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5 Reasons You Shouldn't Start That Fashion Brand.

If you're new here this blog may seem a bit odd given I'm here to encourage and facilitate startups with their design journey and brand launch!!

But, once you get to know me you'll understand I'm passionate about sharing a very realistic view of the fashion industry and the road ahead of you as a startup founder. I believe if you're armed with the right knowledge it's 100% accessible to you.


The fashion industry is often portrayed as glamorous and alluring, with dreams of creating iconic clothing lines and influencing trends. However, behind the glitz and glamour lies a challenging and highly competitive business. When you're new to the fashion industry and considering starting your own brand, it's crucial to be aware of the hurdles you might face. In this blog post, we'll explore five reasons why you might want to think twice before diving headfirst into the world of fashion entrepreneurship.


1. You Have No USP.

The fashion industry is oversaturated with countless brands, from established giants to emerging startups. Breaking through this clutter and gaining a foothold can be exceptionally challenging.

Newcomers often underestimate the sheer number of brands vying for consumer attention, making it a tough environment for those without a clear, distinct vision.

It often takes years of hard work, dedication, and a unique selling proposition to stand out.

That's not to say it's not possible for a startup to be successful and having that unique selling point is key. What sets your brand apart from the rest? What is different about your products? What solution do you offer to your consumers? Getting clear on this is key. Without it, you risk being lost in the noise.





2. You Have A Super Low Budget.


Creating a fashion brand involves substantial upfront costs, including designing, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Without proper financial planning, you may find yourself up against it financially before even getting started.

There are lots of things you can do to start a brand on a shoestring and there are even more things you can waste your money on.

Make sure you get the right help to understand how to do it correctly, how to avoid the costly pitfalls, and what you really should be investing in to make it all work.




3. You're Just Playing At It.


Are you committed to it? For every brand I see launch, I see 10 clients who are really just flirting with the idea. Tough love time - ask yourself are you really serious about this or did you see someone on Instagram with some branded hoodies and think it looks "fun"!?

If you've been thinking about this for a long time and the same startup idea keeps coming back to you then this is a good sign you're meant to pursue it and that your idea has legs.

Another great indicator for this is to think about how you'd feel if you saw another brand launch your exact same idea. Would you be gutted you didn't get onto this sooner? If not then it's time to walk away.

Don't confuse a really great business idea with shiny new thing syndrome.


4. You're Here To Make A Quick Buck.


Yes, it's possible to make a profitable business by launching a fashion brand. But it won't be an overnight success. It takes time, planning, and the right people on your side.

I have the same conversation every week during discovery calls where I have to let clients down gently. You're not going to be able to launch in the next 2 months. Even with ready-made garments, you still need to factor in sampling and shipping time. And let's face it, do you really want to splurge your startup capital on a generic product available to anyone wholesale? Probably not. Hopefully not!

Triple the time you think it's going to take, learn about the whole process from concept to production, and what's involved in marketing the product once you have it.



5. You Lack Discipline & Commitment.


If you're anything like most of the startups I work with, then starting a clothing brand is probably a project you're trying to do alongside something else that takes up a large chunk of your time such as a 9-5 job, your family, or both.

If that's the case you really need to carve out some time each week to devote to your business idea. Slow and steady wins the race every time.

There will be weeks when you make progress and others when it doesn't happen. That's life. But if you're someone who constantly tells yourself you've no time yet continually prioritise doom-scrolling and reality TV then you should question what is important.

I've seen the most inspirational founders who despite their crazy schedules just get it done proving that if you really want it, you'll make time for it. Usually, they opt to have some mentoring that will keep them on track and give them the accountability they need to fast-track their startup progress.


If you need help getting clear about any of this then why not book in for my Power Hour session? During this video call, we can chat about the potential and viability of your business idea before you plunge into unknown waters and waste your precious startup capital.

You'll get access to a recording of the call as well as some action points (if applicable) to take away with you to help you get started.

If this sounds like a sensible place to start you can find out more information here.



See you in the front row,

Michelle.



How To Get back On Track With Your Fashion Brand.

We've all been there...that feeling when we lack the motivation to drive forward with something that's important to us. When we have taken a break from something like our business it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. We often feel a whole mix of emotions like guilt, doubt and laziness which leads us to ask ourselves are we really cut out for this?


The good news is this is completely normal and to be expected. The even better news is you can turn these thoughts around to get past this roadblock and here I share my top tips to move you forward.





Accept Perfect Doesn't Exist


So many fashion startups are waiting for that "perfect time" when things will be quieter, you'll be richer, the kids will be older, your 9-5 is less hectic and you've lost that extra stone (OK maybe that one is just me!). But guess what? That perfect time just doesn't exist because there will always be something new to come along and fill that time gap, to spend your money on, eat your attention etc. The best fashion startups I have seen flourish are the ones run by parents with full-time jobs because they get shit done. They accept it's full-on and hectic but they do it anyway and make it work. So if you're sitting there waiting ask yourself this - how will you feel in 6 months time if someone else launches your idea? Gutted right? Accept this won't be easy but it will be worth it.


