In the fashion industry designing next season’s “it” item only begins with a killer idea. Sketches, swatches, patterns and perfect fits can go a long way, but the business of fashion is what really takes a piece from design to runway to closets around the world. Unfortunately, for many creative-minded designers, that whole business side of the fashion industry equation can be a bit hard (or seemingly impossible) to navigate.
Enter Melissa McGraw. CEO and creator of The Fashion Potential, Melissa has made it her mission to teach emerging designers and fashion students all the nitty-gritty details behind creating a brand, starting a label and becoming the next big thing. From online courses to industry meet-ups to one-on-one mentoring sessions Melissa is connecting the dots between passion and business.
The fact is getting a line to market isn’t easy, but Melissa assures us that really defining a brand is the key. While we might not all be gunning for the tents of fashion week, we’d say her sage advice that you have be able to live and explain your brand before anyone will buy is pretty applicable no matter your career path.