Business Basics

design process

Part 1: The Fashion Design Process from Idea to first sketch

Ever thought of starting a fashion label? Many do – every day and as soon as they think about it, their heads get inundated with questions… Questions about the design process in general like… Do ideas come from inspiration or from materials? What is the best way to go about designing a collection?

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fashion business

The Basics of How to Start a Fashion Business

Starting your own brand can be the most exciting thing in the world. Designing your dream line and the prestige of selling your collections in renowned stores are surely very enticing. However, the reality of setting up shop will be something entirely different to your initial perceived idea. Read up and find out what is vitally important to know before you start.

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Just in time manufacturing

What is “Just In Time” Manufacturing?

In the 1940s the Toyota Motor Company pioneered a type of manufacturing called “Just-In-Time.” Its objective was to eliminate waste, inconsistencies, and unreasonable requirements from the production process, thus resulting in improved productivity. Simply put, it meant making only what was needed, when it was needed, and in the amount needed.

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working-specislists-generalists-fashion-podcast

What is a Garment Tech in the fashion industry?

The mysterious person who liaises with designers, adapts designs to suit production methods, sources fabrics, and accessories, undertakes quality evaluations of materials and responds to product queries, including complaints, from wholesalers and customers is the Garment Tech.

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-spec-tech-pack-fashion-resource

What is a Fashion Tech Pack and why do you need one?

No matter how amazing your fashion product design may be, without a Tech Pack, and with no experience or knowledge of the industry, most factories will not take you seriously, deal with you or if they do, you will face countless problems. And yet so few fashion entrepreneurs know about it or know how to put one together.

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Utelier - fashion branding basics

Simple Fashion Branding Basics for Start-Ups

Once upon a time, not that long ago, the word “logo” was synonymous to “brand”. Fast forward a couple of decades and today a “logo” is merely a shadow of a “brand”, but nowhere near what a “brand” is. Yet – not many people seem to make the distinction and realise this. Especially start ups.

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Utelier- investors

Finding Investors for Your Fashion Business

If you have decided that finding an investor for your fashion business is the best option for you, here is some advice on how to prepare yourself to find the right one; whether you’re looking for a venture capitalist, an angel investor, a super-angel or a growth investor.

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utelier - design and product development - fashion start-ups

Design and Product Development

It is no secret that the fashion industry is predominantly a product-based industry. Success is often underpinned by great design, strong product and well-structured collections. Learn how to translate your ideas correctly into the products that you want.

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Utelier - allocating the budget - fashion start-upsp

The Best Ways to Allocate Your Budget

Rarely does a new business start with enough money to last until a profit is turned. It might happen in the movies, but what happens in real life – more often than not – is that you start spending some or all of the capital you have raised.

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utelier-financing-debt

Equity vs. Debt

Financing a business can come in many forms, but regardless of how you raise cash, more often than not you will be dealing with equity or debt. So, let’s explain what they are, and how they can work for or against us.

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utelier-tool-kit-business-planning

Business Planning for Success

Imagine this – you have a great idea, you want to start your own business and everyone you tell is supportive and encouraging, and then they tell you firmly in a non-negotiable tone of voice, “You MUST write a business plan!”

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utelier-tool-kit-pre-business-plan

The Pre-Business Plan

Working in fashion is often not for the faint hearted. But starting your own business, your own brand – as some would say – that’s a different ball game.

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Utelier Toolkit Series

Fashion Insiders Launches The Toolkit Series

Over the coming months, in addition to our regular interviews with our network of designers and manufacturers, and industry news scoops, Insider will introduce a regular series of articles on how to set up your own new fashion business.

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