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Writer's pictureThe Fashion Expert®
Aug 10, 20233 min read

Elevate Your Fashion Startup: The Power of Strategic Collection Planning

In the fast-paced world of fashion, staying ahead of the curve requires more than just a keen eye for design. It demands careful planning and foresight. For fashion startups aiming to launch a clothing brand, the secret ingredient lies in the strategic planning of collections and giving yourself enough time. In this blog post, we'll explore the compelling reasons why planning your collections well in advance and adopting a tortoise not hare approach can be the ultimate catalysts for your brand's success.


1. Unleash Your Creative Vision:

When you plan your collections in advance, you're creating a fertile ground for your creative vision to flourish. Instead of being rushed by tight deadlines, you have the luxury of time to explore new design realms and craft pieces that resonate with your unique style. Collate your raw ideas on Pinterest, draw some really rough (or even bad) sketches, and find a professional designer who can translate those raw ideas into tech packs for your manufacturer.

2. Craftsmanship Excellence:

Every stitch, every seam, every intricate detail – they all contribute to the overall quality of your collection. Planning ahead allows you to meticulously select the finest fabrics, experiment with innovative techniques, and ensure that each piece is a testament to your commitment to craftsmanship. The result? Unparalleled quality that sets your brand apart. Allowing yourself enough time will make the sampling process way less stressful and you'll be able to explore multiple potential manufacturing partners.

3. Stay Ahead of Trends:

Fashion is ever-evolving, and being in sync with the latest trends is vital for your brand's relevance. Planning your collections well in advance enables you to anticipate upcoming trends, integrating them seamlessly into your designs. By the time your collection is ready for launch, it'll be relevant to the season and the whole process won't feel rushed.


4. Streamlined Production:

The production process can be a make-or-break factor for any fashion startup. With a well-structured plan in place, you can optimize every step of production. From sourcing materials to final fittings, you'll minimize delays and hiccups, ensuring that your collection comes to life with efficiency and precision. Building in a time buffer will help any roadblocks you may come up against and your factory will thank you too!

5. Build Anticipation:

In the age of social media and instant gratification, building anticipation is an art in itself. When you plan your collections well in advance, you have the opportunity to tease your audience with exclusive sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes glimpses. By the time your collection is unveiled, excitement will be at its peak, generating a buzz that's hard to ignore.

6. Masterful Marketing:

Planning is the foundation of a successful marketing strategy. With a clear timeline, you can craft engaging social media campaigns, strategically collaborate with influencers, and ensure that your collection receives the attention it deserves. Your marketing efforts become synchronized, amplifying the impact of your brand. A realistic launch date means you can build your audience so when you're ready to launch you'll have a client base to market to.

7. Financial Savviness:

Effective financial management is crucial for the sustainability of your startup. Planning your collections allows you to allocate resources wisely, avoid unnecessary expenses, and maximize your profits without compromising on quality. It's a roadmap to financial success that ensures your brand's growth. Having time on your side means you can spread some of the financial commitments and keep an eye on the ever-so-important cash flow.


8. Fashion with Purpose:

In a world increasingly conscious of sustainability, planning ahead enables you to seamlessly integrate ethical and sustainable practices into your designs. By making thoughtful choices from the outset, you create pieces that make a statement not only in style but also in their positive impact on the planet.

Giving yourself a realistic timeframe means you can explore various options, which is not always a quick task.

Conclusion: The journey from fashion startup to industry trailblazer begins with meticulous planning and a realistic launch date. By embracing the power of strategic collection planning, you're setting your brand on a trajectory of success. Unleash your creative genius, refine your craftsmanship, stay ahead of trends, and optimize every aspect of your business. Always include extra time in your planning schedule. It may not be what you want to hear but everything will take much longer than you anticipate. So, start planning, start creating, and watch your fashion startup soar to new heights. If you're ready to get started then why not book a free chat to see how I can help you with planning and launching your very own fashion brand. Book your call here


See you in the front row!

Michelle.




Writer's pictureThe Fashion Expert®
Nov 11, 20213 min read

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®





Writer's pictureThe Fashion Expert®
Jun 2, 20213 min read

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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