2007
Comments on the Article blog are now OFF! If you wish to leave feedback or your opinion of an article individual threads will be created in the Dobizo Community for further discussion. Go to discussion by Clicking Here Now
Indie clothing companies already have a hard time becoming established in a market where 1-1,000,000 really make it with a successful clothing line. The odds are already against you and no trend forecasting or break through designs is going to make the process a walk in the park.
I’m writing this post out of frustration and an eye opener for anyone thinking about starting a clothing line and getting into this tough fashion industry. I really want to make it known that you have to apply yourself and not wait around for anyone to give you anything, because in most cases (Other than this blog) no one really cares and would rather keep the information to themselves. Ever since I started Dobizo I’ve had much criticism from people inside the industry that I thought would be glad to help, but that wasn’t the case at all. Many think it will create much more competition and make it even harder to succeed, but I think it will make the industry better and less filled with fashion rookies making bonehead mistakes (That I made) I would much rather see more people “make it” and bring something truly original to the table than the fly by night celebrity designedendorsed clothing companies with no substance. No matter how much information I place on this blog or if I woke up and got with some of the top fashion designers of the world and wrote the most in-depth guide the world has ever seen and placed it on the blog for the world to read….it is still up to the readers-entrepreneurs to put it to work and take action. See that is what separates the real designers from the people who just talk it and want a successful clothing line. The people who are willing to ask all the questions, but take no action. If you are really taking your career serious no amount of information or lack there of is going to determine your destiny. You will make it regardless of How to start a clothing line from scratch.
With the introduction of all these new celebrity clothing lines who don’t need no design talent and can pretty much slap a logo and a label on a pair of jeans and see them sell out over night. Mainly because a celebrities star power fuels the line, not design, or clever marketing, but the strong following that most of these people have through there legions of fans.
The ideas that will come across in this post came to mind while reading Yahoo! News and came across this article titled “Who needs to sing when you have Idol Apparel” yes as in American Idol apparel…I now know I have seen it all. From Yahoo news:
A line of rock n’ roll-inspired clothing for girls and tweens hits mass-market retailers next February, with prices for the denim-based line ranging between $10 and $40 for T-shirts, jeans, dresses and vests.
FremantleMedia, producers of the hit television show “American Idol” — which is judged by Simon Cowell, Paula Abduland Randy Jackson — penned the deal with Lyric Jeans Inc, a Los Angeles-based company known for its premium clothing adorned with iconic song lyrics, from “Revolution” by The Beatles to “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.
The 11-piece line called Lyrix by Lyric Culture will feature a palette of pink, white and black and logos that are embroidered or painted onto fabric. One pair of jeans has an image of a microphone snaking up the leg, while other pieces will incorporate lyrics from songs by winners of the show
In the beginning of writing this blog I would use the Pick of the Day to highlight any clothing company I thought was interesting or Fashion News to write about anything happening in the fashion world including celebrity clothing line launches. Not anymore though because I would rather support the indie clothing companies who are grinding day to day just to get by and hopefully someday succeed. From just reading some of my favorite online fashion news site like DNR News just to find out that Linkin Park member Chester Bennington Ve’cel a premium t-shirt line…well at least it has some substance it is designed against a political and religious imagery, other than being amped with violence and sexed up with scantily clad ladies. I’m pretty sure he couldn’t point his own designs out in a line up…because most celebrity lines are just nothing more than a licensing deal or endorsement.
Luckily I think the market is right in time for a turnaround more innovation is going on in the market, trends are changing and we are seeing more clothing lines taking it back to the basics of design and truly bringing fashion back as an art and culture. Presented for people to express themselves on a garment and not just throw a logo and a tag with a million dollar advertising campaign to sell some $5 shirts for $60 dollars in a Macy’s or Bloomingdales or some overly price “Exclusive” Boutique. So maybe there is still a chance for the under capitalized, grass roots marketed Indie clothing brands.
Do celebrity clothing lines help the market? What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing Indie clothing companies?
Serious about starting a clothing line? If so subscribe to our free newsletter for exclusive articles/updates that you don't want to miss! or Our RSS Feed
Continue This Discussion In Dobizo Forum
Popularity: 1% [?]
Want To Learn How To Start A Clothing Line From a proven fashion industry professional? If so Click Here to take a listen 100% Free to how you can succeed in the fashion industry from Ceo's of million dollar apparel industry businesses.
