March 18th, 2015
Branding involves relaying a consistent message across all of your channels of communication with your target audience. This message should…
March 17th, 2015
The apparel and fashion industry is constantly changing. The entire industry is based on…
March 16th, 2015
The Burks & Bailey story was born in rural town Tuskegee, Alabama–home to curators,…
March 14th, 2015
Do you need to cut waste from your workflow to grow your business more efficiently? Most…
March 4th, 2015
Retail is an industry driven by results. There isn’t a magic formula, especially since consumer wants and needs change constantly. While…
March 3rd, 2015
When you are your own boss, staying productive is in your hands. This is a double edged sword, sometimes resulting in unfocused or…
February 27th, 2015
In an era where if you can dream it, you can build it, 3d printing has become one of the most effective ways to quickly design and…
February 24th, 2015
“Should I sell to department stores or boutiques?” This is a common question design entrepreneurs ask. The argument is strong for both…
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 22nd, 2015
MAGIC is the world’s largest fashion marketplace, comprised of ten unique communities showcasing the latest in apparel, footwear,…
February 16th, 2015
As an up-and-coming entrepreneur, I founded my business with just $24,000 in startup capital. I stretched it as far as it could go. I’ve…
February 14th, 2015
There are hundreds of ‘How-To’ articles out there, from starting a collection, to succeeding as a designer, to growing your…
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…
February 1st, 2015
The old adage “work smarter, not harder” is more than a business cliché. As anyone who runs a company would tell you, every second…
January 17th, 2015
My parents were entrepreneurs, so I thought I knew exactly what to expect — operations, budgeting, sourcing and so on. The difference…
January 13th, 2015
A few months ago, Avantūr was nothing more than an idea. Two friends with a passion for design and a desire to create. Today, Avantūr is…
January 9th, 2015
Showing your personality and passion in your product Manufacturing your line is an exciting process as you watch your product unfold and come to life. It’s exhilarating to see the product move from…
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 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 4th, 2014
Your first year in business is sort of like driving cross-country through dense fog. It’s a long, harrowing trip and you can only see…
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 23rd, 2014
The next few months are full of excitement, preparation, vacations, increased sales, increased production and some stress! So all of us…
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 11th, 2014
Now in its fourth year, Small Business Saturday has helped local entrepreneurs fuel sales and connect with customers the Saturday after…
November 6th, 2014
The fashion industry is notoriously cutthroat and competitive. From magazines to emerging designers, popular media sells us the picture of…