How to Start a Clothing Design Company

Video Transcript

"A business plan is probably the most important thing that you have to have starting any business, but particularly in a clothing line because a lot of people can't relate to a clothing line, investors especially. They don't understand what goes into a clothing line, and they want to see that this isn't just an art form, this isn't just a broad dream. They want to see the business side of it. And for a lot of artist it's very hard to translate their dream onto paper and onto what will reflect as a profitable business, and when it comes down to it, that's what investors want to see is the bottom line. So, my business plan literally kept evolving, couple steps forward, couple of steps back, until a year ago. And at a year ago I realized that my plan was solid. I had no more blocks. I had solved every issue. At that point, I went to private investors. I did collect one significant private investor which I call an earth angel and used that funding which was a sizable amount to do my first fashion show and also to make all of my sample pieces. With those and with that show I was able to get exposure. And now with my sample pieces, I can have multiple fashion shows in other cities, continue to have exposure. I can also use those pieces to sell to private clients, to do fittings, to show the line itself, also to show investors. So that was a very calculated move that I made and I feel like it's been key to my success. In that fashion show instead of having the traditional sizes I had a mixed range of models, so that way when I do show my line in a private setting, I have the samples already made. So when you're in a situation where you don't have a large investor, as I did not, you have to use your funds very smart, very calculated. Now, you could also go the route of joining on with a large investor, a large company that's maybe looking to branch out or use you as an investment. And through that you would work with the companies themselves and produce on a large scale."