Think You Aren’t Ready? Think Again

Remember that first week when you first decided to bring your vision to life? You were so excited about all the possibilities and optimistic about the potential outcomes. The world was your oyster. That feeling is so fantastic!

But as the weeks pass by and challenges arise, timing isn’t working for you, and things are expensive.  You start second guessing yourself:

You’ll never be as good as —--fill in the blank—

You don’t have the knowledge base to launch your own fashion brand

You are too old to be taken seriously or to start a new endeavor

No one will ever take you seriously, because why should they?

But these are all lies that you tell yourself, and you know it. And if you don’t know it I’m here to set the record straight.

Today I want to do something different. I want to spill the tea about my experiences and observations in the garment industry. So many people are placed on pedestals and situations are glamorized where it really should not be. The truth is, a lot of people who you think have it together, really don’t. I want to prove to you that none of us really have it all figured out and the road to success is not a straight line.

Skip the fashion shows. You’ll still be amazing

I probably don’t need to remind you, but fashion is all about theater. The glamor, the celebrity, the lifestyle. But that’s only maybe 2% of it. Behind the scenes of fashion week before the parties start are the hundreds of hours that were spent leading up to it where everyone is burning the midnight oil and interns are sleeping under pattern tables. 

The last time I did work for a Fashion Week designer I was persona non grata because I wanted to go home at 10pm, despite starting my day at 9am. Who wants to work someplace that sets this as a standard? 12 hour work days. No thank you!

The next time you are feeling like you are a nobody because you haven’t shown at some big Fashion Week event just know that it takes lots of people, lots of money, and lots of time for only a few minutes of glamor. 

I personally think that a glamorous life is one where I can roll into work at 10am and I’m my own boss. Stand by your own priorities and don’t get caught up into the “have-to’s”

Everyone has an unlikely origin story

Rarely does the path to success follow the Cinderella story. It’s all about hard work, but also who you know…

I once did some freelance work for a friend who had a pattern studio in NYC that served many of the up and coming New York fashion week designers that were the hot ticket that season. They were young designers that already had cult followings. I remarked on how cool it was to be working on their collections and my friend, who was so over fashion week, proceeded to say things along the lines of “ah, he’s nothing. He’s a rich kid whose parents are high ranking government officials so he has connections. Oh, and same with___ and ___. It’s all about who their parents know.”

Now, granted, this is a very old conversation probably decades old so I’m paraphrasing. But I was shocked how these then, semi-famous designers really got their start. Yes, they were talented and creative, which a lot of people can also claim, but having the right circles means more exposure. 

Another example- I once worked for a merchandiser who was pretty talented. She had a famous runway designer sibling. I was in awe of both until I was told that their parents were big in mass retail fashion when department stores were in their heyday. And I was like “huh, so they probably didn’t get their starts based on their own chops.” Maybe it shouldn’t have made a difference, but in my mind it did change the dynamics.

Don’t compare yourself to established brands. Everyone has a story of how they got where they did and more than likely it’s probably not what you would expect. 

Fame in fashion will not always equal financial success

My friend worked as a freelance pattern maker for a major designer that dressed many red carpet celebrities. The gowns were amazing and over the top. I’d always jealousy peek my head into his studio, taking a few minutes break from my “unglamorous” mass retail job. I’d ooh and ahh and I remarked on how great it was that he was working on what he was. But then he was like “Yeah, it’s great. It would be really great if they paid me.” I was shocked. What did he mean. Well apparently this designer was always in the red and anyone who did work for them had a hard time getting paid. My friend did get paid eventually, but it was always rough going. 

Part of me has always longed for a position as a pattern maker for a high end runway designer, but I think that it just comes down to bragging rights. Truth be told, mass market retail has always been my sweet spot and I’ve never had any trouble getting paid, meeting salary requirements, nor having to work excessive overtime hours. 

As you are probably aware, fashion is not a cheap endeavor. Maybe you are looking for the prestige to say that you showed at fashion week, or are in a fancy publication, or your garments are so expensive only celebrities can wear them. But I want you to rethink that plan. If you can find a way to make your garments more readily available and you get picked up by a retailer, I guarantee you the money will make you forget any ideas of celebrity clientele.

Skip the fancy education

Unless you are someone who has just finished high school and looking to higher education, I would probably put a formal fashion education at the bottom of your list of to-dos if you feel like your foundational skills are lacking.

Fashion schools are great incubators of ideas, but the number one thing they are good for is connection. Connecting you to people in the industry and opportunities to work with alumni. I had a fancy education, but truth be told, the “technical skills” I learned were null and void in the actual garment industry and I credit everything I know today to people who taught me on the job and things I had to learn the hard way. 

If there is one thing that fashion needs, it’s quick education to get people into jobs. Forget a Central Saint Martins degree. I’ll take any qualified individual skilled in logic and reasoning that knows how to use a tape measure and I’ll teach them what they need to know. (My own goals these days are leaning towards educating you quickly for the challenges that will arise.)

It’s ok to figure it out as you go

Some of my most successful clients are not household names. They are just average people who had a dream and a vision and have figured it out as they went. Having attained a certain level of success in previous fields has allowed them unique perspectives. They are clever creative people. They aren’t necessarily looking to be household names, but are looking to conquer their own market niche rather than the whole world.

Everyone has their own unique processes and approaches. You do as well whether you realize it or not. You don’t need to worry about things like “industry standard” or the “right way” because they don’t exist. What matters is what works for you.

Define your own level of success

If there is one thing we can all agree on, it is that social media has made us question our worth and skills because we are constantly shown images of those who are supposedly “doing it right”. They are flawless and make everything appear effortless. But behind the camera is probably a hot mess and someone who hasn’t slept in days, is stressed about money, and is barely keeping it together. 

It’s ok to rethink your goalposts of success. I have done so personally. I left NYC to open a factory and then covid hit and I was stuck working remotely from home. But after so many years of commuting, I discovered that I really liked working from home and focused on using my skills for helping fashion entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life and working with big brands from the comfort of my home desk where I roll into work each day around 10am and wrap up about 4pm. I can play whatever music I want, I don’t have to share a bathroom, or a lunch room with a bunch of coworkers, and my dog and I take as many breaks as we want without having to answer to HR. I still have my moments of feeling like a failure, but then I remind myself of how far I’ve really come.

Success should not be what others tell you it should be. Success should be however you want to define it.