Remember Your "Why"


It can be hard to stay motivated 24/7 so in times you're feeling a bit "meh" remember why you started this. Imagine it's a year from now and you've launched, how will you feel? What will life look like to have brought that amazing idea to market? How will you feel seeing people wearing your collection? How many lives will you improve by bringing your innovative idea to life? How will building a legacy for your future make you and your family feel?

Remembering the bigger picture really helps put the day to day tribulations in perspective and refocus your attention on the reasons you are pursuing this. If you need some further help thinking bout your why then I recommend you read "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek https://simonsinek.com/product/start-with-why/





Go Easy On Yourself


It's so easy to forget that life happens and can often get in the way of our best-laid plans. Acknowledge that sometimes you need to take some time out from your business. That may be due to illness, perhaps your family needs you, maybe your job is super busy or maybe you're just exhausted and need to take some time off. This is OK and it's important to give yourself permission. The main thing is to put a time limit on it and understand you'll get back on it by a specific date.


Make A Commitment


Have you heard the saying "what get's measured gets done"? If you make a commitment to yourself and write down goals which you then regularly review, you're far more likely to achieve them than if you're really vague about your plans. Think about your week and decide if there is any regular time slot where you can carve out some time to work on your business. Be vocal about this activity with friends or family so they know you have something important to do during that time slot and try to stick to it.

Using a planner can be a great way to do this and keep track of goals. I personally love the planner from Carrie & Co. https://carrie.co/product/perfectly-planned-2022/




Be Realistic


We only have 24 hours in the day so work out when you can realistically work on your business. Setting goals is great but if we constantly strive for perfection then this can feel really demotivating. Instead, look at your time and plan what you can realistically achieve in the day or week. Be the tortoise, not the hare and chip away at things one task at a time. Break larger tasks into smaller bite-sized chunks that you can work on when you have a spare hour. In a few weeks, you will have achieved far more than trying to tackle impossible large tasks.


Hopefully you can use these tips to stay motivated with your fashion brand. If you ned any further help then why not book in for a power hour to discuss your fashion brand and get help with anything you may be struggling with. You can see more about this here https://www.thefashionexpert.com/product-page/tailored-consultation-1-hour


Michelle Ramsay - The Fashion Expert®





What is a tech pack and why do you need one?

Let's explore what start-ups need to prepare to get their collections manufactured.




A lot of fashion start-ups make the mistake of approaching a factory with a rough sketch or photograph and expect the supplier to quote a price and produce a garment from this limited information. Unfortunately, this approach is very unrealistic and can be frustrating to factories that don’t have time to coach you through what is involved in product development and manufacture. A factory needs to know exactly what your design entails, and the way to convey this information correctly is to prepare a tech pack for each style.


What is a tech pack?


Sometimes referred to as factory packs or style packs, a tech pack is like a blueprint for any garment you want to produce. It creates a plan and good foundation upon which great collections can be made. It should contain 3 main elements, although this can vary depending on the complexity of the style.


1. The colour cad


This is a digital fashion flat drawing of the garment. It is in colour with accompanying textile Pantone codes and shows both front and back views. It also details fabrics to be used.


2. The tech sheets


These are black and white drawings of the garment and drill down further into the design details so the factory can understand how to construct the garment. The tech sheets communicate which techniques you want to use on things like prints and embellishments, and specifies information on any branded elements like zip pulls, badges and labels. Seams, stitching and buttons are referenced along with design details such as pockets, collars, cuffs, openings and fastenings.


3. Size specification chart


Often referred to as a “spec”, this size chart documents all the points of measure a factory will need to create a pattern, make your garment to the correct sizes, and calculate important information such as fabric consumption and an accurate price. Each point of measure is an industry-standard point on the garment such as chest, armhole, waist and length. It also covers some measurements you may not be familiar with such as front neck drop, back neck width and collar point.


A size spec is not the same as a size guide that is often displayed on retailer’s websites. These size guides are very generic guides on body sizes only, whereas a size spec concentrates on garment sizes and is tailored to each individual style.


A size spec is usually prepared in your desired sample size such as medium or large for initial sampling, then graded once you are ready to go to production.



All 3 elements are combined into one PDF document for each style.





What can go wrong without a tech pack? Trying to create a garment without a tech pack leads to many problems and can waste a lot of time and money for both the factory and the start-up brand. If you don’t tell the factory exactly what you want, they may have to potentially fill in the blanks for you. It’s best to be in control of those decisions from the get-go and avoid miscommunication or a very lengthy sampling process. Often factories just don’t have the time to devote to holding your hand throughout the process because that is the job of a fashion designer. Usually, start-ups neglect the correct design process as they are either unaware of what they need to create or trying to save money. But the money you invest in decent tech packs, in the beginning, will save you a lot of time and money in the long term. It will also show to prospective suppliers that you are serious and committed to your brand, and increase your chances of forging good relationships with them from the beginning. Get ahead of the competition by adopting the approach the fashion professionals follow for manufacturing their products and make sure you prepare detailed tech packs for your fashion brand.

If you have any questions, comments or feel you need help with tech packs for your collection or any aspect of launching your fashion brand then get in touch and we can discuss your requirements - info@thefashionexpert.co.uk or Book a free discovery call by clicking here.



Michelle Ramsay - The Fashion Expert®





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