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I now know the true meaning of that statement Killers. It IS hard out here for a pimp. Now, before you start to say this girl aint no pimp, check yourself. We are all either Pimps or getting Pimped. To Pimp meaning (profit in my pocket)is fucking hard out here, especially for fashion designers. Why is it so hard you ask?
#1 Everyone is a fashion expert and know everything about fashion, even more than you and you went to school for it. Because they watch a couple of Project Runway shows and read a couple of fashion blogs and stalk celebrities, they all of a sudden can tell you what fashion is and now are world renowned stylists. Whatever.
#2 Everyone has a clothing line. Everyone is taking your ideas, name, looks. Its a damn copy cat war out here. You have something, they have something. You use these colors, they use these colors. Everyone wants to be a clothing company and have their own label and collection and want you to help them or tell them or do all the work for them. Bitch please. But as they say in fashion, there is no copyrights, only trademarks and there will also be copies and bootlegs and cheaper versions of your looks. Hell, I will see a dress by a luxury designer and make it my own so who am I to say something. But it still gets on my last nerve and the fashion market is so saturated with lines and dresses and looks that all favor each other, there truly is no real authenticity anywhere. No originality, everything is borrowed from something else so how are you going to get those customers that you need to make ends meet when they can get it from any store anywhere anytime.
#3 No one wants to pay the price you set because you are not major. No one respects a fashion designer, especially if you know them. Think about it, when you go into Old Navy or Lane Bryant, do you ask the manager can they change this shirt or dress so that you can like it more? Can you alter this a little more? Can you drop the price? How about when customers ask you a million questions so that they can determine what price they should pay and think of every excuse to not pay what you quoted them, when all they end up with is a product that they didn't have in mind in the first place because they cut out everything that had a cost to it.
#4 Fuck anyone who says that you need to do something for exposure. I am going to say this again, fuck anyone who says that you need to do something for exposure. Do you know I have done over 50-90 fashion shows over the last 8 years and have only received pictures, videos, and press for 15% of them. People LIE! People do not have the crowds, the buyers, the retailers coming to their shows! They want you to pay money to showcase your shit with no one there but the models family members and the people working the show. Get paid or do it for charity. Do not get caught up in their dream because they are not giving you any ticket sale money, no contact lists, no video footage, nothing. They are local and just trying to make a name for themselves. They are not trying to help you. The only shows that get those orders are New York Fashion Week, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, and shows in Paris and Italy. Just keeping it 100.
My advise to up and coming designers who have dreams and aspirations of being the next big thing, do it for yourself. Do your line for things you like, not for anyone else. More than likely you are not going to get that dream deal your first year and to be honest, would you want to? Would you want to sell your business or license your business out for pennies on the dollar? Be prepared for the hustle and the struggle of being independent. Stick to your price and know your design limits. Be honest with your customers. There are millions of ways to market to people so be smart and know who you are dealing with.
Until the next time Killers.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
It's Hard Out Here for a PIMP
There's no fear in fashion.
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I now know the true meaning of that statement Killers. It IS hard out here for a pimp. Now, before you start to say this girl aint no pimp, check yourself. We are all either Pimps or getting Pimped. To Pimp meaning (profit in my pocket)is fucking hard out here, especially for fashion designers. Why is it so hard you ask?
#1 Everyone is a fashion expert and know everything about fashion, even more than you and you went to school for it. Because they watch a couple of Project Runway shows and read a couple of fashion blogs and stalk celebrities, they all of a sudden can tell you what fashion is and now are world renowned stylists. Whatever.
#2 Everyone has a clothing line. Everyone is taking your ideas, name, looks. Its a damn copy cat war out here. You have something, they have something. You use these colors, they use these colors. Everyone wants to be a clothing company and have their own label and collection and want you to help them or tell them or do all the work for them. Bitch please. But as they say in fashion, there is no copyrights, only trademarks and there will also be copies and bootlegs and cheaper versions of your looks. Hell, I will see a dress by a luxury designer and make it my own so who am I to say something. But it still gets on my last nerve and the fashion market is so saturated with lines and dresses and looks that all favor each other, there truly is no real authenticity anywhere. No originality, everything is borrowed from something else so how are you going to get those customers that you need to make ends meet when they can get it from any store anywhere anytime.
