Tag: Niche
SFD091 100 Ways NOT to Start A Clothing Line: These Guys Learned Firsthand What Works and What Doesn’t
Starting a clothing line from scratch is a massive challenge. And when you don’t have big investors and influential connections, it can seem impossible. But these three young entrepreneurs found a way to beat the odds and make their brand a reality. Meet Salvatore Graci, Angelo Acquista, and Luca Graci, founders of luxury streetwear brand […]
SFD085: How this Mom Got her First Tech Design Job After a 12 Year Career Break
Nicola Osborne is a technical designer who got her break back into the fashion industry after taking 12 years off to raise her family. Getting back to any career after 12 years is a daunting task, but getting back into the fashion industry is an even more intimidating one. As Nicola says in her own […]
SFD083 How This Designer Built a Vegan Luxury Shoe Brand
Bebe Mehr’s fashion entrepreneur journey began in 2001 while she was in college and started selling stuff on Ebay. Little did she know, that 13 years later, after a lot of different fashion careers, it would turn into her own line of vegan luxury shoes, Cult of Coquette. Coming from an entrepreneurial family, Bebe’s journey […]
SFD076 Six Steps to Starting a Fashion Line that Sells
Designing and starting a fashion line is exhilarating and inspiring and something most of us want to jump right into. Starting a fashion line that sells is something completely different–but it’s something you can do. Robyn and I are BACK with a podlet that sums up six easy steps to starting a fashion line that sells. The Successful […]
SFD075 How to Be a Lingerie Designer with Laurie Van Jonsson
Being a lingerie designer is its own unique and interesting niche of working in the fashion industry. There are tons of different things you have to think about compared to designing – let’s say – shirts or jackets. But it’s a pretty cool job! Laurie Van Jonsson knows this firsthand. From launching her own lingerie […]
SFD070 Build a Fashion Brand with a Cult Following
Seeing other fashion brands on social media with these crazy cult followings can be pretty intimidating. You see these fashion brands and think, “I can’t possibly generate that much interest in my designs.” But it’s possible! You can design products that people want to buy because they are obsessed! With the right consumer research and […]
SFD065 How This Surface Pattern Designer Creates From Music
Are you an artist or designer who finds inspiration is everywhere, often in the most unexpected places? And do you ever feel stuck not knowing how to turn it into anything? This is exactly what happened to Nadia Ricketts of Beatwoven, a textile and surface pattern designer who turned music into fabric. In this episode […]
SFD058: Navigating the “4 P’s” of Fashion Marketing and Overcoming Networking Intimidation, with Robyn Spady
One area of the fashion industry that unites us all together is marketing – getting the right message about our products to the right people. On this episode of The Successful Fashion Designer podcast, I interview Robyn Spady, a lifelong handweaver and fashion industry professional with over 17 years of experience. Throughout our engaging conversation, […]
SFD054 Mini Episode: The Priceless Advice of “Know Thy Customer”
You’ve probably heard about the value of getting to know your customer. It helps you understand what they need and learn how you can solve their problems. And whether you’re an up-and-coming brand, a freelance fashion designer, or looking for a job in the fashion industry, you have a customer. It’s whoever is paying you for a […]
SFD031: Behind the Scenes of an $87k Kickstarter Launch
Sarah Coronado takes us behind the scenes of her $87,000 Kickstarter campaign. Learn first hand how to launch a fashion brand on Kickstarter including how to prepare for your campaign, what to do to make sure it’s successful, and how to keep up momentum after it ends. With no fashion background, experience or contacts, Sarah […]
SFD021: How to Get Funding for Your Fashion Startup
Billie Whitehouse has been called the Elon Musk of Fashion. In just 4 1/2 years, she’s launched multiple successful wearable tech products. Her most recent, Nadi X, is a line of activated yoga apparel that listens & responds to your body. In the interview, Billie shares her valuable lessons learned about getting funding, advice for […]
SFD017: Picking a Niche Market for Your Fashion Brand with Anna of VMora
It’s easy to feel like you should design for everyone. But the old adage of “if you speak to everyone you speak to no one” holds true, even in the fashion industry. Here’s why picking a niche market for your fashion brand will make it easier to build a loyal audience and sell your designs. […]
SFD012: Starting a Clothing Line: Why (and how) to Build Your Audience First
A clothing line without an audience or customers is just a pile of clothes collecting dust. If you’re serious about starting a clothing line, you need to build a group of raving fans who are dying to buy your designs. Learn exactly how to get people excited about your product before you even launch (so […]
SFD010: Strategies to Manufacture Your Fashion Brand Overseas
In this episode I’m chatting with Shilpa, founder of Nayali, an activewear brand for women bra size “D-cup & Up”. Shilpa spent over a decade working for huge brands like Conde Nast, Fubu, and Gap. She took all her experience, quit her job, and went to Bali to do a solo label. A year and […]
SFD 004: Freelancing Strategies for Fashion Designers with Marissa Borelli
The fashion industry is competitive and it’s hard to make it as a designer. It’s even harder if you’re trying to be a freelance clothing designer. But here’s the thing: Being a full time, work from home remote freelance fashion designer – while still earning a fair pay rate – is possible. In this episode […]
