February 26th, 2015
We are excited to partner with Maker’s Row to bring you this four-part series. Over the…
February 23rd, 2015
There are a lot of “hardest parts” about getting an apparel business off the ground. A lot. Arguably, the single most challenging…
February 16th, 2015
Before I’m a designer, I’m an artisan in love with the traditions, heritage, tools and artistry of a craft that goes back centuries. In many ways, Slightly Alabama’s designs are a…
February 12th, 2015
Black History Month is an opportune time for me to reflect on the contributions from the…
February 11th, 2015
If you want to know when the fashion industry first became digitalized, think Donna Karan. In early 2007 fashion editors around the world…
February 9th, 2015
Entrepreneurs often ask me where my product concepts come from and where they should look…
January 29th, 2015
It’s been a little over two years since we launched Mizzen+Main with the goal of becoming the next great American brand. I get asked a lot of questions about starting a company, about bringing…
January 23rd, 2015
Before I launched my collection I had no idea how jewelry was actually made. I thought a jeweler’s bench was something that you sat on, Hephaestus-style, and the process was some shiny mystical…
January 8th, 2015
Charles James once said: “All creative work begins by doing something with the hands. Creation is simply a problem and design is the…
December 30th, 2014
Every New Years, people all over the country decide that it’s time to make a change in their lives; be healthier, stop bad habits, spend…
December 23rd, 2014
When I first set out to develop and launch Najla, an ethical intimate apparel label, my goal was to have as much of the debut collection as possible sourced and made in the United States….
December 20th, 2014
This subject of this post may sound mundane, but I promise you that it is incredibly useful: how to get organized during your manufacturing…
December 18th, 2014
Kimberly Mckinley led a successful career in management consulting, fashion, and e-commerce before deciding to start her own fashion line. Noting the lack of a timelessly designed, high quality,…
December 10th, 2014
Small businesses and freelancers are often left reeling when it comes to tax time. If you haven’t been making any quarterly estimated…
December 9th, 2014
It is that time of year for Holiday Shopping Shows and one of the biggest shows in the Midwest, One of A Kind, happens right here in Chicago! The show has a fantastic assortment of…
December 3rd, 2014
1. Identify your market and the person you’re targeting. To start off, I begin by researching everything there is to know about my target…
December 1st, 2014
Growing up as a professional dancer I always had a lifelong love for movement and fashion. As an adult, I decided that there was no time like the present to go for my dreams… However,…
November 25th, 2014
The holidays are hectic. Whatever industry you’re in, whatever position you have, this time of year always turns into a juggling act….
November 17th, 2014
Samples are single products which are sent from a manufacturer or supplier to a designer or brand to represent the size, look and quality of the products they will receive if they place a full…
November 13th, 2014
Just like relationships with your customers, the relationship you have with your manufacturer can make or break your company. A strong…
November 11th, 2014
Now in its fourth year, Small Business Saturday has helped local entrepreneurs fuel sales and connect with customers the Saturday after…
February 20th, 2014
This week we visited an amazing jewelry manufacturer in the flower district of Chelsea, NYC. Christine McPartland has set up her…
January 24th, 2014
We took a visit to learn about M&S Schmalberg, a custom fabric flower manufacturer in the heart of the NYC garment district and what an incredible story they had to share. Started by Morris and…
January 16th, 2014
Makins Hats has been around for over 40 years, but at the end of 2013 it almost closed for good. Marsha Akins opened Makins Hats in 1974, handmaking the first ever Makins hats in her…
November 12th, 2012
Life as a designer / entrepreneur can be riddled with both moments immense excitement and…
October 17th, 2012
The made in America movement is growing! We have carefully put together a list of 8 online blogs and websites that support the cause, and…