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Fuel4Fashion

~ The official blog of Supriya Ghurye, Founder of a niche Freelance Fashion Designer Agency & Brand Consultant helping international start up fashion labels and growing fashion brands to plan and create great products from concept sketches to final launch.

Fuel4Fashion

Category Archives: Guest Blogger

Guest Blog: How to Use your Passion and Education to Start a Fashion Business

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by Fuel4Fashion in Guest Blogger

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Tags

apparel, business plan, fashion blog, fashion industry, garment manufacturing

Thanks to the support and encouragement of our readers, the Fuel4Fashion blog now has a growing tribe of followers on various social media platforms, from across the world. We have tried to keep giving all of you insights into what is trending in the industry and build up Fuel4Fashion as the go-to place for getting an idea of emerging global fashion trends as well as insightful information about the fashion industry.  In order to bring more quality content from the fashion industry to the community, we are now re-starting our guest blog section. This will feature articles on topics similar to the ones we have been bringing you, but from a variety of authors from the field of fashion. Today we bring you this interesting article from NewThread. – Supriya

Starting a fashion business seems all glamorous from the outside but generally, it’s just time-consuming sessions of never-ending work.

Take for example launching your own private label clothing brand.

Your first inclination would be to find a custom clothing manufacturer overseas. You need to find a reliable factory, and send thousands of dollars halfway across the world. You need to find a shipping agent if the factory is too small to help you in that regard. You need to find relevant quality inspection people as well.

The challenge of sourcing clothes is even more exacerbated when your budget doesn’t cover traveling a few thousand miles away. Just take a look at all the processes involved when you’re planning on manufacturing your apparel:

Many entrepreneurs think that the right amount of passion is enough to fuel their business into being successful but that’s hardly the case. So, to guide you through this journey, here are some tips that will help you create a successful fashion business.

  • Discover your passion

The key to any successful business is definitely patience and dedication. But in order to find that will, you’ll have to first be sure of what you really want to do. It is essential to keep in mind that the world of fashion and apparel is extremely competitive, and at times merciless. Know the ins and outs of the industry and only get going if you’re sure about what you want to do.

  • Education and Research

The apparel industry is huge and as days pass by, its branches seemed to have grown out even more. There are several different ways of sourcing, manufacturing, selling and what not.

I’d suggest you to first find out about the types of business within this industry. For example; you could be a wholesale clothing supplier, an online private clothing brand, a t-shirt printer, the possibilities are endless.

Read articles about your favorite fashion brands and apparel companies online and get to know about what’s in trend nowadays by reaching out to Fashion Design Studios like Fuel4Fashion. If you already have proper knowledge though through online courses or maybe even your college degree, then you’re already a step ahead!

It is essential to decide what you want to pursue choose the one that fits perfectly with your plans and skills.

  • Understand the demand in the market

Innovation is greatly appreciated when it comes to fashion. The more unique your products are, the more customers you lure in. Otherwise, why would they bother buying your products when there might be hundreds of other potential sellers out there?

Since fashion is diverse, it’s better if you target a certain niche. Think about what age group you are more comfortable with. It could also be just catered towards one gender or the other. There are a lot of aspects to keep in mind when choosing your target customers. Consider the socio-economic and psychological aspects as well when deciding on a target market.

Along with your customers, you’ll also have to pay attention to your products. Be thorough when it comes to the product. Ensure that your product is both comfortable and trendy while being reasonable in price. If your product doesn’t stand out or is of poor quality, your business is less likely to not gain any profit. It is very crucial to understand the competition of the industry and also the importance of marketing throughout your business.

  • Determine your skills and contacts in the fashion industry

It is almost impossible to run a business alone. If you want to a successful entrepreneur, you’re expected to have strong relationships with influential people in the fashion industry. Aside from that, some traits and skills are also needed to turn you into the perfect businessman. 

Note down your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to business. This will help you figure out where you need additional help and where you don’t. A degree in fashion might provide you the knowledge but it isn’t enough to run a company. Time management, financial management, leadership qualities etc. these all are very important skills that complete a business owner. Thus, before starting a business, it’s essential to assess your skills.

As mentioned above, you can’t run a company alone. There are many sectors in a company and if you feel overwhelmed, take advice from someone who is already in the clothing business. If possible, make someone more experienced, your partner who can guide you through the common mistakes.

Slowly but steadily branch out your departments: PR, stylists, photographers, accountants, etc. Don’t worry if you don’t have these contacts, you can visit fashion events to collect more information.

  • Make a business plan

A business plan is mainly a statement that records your business goals. This is the most important part of your business. Estimate your total expenses and sales per year through costing and create a minimum budget that would be required in order to get the business running.

