Serious about starting a clothing line? If so subscribe to our RSS feed or Email notifications for exclusive articles/updates that you don't want to miss!

School is for FOOLS!

Pay no mind to the topic sentence it sounds a little more shocking than ?Do I need a degree or special training to start my own fashion line? NO! Anyone with drive, determination and patience can start and operate a successful apparel company but, no one said it would be easy. There are many things to take into factor when starting any company. Now that I have your attention listen closer.

I get questioned a lot about fashion school and training to be a fashion designer. Going to a fashion school graduating with honors at the top of your class is not going too guarantee your success as an entrepreneur in the apparel industry.

Starting a fashion business vs. going to an accredited college to study in the field of fashion are two different experiences that I know firsthand. When attending a fashion school you learn the technical aspects of fashion business which is sewing, patterns, graphic design, and maybe a little public speaking. Nothing beats firsthand experience I repeat NOTHING!

Now I?m not saying just dive in head first but if you?re going to take the college route make sure and intern for some fashion companies that are in the market you want too get into. You will learn firsthand from industry insiders while interning.

When interning for the company ask questions and do more than what they ask of you, but never overstep your boundaries. Make sure and take notes and network while keeping important contacts. (You never know who might also be looking too start their own apparel company) These contacts could turn into future investors, partners, and if all else fails work references.

Whether you know it or not a lot of the most successful fashion designers never attended fashion school from the likes of Fubu owner Daymond John or Ecko CEO Marc Ecko and they are both still multimillion dollar operations whether you know it or not. Marc Ecko actually went to school too be a pharmacist and dropped out and started Ecko Unltd. Daymond John was a waiter at Red Lobster when he started Fubu. Tommy Hilfiger never went to fashion school either he started off with his own clothing store named ?The People?s Place? when he went bankrupt he became a freelance designer and later started his multimillion dollar operation.

Below is a list of sites that are helpful in finding internships with respectable fashion companies:

http://www.fashioninternships.net
http://www.internabroad.com
http://www.vault.com
www.globalexperiences.com
www.thefashiontool.com

Fashion06

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% [?]