Share
July 16th, 2007 at 11:44 am
I think most celebrity brands are a gimmick…what makes you an expert on fashion…do you study trends, study other brands, go to the mall and find out what people are wearing. I don’t want to knock anyone hustle but lets face it Rich Yung is high priced garbege as well as Billionaire Boys Club. Maybe I’m coming from a business point of view and not a consumer’s point of view but I would rather wear a line in which the person who is the face of it actually had physical input in the designs. I remember hearing Kanye West was coming out with a clothing line. He said that he had input in the designing process to the point where he draw sketches of designs. But the average consumer dont really care and fall into the trap of wearing overpriced clothing.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
well let me start off by saying hi long time no write but im back. celeb clothing lines do not help the situation they are only making it worse its making people think if you have money you can start a clothing line and that is far from the truth. you can throw endless amounts of money at a clothing line but if you have now substance behind it you will come falling down. (thats my opinion anyways) we have all these celeb clothing lines that put any garbage on a shirt and call it fashion. and like you said they will never be able to pick their designs out of a line up so we are in a state of emergency. i am calling all indie clothing brands to take it back to basics really think of what you are putting together and lets get our business back and show what we got
July 17th, 2007 at 9:22 am
I think the only celebrity who truly has a hand in their own clothing line is Gwen Stefani (L.A.M.B.). She has actually handsewn some of her own samples.
The question I have is: How long is this graphic/logo tshirt phenomenon going to last. I figured it had reached its peak by now and its all down hill from here. But I could be wrong.
July 18th, 2007 at 8:19 am
in my opinion graphic tees are always going to play a major part in clothing lines and the apparel business. it is were you can be the most creative and really let people know what your line is all about. think about it you have such a large blank canvas to go crazy on (the tee that is) it is the first thing people think of when they are buying merchandise. summer time everyone wants to rock a hot fresh looking tee. winter time everyone rocks a tee under any sweater, jacket, coat, etc. like i said these are only my opinions i once was fed up with all the logo saturated tees that were out there then i thought about it. hey what other form to get your name out to the masses. and honestly if you have a tight budget this is the most cost effective way to get started. i was actually wearing one of my graf inspired tees yesterday and i got so much feed back it was overwhelming people were just coming up to me saying man thats a tight shirt were did i get it from. and ofcourse being the natural salesman that i am i gave i educated them on my line gave them my business card and told them to call me if they wanted to see more or buy (damn website is still not finished ) but to make a long story short graphic tees are where its at
July 18th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Im curious as to how LRG and GinoGreen (of 9 fame) being indie labels, were able to penetrate the market? i feel what bru is saying in the discussion piece up top, but cmon man stay focused, you cant get frustrated, all of us (Next Major Idies) who live by this site need you to keep fighting and be positive so we can remain positive. i mean if you think about it LRG and labels like Juicy Couture (whom was bought by liz claiborne, but still was once indie) won in a major way. so to me that says if you make the right moves you’ll score despite what else is out there. you did make one very serious point though and i’m glad im not the only one thinking this way, and that is there is a cycle for all businesses and industries and i think the fashion industry is in the midst of a major shift, change, cycle, whatever you want to call it due to the fact that the world is changing ie. Democrats looking like strong favorites to take the whitehouse, rap music and black america finally being held responsible for the nonhealthy images of violence and excess we are constantly feeding our youth and consuming ourselves, and it has nothing to do with society but everything to do with black society and being responsible for bringing urban youth through what we as rap/urban/hip hop supporters and fans have sat by and allowed to be contioneously fed to our youth to the point where murder rates are up in major black metro areas, college enrollment and graduation is down and we dont even know how to where a polo or collar shirt anymore, we all want rhinestones and crazy ass BAPE shit that clearly says we buy anything they sell us, but again i agree change is upon us & now is unequivocally the best time to make your move because fashion isnt the only change happening, change is happening everywhere, and guess what fellow future indie stars, during change is when consumers (our friends) are most open to trying anything new especially fashion that encompasses that change that theyre experiencing in their lives, but as bru mentioned substance is what has longevity, not some gimmik. so be encouraged about this time in history because it doesnt happen that often but when it does its the only time that the playing field is level and besides celebrity lines are only as relevant as the celebrity which is not long and besides people grow up. STAY FOCUSED EVERYDAY MATTERS!