A good business plan not only helps the entrepreneur to set a target and take the necessary steps in order to make it possible, but it also aids in achieving both the long term and short term objectives of a business that makes it successful.

There are many ways you can fund your company. Few of them are mentioned below-

  1. Money from investors (also known as venture capitalists). They will also become owners of your business and get some percentage of your profit.
  2. Long term loan from a bank which is considered as non-current liabilities. These types of loans can be paid after a year or more (with interest). Taking long term loans will not decrease your current ratio (current assets/current liabilities)
  3. Short term loans. You’ll have to repay these loans with interest within a year or less.
  4. Money from family and friends.

However, keep in mind that it is important to keep a balance between your debts and incomes. Taking too much loans can drive your business to bankruptcy.

  • Making your product

If you’re going for private label business or want to manufacture your own products, you’ll have to look for a manufacturer first. If you’re just starting out, find a manufacturer who has a low MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) since it’s not a very good idea to start off with a huge manufacturing order when starting your business. Here’s an infographic to make it easy for you to understand how the process will work.

Once you’re ready to start sourcing, here are five ways you can source your clothing.

  • Selling your products

This is another aspect that depends truly upon what sort of business you have. If you want to e-commerce seller, you’ll have to make sure your products stand out among all the others. You can also look for distributors that are interested in selling your products and are perfect for your clothes and fashion. Look into what is popular in the country you will be selling. Blank t-shirts for example, are universally popular for the most part.

You have a whole lot of opportunities when it comes to a fashion business, make sure to use these wisely and make the most of it. Attending events or trade shows might help you to promote and sell your products. Other than that, take orders from distributors or clothing stores and print catalogs for them.

It is also essential to establish a good rapport with bloggers and influencers that can bring attention to your brand.

The fashion and apparel industry has more to it than it lets on so beware of the challenges that it throws your way. This is where marketing comes in. A good marketing technique can allow your sales to go sky high.

Research your target market and conduct surveys to understand how you would attract a fair amount of customers. Listen to what your customers say. Reviews are very important and do not hesitate to ask for your customers’ feedbacks before making any major changes to your products.

A successful fashion business consists of the perfect balance between passion, skills and knowledge. It is very crucial to plan out your every step and know that there’ll be a lot of challenges to overcome. Let your passion and determination lead your way into a successful fashion business!


Writer Bio: Yusuf Ahmed is the chief supply strategist at NewThread. NewThread helps businesses establish an apparel supply chain here in Bangladesh, by sourcing the right factory for the product from our network of certified factories, following up with inspection and shipment.


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Our guest post about techpacks on Sqetch

26 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by Fuel4Fashion in Fashion Industry Processes, Guest Blogger

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

apparel, apparel production, Bill of material, fashion, fashion brand, Fashion Business, fashion designer, fashion illustrations, fashion label, fashion sketches, fashion startup, garment flats, garment manufacturing, grading, measurement chart, patterns, produce fashion apparel, sizing, startup fashion labels, technical design, technical designer, technical specifications, techpack, what is a tech pack

Recently Sqetch invited us to contribute to a blog on Techpacks along with the few other talented designers, since we’ve been doing client projects on these for the past few years. The blog from Sqetch is now live and can be found here. Do read through it!

You can read one of our earlier blogs on techpacks which was also greatly appreciated.

Feel free to connect with me if you have any questions regarding techpacks or need any assistance in creating few for your new collection.


Supriya Ghurye is the founder and owner of Fuel4Fashion. She is a Freelance Fashion Designer and Brand Consultant helping fashion brands to create great products from idea to launch. Fuel4Fashion social links: Twitter, Pinterest Instagram


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Guest Blog : How to Organize Your Closet for A Capsule Wardrobe

05 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by Fuel4Fashion in Guest Blogger

≈ 1 Comment

Closets can easily become crammed full of every item of clothing you’ve purchased in the past decade. At Home Improvement Leads, we promote simplifying the choice you have to make every morning when you peer into a cluttered closet. One way to eliminate what professional organizers call “decision fatigue” is to create a capsule wardrobe.

The term “capsule wardrobe” originated in 1973 from fashion entrepreneur Susie Faux. She believed in curating a collection of essential clothing items that would never go out of style. By maintaining a closet full of items that mix and match well and feel comfortable and timeless, you’ll cut down on your decision time in the morning. Best of all, you’ll always have a strong sense of self in whatever outfit you choose.

Capsule wardrobe 1

Time to Say Goodbye

In order to make your own capsule wardrobe, you’ll need to take a critical look at each piece of clothing you own. Start purging those items you never wear, the pieces not in your current size and the things you put on and just don’t feel comfortable in. If there’s something you know you should toss out, but simply feel like you can’t part with, try it on one last time, snap a photo of it, and let it go! Pass it on to a friend or donate the item.

What Do You Need?

