Fashion Design -:

 What Do I Need to Learn to Start My Own Fashion Business?

In this post, we're exploring some of the key topics that budding fashion business owners should consider building their skills and knowledge before they embark on setting up their own fashion businesses.

let's count them down, 06 key areas and in no particular ranking. That would be way too subjective.

1. Self-Awareness About Your Suitability as Your Own Boss

Not everyone suited to being their own boss. So if there's one place that has to be considered before you get all worked up and head to the nearest bank for a loan, it's to do some self-assessment and figure out why you want to run your own business. How prepared are you for it and where can you get ongoing support from? Understanding your self, your motivations, strengths and weaknesses will provide you with a clearer idea of how suited you are to the role of self-emp0loyment and all it's pluses and minuses.

2. Industry Segments

You need to learn about the industry segments, core product categories, roles within the industry and the rising importance of ethical and sustainable fashion.

3. Strategy

You certainly need to learn about the importance of having a clear strategy for your business, how to write a business plan, choosing a business structure, where to base your business and choosing an accountant.

4. Research

Learn how to do research, defining your ideal customer, using research trends and how to do competitor analysis so that you can feed these insights into your business strategy.

5. Range Planning

Learn the principles of range planning and pricing so that you have a small, focused range that is attractive to buyers and encourages customers to buy more items from your range.

6. Basic Business Finance

Learn the essential financial areas that you must manage in your business including profit and loss, cash flow and budgeting so that you can stay in business and avoid financial difficulties.

 6 Ways to Develop Your Fashion Knowledge and Skills for Free

Everday is an opportunity to take one more step on your path to fulfilling your dreams of becoming a fashion designer. This post is based on a lesson in our free course, Advice And Guidance On Choosing A Career As A Fashion Designer.

Read it and learn about specific steps you can take over the next 12 months to develop a better understanding of working in fashion.

They're not listed in any particular order of priority.

1. Review who you follow on social media and only follow people that help you to learn more about fashion design and the skills you need. Look for professional designers, pattern cutters etc as well as fashion colleges and universities.

2. Make sure you are signed up to our general information newsletter and emails. You can do that here using the form on the page.

3. Buy three books from Amazon on fashion design. If you can't afford new, buy used as they are always as good as new in condition. Or ask for them as gifts at Xmas or your birthday.

4. Subscribe to the Business of Fashion for news and updates.

5.Visit a fashion museum.

6. Find out if there are any fashion designers, pattern cutters, graders etc that live in your area. Contact them and ask if you could visit them to find out more about the work they do or volunteer to work for them for free in your free time. That way you'll get some experience in their field.

Now that you've read the list it's time to act. Here's what you need to do:

1.Enrol on the course and download the list. Do it now.

2.Select three things you can do over the next week and tell us what these are in the Comments area.

3.Select two things you can do over the next month.

4.Select one thing you'll complete by the end of the first three months from today.

5.Plan to review your progress against each item weekly.

6.When you complete an item, treat yourself to something to celebrate your progress. Then add a new one to your list.

7.Rinse and repeat until you are done this time next year.