Becoming an Apparel Entrepreneur requires a lot of preparation and planning. Knowing what the necessary steps are ahead of time can make the process a lot easier. Having a solid entrepreneurial education experience and the right guidance can be the perfect combination for launching your own apparel brand. Clothier Design Source wants to get you the knowledge you need to launch your collection. They are offering The Apparel Academy – Where Clothing Entrepreneurs Begin course which gives potential apparel entrepreneurs all the  information they need to create and produce a collection.

The Apparel Academy – Where Clothing Entrepreneurs Begin course is a 6-class Academy course that includes classes on the design process, prototypes & samples, creating a tech pack, the manufacturing process, and a tour of the factory and Clothier Design Source Headquarters. It runs 9am-4:30 pm. Each class comes with a Q&A session at the end for additional depth on the subject matter. In between classes participants will go on a factory tour and take part in a networking lunch. This is a great opportunity to meet other apparel entrepreneurs. The course is scheduled to take place Saturday May, 12, 2018 at Clothier Design Source Headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Check the information below for the full schedule and additional information.

Interested participants can also win their way in! Clothier Design Source is giving away 2 free spots with an essay contest. The rules are below.

Prompt: How would attending this event be beneficial to you or your company? Rules: 300 words or less.
– Please submit to Tina@clothierdesignsource.com
– Deadline: April 26th, 2018 at midnight

Tickets for the course are available via Eventbrite. For further information, please email info@clothierdesignsource.com

The Apparel Academy – Where Clothing Entrepreneurs Begin Day Schedule:

You will learn:

• The design process and how to make good decisions on construction and fabric
• The prototype/sampling process and how to find the right factory partner and how to evaluate your prototypes
• The tech pack/ Spec sheet process and how to read them/create them for your product(s)
• The manufacturing process and learn behind the scenes details.
• Tour our factory and development headquarters.

Also included:

• Lunch
• Networking time
• Q&A Time
• Factory & Development Tour
• Class Materials including copies of the presentations, templates for tech packs, fabric source lists and more! (more details below)
• Post-Academy 30 minutes video consultation with Design Manager who has 10+ years in the industry.

You don’t want to miss this event. Let us help you figure out the next steps to move forward in your apparel line! We hope to see you there!

The Apparel Academy – Where Clothing Entrepreneurs Begin Day Schedule:
8:45 am – 9:00 am Arrive, Check-in
9:00 am – 9:30 am – Intros
9:30 am – 10:30 am – CLASS ONE: Kick Off Class and Q&A
Introduction to the apparel industry and The Clothier 4 Step Process – learn what you can do to prepare for developing your product(s).
10:30 am – 11:30 am CLASS TWO: Step 1 Design Class and Q&A
Learn everything that needs to happen to complete Step 1. Understand how to review designs, fabrics and trims. Learn the basics in fabric and raw goods to help you make the best choices for your product(s). Understand the world of raw goods vendors and the difference between stock goods, made-to-order and developed-to-order.
11:30 am – 12:30 pm CLASS THREE: Step 2 Prototype Class and Q&A
Learn how to review prototypes with a critical eye and how to give constructive feedback. Go over how to fit a garment, wash test and other testing options. Learn about piece goods vs dye goods. Learn about printing options including all-over vs. placed.
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch & Networking (provided by Clothier Design Source)
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Tour of Clothier Design Source Factory and Headquarters:
Get a personal tour of our facility, giving you insight on what to look for when looking for a manufacturer.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm CLASS FOUR: Preparing for Manufacturing and Q&A
In this class we will prep you for entering manufacturing. Understand your label options and label designs. Understand what sizes and colorways to offer and discuss grade rules.
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm CLASS FIVE: Step 3 Tech Design and Q&A
Learn what is in a tech pack and how to use them. Go over our tech pack templates. Learn how to write a purchase order for apparel.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm CLASS SIX: Step 4 Manufacturing and Q&A
Learn what to expect during the manufacturing process. How does apparel manufacturing work? How does quality control work?
Materials included:

• Apparel industry Vendor Sourcing list (over 200 vendors)
• Manufacturing Guide Booklet
• Materials to take away from each class.
• Tech pack Templates

NOTE: This academy does not include marketing advice or how to get funding advice. It is strictly dedicated to helping you manage the quality and success of your brand from a manufacturing and development perspective.