What will make up your capsule wardrobe? Style blogger Caroline Rector decided on 37 items total for her closet, with 9 bottoms, 15 tops, and 4 jackets or dresses (depending on the season.) She recommends using a “3 of each” rule in order to have a casual option, a statement option, and an in-between option.

Aura Image Consulting promotes making a time log of your lifestyle before deciding on what clothing you’ll need. See how much time you spend per week in professional, casual or nightlife clothing. “For every 20 hours of each activity, you should have one capsule. If it’s 10 hours or less, create a half a capsule.”

How many items make up your capsule wardrobe is up to you (though most people seem to agree on around 30 items per capsule). The most important aspect is that things “match up” and look intentionally put together.

Capsule wardrobe 2

Organize

You can organize your capsule items by season within your closet. Regardless of how exactly you categorize your items (perhaps with tops and bottoms in one place, outerwear in another, and so on) hanging all of your capsule clothing will keep it visually present. These sartorial cues will help you keep sight of the colors and style you’re focused on daily. It’s like opening the door to a perfectly painted mural of what you wish your life to be.

Of course, you’ll always have those off-the-wall articles of clothing that might come in handy one day. Maybe an old painting outfit, a fun costume or a re-wearable bridesmaid dress. These items will need to be re-homed into a somewhat downgraded location (like the very back of the closet or in a drawer) so they aren’t mixing with the carefully chosen capsule items.

Capsule wardrobe 3

Your Perfectly Curated Capsule

Imagine opening your closet to see only clothes that you actually want to wear and feel comfortable expressing yourself in. Your thoughtful looks will always read as uniquely and smartly “you.” From now on, when shopping for new garments, you’ll muse over each piece, “Will this be worth hanging in my gallery of perfectly selected clothes?” It will be as if you’re a living art piece!

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Aside

Guest Blog : 10 Great Budget Glasses to Try Out this Spring

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Fuel4Fashion in Guest Blogger

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

apparels, Aviators, blog, colors, eyewear, fabric, fashion accessories, fashion blog, fashion designers, freelance fashion designer, pattern, Rimless Frames, vintage eyewear

There are many challenges for glasses wearers. When you first start wearing them, they’re uncomfortable. Sometimes your head hurts from your new prescriptions. Other times, you feel like your frames don’t represent you and they don’t even go with what you’re wearing. More than that, choosing new glasses can be a burden: all the styles and colors are so overwhelming! The least we can do is help you avoid another one of the biggest glasses challenges: the price. We’ve picked 10 great styles that you can buy for between $36-$63, all of which are cool as can be and just right for the upcoming spring season:

Image courtesy: AllBrandsGlasses.com

Image courtesy: AllBrandsGlasses.com

1. Aviators:

These became popular in the early 80s with Tom Cruise’s look in Top Gun. The metallic squared tear-drop style is now back in trend, with brands like Aristar ($54) available in brown, demi brown, gray and green. The look goes well with most facial shapes as well, making it a stylish way to improve your vision.

2. Acetate

These are lightweight and comfortable, so it makes a good option for frames. Brands like Marcolin ($43) come in gray and dark brown, and their rectangular shape is great on round faces.

3.Semi-rimmed Glasses

These type of glasses get the best of both worlds: the durability of full rim and the lightness of rimless. Brands like Adensco Bill ($63) come in neutral dark brown, gunmetal or light brown.

4. Oval-shaped Glasses

These simple glasses made of metal are a perfect match to your business attire. Brands like Viva ($43) come in gunmetal and satin brown, and they’re flattering on angular faces.

5. Rectangular Glasses

These are acetate, full-rimmed glasses with light-sensitive lenses. Brands like Bongo Apple ($51) change their intensity depending on the external conditions.

6. Rimless Frames

Brands like Visualities ($36) come in different colors to choose from: black, brown, cherry, grape, lemon, olive, orchid, pearl and red. They’re also the lightest style here.

7. Round Metallic Glasses

Brands like Guess ($60) may remind you a bit of John Lennon, but guess what? The trend is back, so you can wear them without having to worry about it.

8. Small Metallic Glasses

Brands like Savvy ($43) look good on smaller faces, especially if they also happen to be angular. They come in gunmetal and satin gold.

9. Metallic Aviators

These are understated version of glasses feature comfortable nose pads. Brands like National ($43) come in gold and shiny gunmetal.

10. Retro-inspired Glasses

Brands like Steroflex ($63) have full rim made of acetate is trendy as well as durable. So if you’re looking for something hip, these retro-inspired glasses are for you.

Author bio: 

Blogger Daria

 

Daria is a fashion blogger and vintage eyewear enthusiast. She writes for Celebrity Sunglasses Watcher, following the most interesting trends in celebrity eyewear.      

 

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