Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction xiii
01 So You Want to Be a Fashion Designer 1
Traits of a Fashion Designer 1
Being Self-Employed 5
Jobs and Salary Stats in the Fashion Industry 7
Networking and Support 8
Get Motivated! 11
02 From Dream to Reality 12
Becoming a Fashion Designer 12
Custom Apparel 17
Alterations 26
Costume Design 35
Pattern Making 35
Sample Maker 36
Wardrobe Planning and Fashion Consulting 36
Focus 38
03 Getting Started in the Fashion Field 40
Designing a Collection 40
Fabric and Trim Sourcing 46
Creating Samples 58
Photo Shoot 65
Combining Fashion with Business 69
04 Setting Up the Space for Business 70
Equipment Requirements 70
Fitting Area 77
Office Essentials 80
Separating Business from Your Personal Life 86
Is Your Home Ready for Clients? 88
Your Space Is Ready! 91
05 Turning Your Fashion Dream into a Business 92
What Is a Business Plan? 92
Which Market Niche Will You Choose? 94
Getting the Legalities in Line 94
Create Your Own Successful Business Plan 100
A Priceless Resource 103
06 Financial Planning and Management 104
Start-Up Costs 104
Securing Financing 104
Pricing to Make a Profit 107
Pricing Your Items 107
Financial Statements 111
Contracts 111
Invoicing and Billing 112
Creating a Budget 112
Building Credit with Vendors 115
Extending Credit to Clients 117
Getting Organized 117
07 Bookkeeping and Taxes 120
Keeping Good Records 120
Filing System 121
Receipts 122
Cloud Storage 122
Accepting Credit Cards 124
Inventory 126
Hiring 128
Tax Deductions 129
Finding a Qualified Accountant 131
08 Legal and Ethical Issues 132
Zoning Issues When Working from Home 132
Trademarks 133
Copyright 134
Patent 136
Copying Other Designers' Work 137
Clothing Labels 138
09 Social Media Marketing 144
Facebook 145
Twitter 147
Blogging 148
Website 150
YouTube 152
Linkedln 153
Pinterest 154
Create a Social Media Marketing Campaign 154
10 PR, Marketing, and Advertising 159
Branding 159
PR 160
Getting Your Clothing on the Right People 166
Look Book 169
Create the Reputation 169
Entering Fashion Design Competitions 170
11 Selling Your Line 172
E-Commerce 172
Trunk Shows 177
The Fashion Show 181
Boutiques 189
Selling to the Larger Retailers 191
Trade Shows 194
Hiring a Sales Rep 196
Sales Strategy 197
12 Training and Certification 198
Never Stop Learning 199
Polish Your Sewing and Fitting Skills 201
Keeping an Eye on Fashion and Trends 203
13 Growing Pains … Should You Go Big? 204
Thinking of Expanding 205
Opening Your Own Studio 206
Hiring a Subcontractor 207
Hiring an Assistant 210
Preventing Burnout 210
Getting Focused 212
Appendix: Resources 213
Index 220
About the Author 224
