END-TO-END FASHION DESIGN : A GUIDE FOR THE FASHION ENTERPRENEUR

End-to-end fashion design: A guide for the fashion entrepreneur

With the growth of e-commerce through platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Jabong, many would-be fashion entrepreneurs found an opportunity to fulfill their aspirations. While fashion holds the potential to create a successful business, it is not as easy as it seems.

Fuelled by 24/7 social media, celebrity and fickle media hype, consumers' fashion interests are changing more quickly than ever, meaning that product lifecycles are continuously accelerating – making it difficult for fashion retailers to keep pace with the demand.

What to look for in a solution for your fashion business:

·         Research on the right collection:-  A depth research on the right collection as per the market is a key for a successful beginning for any entrepreneur.

·         Fashion forecast :- Forecasting the future demand for particular styles, fabrics and colors is an important aspect of the fashion industry. There are many portal which can guide you for the right kind of styling for the upcoming seasons.

Various methods of promoting the products:-             

·        Weekend markets, beach side shops :-  Beach side shops and weekend markets offers a vast variety of shopping opportunities.

·        Sell at Art Fairs or Craft Fairs :- Selling your clothing line at a street fair will give you instant gratification. The customers pay retail prices and you get the money right away. You also get the interaction with your customer which is deadly important.

·        Sell Online:- You can set up your own online store, of course, or sell on Etsy or a similar site. But beware! Just putting your product up online will not make it sell. There is a lot of marketing involved to get traffic to your site and get your product off the shelf.

·        Sell at trade shows:- Trade shows require a hard-sell approach. When attendees show interest in your booth, approach them immediately and invite them to learn more about your products or services.

·        Sell through Trunk Shows :- Trunk shows for New Designers as a way to sell your line.  The advantage of a trunk show to designers is that you get access to all the customers without having to do ALL the marketing. And even better? You get to meet the customers and get feedback from them re: fit, style, colors etc.

·        Sell to Boutiques :- The great thing about selling to boutiques is that you can really build a relationship with the buyer because she is often the owner. This type of continuity can make you and a retail shop “partners” in this business which can really help in a few ways; if you deliver late one season, for instance, and getting valuable feedback from the buyer about your line.

·         Hire a Sales agent :- Hire a sales rep to distribute your products to different stores.

·        Sell to Department Stores :- Definitely not recommended for new lines. The water is shark-filled and this sales avenue should be avoided until you get your sea legs – after a few seasons

INDIA AS A HERITAGE OF EMBROIDERS

Indian embroidery takes its inspiration from nature and religion. Themes and motifs have remained as such for centuries. Things till very recently remained the same till the craft of embroidery was commercialized. Even now , the themes and the motifs are same but the production techniques have changed, the requirements have changed.

Historically the embroidery started as a decorative character. Nowadays we frequently see on each and every line be it caps, hats, coats, blankets, dress shirts, denim, dresses, stockings, and golf shirts.

Embroidery in India includes dozens of embroidery styles that vary by region and clothing styles.

Some of them are:-

 1.Blue Mural Embroidery

Blue Mural Embroidery generated from Udaipur,Rajasthan. These are knows as Wall Mural.

2. Aari Work

Aari work involves a hook, plied from the top but fed by silk thread from below with the material spread out on a frame. This movement creates loops, and repeats of these lead to a line of chain stitches.

Aari embroidery is practiced in various regions such as in Kashmir and Kutch(Gujarat).

3. Kantha Embroidery

Naksha is embroidery on many layers of cloth (like quilting), with running stitch. The same type of embroidery can also be found on saris, salwar suits, stoles, napkins, etc.

4. Kashmiri Embroidery

The entire pattern is made with one or two embroidery stitches, and mainly chain stitch on a base of silk, wool and cotton. The base cloth, whether wool or cotton, is generally white or cream or a similar shade

5.Hand Embroidery

Orissa is known for her beautiful hand-embroidered works. The motif designs are varied. The embroidery of Orissa usually have a central motif  made with ‘run’ and ‘Chain’ stitches. As in Bengal the designs are often floral.

HOW TO WEAR SLEEVELESS DRESSES IN WINTER

Winter comes and you have to say goodbye to all those sleeveless dresses you loved all summer. Not so fast! We’ve got a few tricks up our not-sleeved arms for how to wear those beloved styles through the chilliest temperatures. Check out our selection of seasonally appropriate sleeveless styles and layering pieces here, and find out five flawless ways to style the look below.

1.Layers, Layers, and More Layers (It’s Winter!)

What you need to rock this look:

·         Mid-length dress

·         Sweater or denim jacket

·         Scarf

·         Wool jacket

·         Leggings

·         Knit socks

·         Knee boots

    2.The Light Turtleneck
       

J    Just because the temperature fall up a little bit doesn’t mean you have to hide all of your dresses away. All it takes to make them cozy enough is a little bit of layering knowledge. Turtlenecks are back in a big way for this winter, and layering a thin wool sweater under a stretchy dress adds warmth without bulk.

      

    3.Pair it with Blazer or Jacket

        

 For the simplest layering trick, simply add a jacket! It keeps the texture consistent, and cozy. 

    4. SHRUGS

      

    From sleeveless printed spring jackets to elegant evening cape jackets, to jewel toned festive jackets, light weight and rich hued shrugs, you will find absolutely anything and everything here. Add some brownie points to your "Outfit Of The Day" with our finely tailored jackets, coats, capes, tie-ups and draping shrugs!

      

   5. Knitted Dresses

         

        From cool-tone whites to block brights, knitted dresses and party-ready bo

dycon styles are perfect for transitioning from day to play.An elegant sleeveless style made from a softly textured, velvety knitted material with added stretch is perfect for any occasion.