What nobody told you about "Running your own fashion business"
For all the aspiring designers:
Today the fashion industry has drastically changed over the last few years with a large shift to online retailing and older companies tapping into the overseas market
The profile of the fashion industry today has just gone up a notch higher with its growing needs and evolving standards. But there is more to it than just the perceived glamour. It's a serious game & a years long process that is extremely consuming & likely take up everything you've got in you, time, energy, passion.. ! The first few years require a lot of patience as you are extensively involved at every stage of your work.
If you are looking out to start up a fashion business in hopes of moving on to something with a more flexible schedule for yourself, here is a reality check. Running your own business could also mean that you will be up all night to complete orders & meet deliveries and deadlines. There will be work pouring in & you will eat breath and sleep by your business, 24X7. It's a big commitment where no one can fill up for you, not even when you are sick!! If this is does not scare you, keep reading.
Often one does not realise that starting up a fashion enterprise leaves you very little time that you can possibly devote to just "designing". 70% to 80% of the time is spent on the management that includes suppliers, buyers etc who are sometimes scattered in different corners & handling them at times could be a nightmare even with some great organizational skills & pre-planning.
A fashion start up requires more money and time than you can imagine, even the small scaled ones. You need to have a big appetite for risk. You are not just investing a whole lot of money but something even more precious, your TIME. It's a one brick at a time business that takes years and years to build up. Money doesn't guarantee growth but it's almost imperative to have access to the right kind of funding to start up. And a business that is growing organically will need cash injections in specific areas from time to time. You need to have a deep pocket for that or be skilled to work upon creative & resourceful ways to raise sufficient fund before you take a deep plunge into it.
There is no particular road map to run a fashion enterprise. However, you need to be consistently producing a good product that is worthy of the industry's time and energy. One has to know their clients and what their needs are. If you have a good product you can be rest assured that you are slowly building work that would last. At the end of the day you have to sell your product to sustain your brand. And so often with the creativity bug you can fail to notice of the importance of financial disciplining.
It's very natural for young kids right out of the fashion college to be avidly seeking acceptance from the industry & trying to put themselves on the fashion map. Having your work published in a certain magazine or being in a particular fashion week may also bring some validation to your work, but it's not the ultimate yardstick to measure your talent or the potential of your business. It would also be a mistake to put in everything into a show, believing that it will launch your career. There can be more than one right way to go about promoting your art. Everyone should carefully consider the right move for their brand because one size does not fit all and timing is everything.
As you work towards your goal, your drive will rub off on other people too that you work so closely with. Soon, you'll realize you are not just responsible for your business but also for these people who work with you everyday. It's the most sensitive role that you play at work which brings in a sense of well being to the whole organisation.
There will be moments when it's hard to see your way forward especially if fear or doubt kicks in.There will be delays and there will be disappointments, but it's only your continued sense of commitment that can lead you. At the end of the day an honest effort never goes unappreciated. Integrity is where it's at after all.
As long as you are not setting financial gains as a benchmark for success, there will be endless opportunities you can create & not limit your growth. Your success is going to be your humility !!
Shriti Pratap is a Mumbai based Fashion Designer. Shriti's label is a line of high-end women’s wear with a customized section of contemporary designs and products that primarily retail from exclusive multi designer stores.
Take a look at her work at Shriti Pratap
