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 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 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 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….
January 20th, 2015
Every year the team at Shirt Agency heads to Las Vegas to meet with brands and help them fulfill next season’s orders. It’s…
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 15th, 2015
Helen Behn started her business based on a need for balancing a busy life and managing chronic back pain. She found that icing her back…
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 12th, 2015
There’s something about the pairing of the classic baseball hat form with new unique fabrics, that makes an MBS hat really really handsome. The result of this combination is a hat that feels…
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 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 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 18th, 2014
On Maker’s Row, factories are categorized into 5 segments: Ideation, Pattern-Making, Materials, Sample Making and Production. Just as the term ‘factories’ categorizes many different…
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 12th, 2014
Having designed and produced for numerous new active wear brands over the past 7 years, we have learned an enormous amount of what it…
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 9th, 2014
Before I became an interior designer, I enjoyed a long career as a commercial photographer specializing in home furnishing, still life and food. Those skills are really handy to have, even though I…
November 6th, 2014
The fashion industry is notoriously cutthroat and competitive. From magazines to emerging designers, popular media sells us the picture of…
November 5th, 2014
When I first started my womenswear business, I wanted to do it all. I was young and excited and my energy seemed limitless. I opened up a…
November 4th, 2014
I make necklaces from vintage pieces I find in flea markets all over the world because I love materials that are entirely unique. My…
August 6th, 2014
In our first article, we broke down the steps of creating an eco-friendly dress. This…
July 14th, 2014
A regular theme here on Maker’s Row’s blog feed is the advice for new designers to start small. We could not agree more! While…
June 22nd, 2014
Samples are the heart of apparel production. They make up the collection, lead to the perfect fit, instruct production, and act as the…
June 5th, 2014
Tough question, especially if you are a designer or artist. Your creativity may be fighting hard against your business plan. At…
May 1st, 2014
We all know that crowdfunding is a great way to fund a business. Yes, you need to put energy and resources into fulfilling the incentives…