#3 No one wants to pay the price you set because you are not major. No one respects a fashion designer, especially if you know them. Think about it, when you go into Old Navy or Lane Bryant, do you ask the manager can they change this shirt or dress so that you can like it more? Can you alter this a little more? Can you drop the price? How about when customers ask you a million questions so that they can determine what price they should pay and think of every excuse to not pay what you quoted them, when all they end up with is a product that they didn't have in mind in the first place because they cut out everything that had a cost to it.
#4 Fuck anyone who says that you need to do something for exposure. I am going to say this again, fuck anyone who says that you need to do something for exposure. Do you know I have done over 50-90 fashion shows over the last 8 years and have only received pictures, videos, and press for 15% of them. People LIE! People do not have the crowds, the buyers, the retailers coming to their shows! They want you to pay money to showcase your shit with no one there but the models family members and the people working the show. Get paid or do it for charity. Do not get caught up in their dream because they are not giving you any ticket sale money, no contact lists, no video footage, nothing. They are local and just trying to make a name for themselves. They are not trying to help you. The only shows that get those orders are New York Fashion Week, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, and shows in Paris and Italy. Just keeping it 100.
My advise to up and coming designers who have dreams and aspirations of being the next big thing, do it for yourself. Do your line for things you like, not for anyone else. More than likely you are not going to get that dream deal your first year and to be honest, would you want to? Would you want to sell your business or license your business out for pennies on the dollar? Be prepared for the hustle and the struggle of being independent. Stick to your price and know your design limits. Be honest with your customers. There are millions of ways to market to people so be smart and know who you are dealing with.
Until the next time Killers.
I now know the true meaning of that statement Killers. It IS hard out here for a pimp. Now, before you start to say this girl aint no pimp, check yourself. We are all either Pimps or getting Pimped. To Pimp meaning (profit in my pocket)is fucking hard out here, especially for fashion designers. Why is it so hard you ask?
#1 Everyone is a fashion expert and know everything about fashion, even more than you and you went to school for it. Because they watch a couple of Project Runway shows and read a couple of fashion blogs and stalk celebrities, they all of a sudden can tell you what fashion is and now are world renowned stylists. Whatever.
#2 Everyone has a clothing line. Everyone is taking your ideas, name, looks. Its a damn copy cat war out here. You have something, they have something. You use these colors, they use these colors. Everyone wants to be a clothing company and have their own label and collection and want you to help them or tell them or do all the work for them. Bitch please. But as they say in fashion, there is no copyrights, only trademarks and there will also be copies and bootlegs and cheaper versions of your looks. Hell, I will see a dress by a luxury designer and make it my own so who am I to say something. But it still gets on my last nerve and the fashion market is so saturated with lines and dresses and looks that all favor each other, there truly is no real authenticity anywhere. No originality, everything is borrowed from something else so how are you going to get those customers that you need to make ends meet when they can get it from any store anywhere anytime.
#3 No one wants to pay the price you set because you are not major. No one respects a fashion designer, especially if you know them. Think about it, when you go into Old Navy or Lane Bryant, do you ask the manager can they change this shirt or dress so that you can like it more? Can you alter this a little more? Can you drop the price? How about when customers ask you a million questions so that they can determine what price they should pay and think of every excuse to not pay what you quoted them, when all they end up with is a product that they didn't have in mind in the first place because they cut out everything that had a cost to it.
#4 Fuck anyone who says that you need to do something for exposure. I am going to say this again, fuck anyone who says that you need to do something for exposure. Do you know I have done over 50-90 fashion shows over the last 8 years and have only received pictures, videos, and press for 15% of them. People LIE! People do not have the crowds, the buyers, the retailers coming to their shows! They want you to pay money to showcase your shit with no one there but the models family members and the people working the show. Get paid or do it for charity. Do not get caught up in their dream because they are not giving you any ticket sale money, no contact lists, no video footage, nothing. They are local and just trying to make a name for themselves. They are not trying to help you. The only shows that get those orders are New York Fashion Week, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, and shows in Paris and Italy. Just keeping it 100.
My advise to up and coming designers who have dreams and aspirations of being the next big thing, do it for yourself. Do your line for things you like, not for anyone else. More than likely you are not going to get that dream deal your first year and to be honest, would you want to? Would you want to sell your business or license your business out for pennies on the dollar? Be prepared for the hustle and the struggle of being independent. Stick to your price and know your design limits. Be honest with your customers. There are millions of ways to market to people so be smart and know who you are dealing with.
Until the next time Killers.
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