form of formal education or through work experience. Β If you cannot sketch, learn how to sketch. If you feel you want to learn how to sew, then learn how to sew β though it is not mandatory for fashion designers to know how to sew. However, with the horror stories I have heard from fashion designers about their tailors and machinists, you might be better off learning β no matter how little if you want to live longer.
Β
SO! Β You can choose to go to a fashion school, be self taught (there are enough resources online if you do the research) or get some form of work experience β either paid or unpaid. Β That knowledge is necessary to guide your production team β regardless of whether you are producing the T-shirts in-house or outsourcing production. I tell you, it will save you a lot of headache in the long run!
Β
Next up?!
Β
Testing the Market!β¨
Image from: http://smallbusinessbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/CustomerSatisfaction.jpg
You need to know if people will buy your designs before you take off! Β Ask people what they donβt like about your work β that way they give you proper constructive criticism. It helps you improve your product and also builds you a thick skin.
Β
Image from: http://www.netsolutionsindia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Test-Market.jpg
Β
Testing the market also helps you know if what you believe was the greatest invention sinceβ¦ errrβ¦ cellphones is really that fab. Β You just might find out that the βoh-so-brilliantβ idea you had of designing t-shirts with seashells and safety pins was a pretty dumb idea after all. Β Should you dump that idea?! Nope. You might choose to go ahead and take the chance or go back to the drawing board and restrategize by replacing the safety pins with bugle beads.
Β
And just when you are about to launch out:
Β
Pray! Pray!! And PRAY!!!
Image from: http://media3.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/03/23/783/n/1922398/652a1c95_prayer-hands-.xxxlarge.jpg
β¨
You really need that divine intervention. Only that inner peace can trump the fear that you are bound to feel deep down. Β And you will feel that initial fear but just go ahead and launch β no matter how small.
Β
Launching does not necessarily mean having a fashion show. It could mean uploading your items or sketches on your site or online platforms, selling to your friends and colleagues, or just simply showing people your designs and taking their orders whilst working with your tailor. Β In my opinion, as long as you are ready to start accepting cash for your creative ideas, you have launched out.
Β
Truth be told, it really is not that hard to become a fashion designer. The difficulty lies in being a successful one and I doubt anyone has the perfect recipe for success. But what I always say is whatβs the worst that could happen right? Β You fall flat on your face or get some mean comments from people who hate your work. What do you do? You pick yourself up after crying for days and try again! Someone out there is bound to like your work and you will eventually carve out your own niche market! ?
Β
Great! Those are my tips. I do have more but Iβll stop here. Β Iβm sure there are a whole lot more out there as well so if you also have tips and pointers for us, do share them as well so we can learn from you!
___________
Β
This Article originally appeared on www.bellanaija.com…Β
Β
…(with only the first picture and the italics and the missing brackets here and there. Β I honestly cannot do without pictures. Β Makes for a more pleasant read methinks… :-D)
Β
Anywayz… hope this helped.
Don’t forget to share your tips in the comments section so we can all learn from you and your experiences as well. Β I hear some people have had issues with posting comments. Β Apologies…hopefully it will become easier.
Β
Have a great and productive week ahead! Β And watch out for my next BN post! π
Β
Cheers!
![New YouTube Video: “How to Leave Paid Employment to Start Your Clothing Line – Lessons from David Wej” [A MUST-WATCH for Every Aspiring Fashion Designer!]](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3mC1O-Gcvw/VsGufXz4PNI/AAAAAAAANBM/oBgKe6evVwo/s640/thumbnail%2Bdavid%2Bwej.001.png)
