May 2nd, 2015
Your brand must always convey a consistent message and have a recognizable image. Doing this effectively is critical since most people will…
May 1st, 2015
At this very moment, a fabric supplier at 347 W. 36th Street is breaking down metal racks, preparing for their move to Queens near JFK…
April 30th, 2015
Apparel production is an intimidating industry to dive into. One of the toughest obstacles is learning the lingo. To help you out, we’ve…
April 27th, 2015
So, you’ve come up with a great product idea, something people need, or will be excited to buy. In this super-saturated market of makers,…
April 24th, 2015
Designing footwear unlike other products has its limitations. It must work for your feet (Unless you’re making an art statement). At the beginning of every footwear project I carry out, I…
April 23rd, 2015
Creating a brand from scratch is a daunting task with no real prescription for how to do it right. In some ways, a brand is like art—the…
April 21st, 2015
The “build it and they will come” mentality won’t suffice if you want to grow your business and boost your bottom line. You’ll…
April 17th, 2015
In our last few articles, we’ve shown you where leather comes from, how it’s made,…
April 13th, 2015
Developing your designs for a new collection involves 3 main components. When starting a collection, new designers need to consider their…
April 9th, 2015
Scough, a Brooklyn made germ and pollution filtering scarf, is looking to fight airborne infection one covered sneeze at a time….
April 8th, 2015
Have you decided to raise funding and/or pre-sell your product on Kickstarter? Amazing. I think it’s a brilliant move. Sharing your…
April 6th, 2015
The retail industry is an ever-changing market and as a manufacturer you have to stay on top of what’s happening in your niche. The…
April 4th, 2015
Google Analytics is a daunting tool. With such a wide variety of data points collected, metrics to track, and reports to analyze, it’s…
April 3rd, 2015
I was only 25 when I opened my retail store in Chicago selling my womenswear collection. I designed everything in the boutique and had it…
April 2nd, 2015
Starting a successful clothing brand can be done. But does it take a disruptive idea or…
March 31st, 2015
As a new business owner, and self-funded as most of us are, it makes a lot of sense to keep your marketing costs low. Social media is a…
March 24th, 2015
My father came to this country at age 19 for an opportunity at a better life, which I can…
March 23rd, 2015
As an emerging or independent fashion brand, it is incredibly difficult to get your fashion website noticed in the endless ocean of fellow…
March 19th, 2015
The fashion and apparel business has a ton of moving parts. 1/8” error on a pattern can throw the fit of a garment off and ruin an entire…
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 4th, 2015
Retail is an industry driven by results. There isn’t a magic formula, especially since consumer wants and needs change constantly. While…
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 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 7th, 2015
Attending a trade show can be a great start to sourcing as you have access to a lot of fabric and trim vendors at once. However, it can…
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 28th, 2015
I’m a former buyer turned buying and brand consultant. I’ve been emailed, visited at work by eager brands, and stalked on social media….