It can feel like there is so much to do when it comes to starting your own fashion brand, and it becomes easy to feel overwhelmed. This happens all to often. So, I suggest, like most 'to-do-lists'; tackle one thing at a time, and don't start the next until the one you're working on is completed. However, knowing where to start is often the issue. So, to help get you started here are five things you can do right now (or this week at least) that will help you get you fashion brand started!
Develop Your Branding
This takes way longer than you expect it too and it's definitely something you don't want to rush. If you have branding experience or are clear on what it is you want to create -awesome! If not, there's a couple of questions you can start answering to begin to build your brand:
Why does your brand need to exist?
What value will it offer?
What does your audience need?
What does your brand stand for?
What is you brands message and tagline & why?
Answering these questions are others will help get you focused on specific details of your brand and lets face it - branding is an exciting process - one that gets your creative juices running, so it's a task I'm sure you will enjoy! *Bonus!
Attend Fashion and Fabric Trade Shows
You need to get out into the industry as much as possible and fashion and fabric trade shows are great ways to do this. Trade shows give you a great understanding of whats available in the industry, whats trending, and potentially what your competitors are doing. Trade shows happen all over the globe and in a variety of different specialities. Check out my trade show lists here and here.
Sketch & Swatches
This might sound obvious but you want to get your design board going, collecting fabric swatches, images, and sketches that represent your brand and it's direction. You want to get specific on what your brand is going to produce - how it's going to be different etc. So you can start pulling together design elements, details that will do that in one place - like a design mood board.
Research Your Market
This is SO important! You need to know your market inside and out before you do anything - so researching your market is a great place to start. Gather as much information as possible about your competitors- what they do that works, what they do that doesn't. Usually if something is marked down - it's because the store didn't sell the product as quickly as they expected, meaning they probably won't repurchase that style. This type of information is key to you as you build out your brand.