8 Designers On How to Make It In Fashion
Everyone knows that making it in fashion can be grueling. Thanks to movies like The Devil Wears Prada and shows including Project Runway, non-sartorialists have come to understand just how incredibly complex and demanding—creatively and otherwise—the industry can be. However, anyone who works in it will undoubtedly say it’s totally worth it. You’d be hard pressed to find another vocational field that pushes artistic and social boundaries and makes the world a more expressive, beautiful place in such a wide-reaching way.
So, how does one enter and make it in the magical world of fashion? We asked eight New York City designers to share the wisdom they’ve acquired over the courses of their careers as well as their best pieces of advice for industry hopefuls. Trust us, there’s no better panel of advisees you’d rather have. As an added bonus, they each gave us a sneak peek of their upcoming Spring 2017 collections via inspiration images and we must say, we can’t wait to see their full lineups.
1/10Katie Emilio’s beautiful inspiration board behind her Spring ’17 line. Keep clicking for more from the powerhouse designers.
Photo: Courtesy of Katie Ermilio/Getty2/10Katie Ermilio
"The most valuable lesson I’ve learned while in the industry is that having a point of view is the most important thing you can bring to your collections."
"I always keep my customer in mind when designing."
"My one piece of advice for aspiring designers is remain true to your aesthetic and vision and, most importantly, the people who wear your clothes."
Photo: Courtesy of Aurora James/Getty3/10Aurora James of Brother Vellies
"The most valuable lesson I have learned from the industry is to stay true to yourself, your voice, and your inspirations. There is so much static out there and so much feedback tossed your way as a designer everyday. It's incredibly important to keep your own rhythm in mind and always march to the beat of your own drum."
"When designing a collection, I think of the lesson my kindergarten teacher would tell us in class: “If you have a question, don't be afraid to ask because someone else is thinking it too.” Sometimes I design these crazy things in my head that I know I would love to wear but they are really kind of out there. But then I think, “well, if I'm excited to wear it, some other people out there probably would be too—I shouldn't be afraid!” Fear and doubt are kryptonite for creativity."
"My advice would be to have respect for the process and learn from others. Anytime someone is willing to give you advice it is golden. I got my education in workshops and interning, I wouldn't be where I am without some of the mentors I've had along the way as an intern."
Photo: Courtesy of Sara Kerens4/10Christian Siriano
"The most valuable thing I’ve learned since entering the industry is that you have to stay true to what you do and love, even if it takes time for everyone else to follow along with you. Never second-guess yourself and people will come around."
"When designing a collection, the most important thing to keep in mind is that it must be for your customer! No matter what, you must make sure that they will love it, want to buy it and live their life in it. It is important to be fashion forward and exciting and new every season but the customer still needs to be on board with what you are doing."
"My one piece advice for aspiring designers would be find your niche and perfect it. It isn't always about being the best and having the most exposure, sometimes just great clothes that fit and make all women feel great is the most powerful thing in this business."
Photo: Courtesy of Masha Demianova5/10Claudia Li
"Since entering the industry, I’ve learned that you have to be really sure that this career is what you want."
"For me personally, no matter how much people pull you in different directions, you have to listen to your gut and be true to your vision when designing a collection."
"Even when there are hard times, just be strong and keep going and keep reminding yourself why you’re doing this."
Photo: Courtesy of Stacey Bendet/Getty6/10Stacey Bendet of Alice and Olivia
"The most valuable lesson I’ve learned since entering the industry is to stay strong and keep my focus. Balancing the worlds of motherhood and a career can be intense but staying calm and keeping a focus on what's important both in my business life and in my personal life is the overall lesson. I think a specific lesson I learned early on was that yelling is a sign of weakness and no matter how frustrated or how upset you are, being a strong leader requires keeping your cool!"
"It is important to stay true to your brand and your customer and to be clear on who your customer is when designing a collection. It is also sometimes important to evolve and change and grow while still keeping true brand identity. Lastly, make sure that what you are designing actually fits! You can make the most beautiful clothing in the world but if it doesn't fit you don't have a business."
"My one piece of advice for aspiring designers is be prepared to work hard and be proud of working hard! Success does not come easy, success comes with hard work, determination, and a clear vision of what you want to design and build."
Photo: Courtesy of Tanya Taylor/Getty7/10Tanya Taylor
"My career has taught me about the importance of teamwork. It’s a very collaborative industry and nothing good gets accomplished alone."
"The most important thing to keep in mind when designing a collection is telling a story with emotion. Are the pieces going to inspire my woman to express her mood or feelings? Does it create positive energy? Thinking of my customer is top of mind for every collection I design."
"My one piece of advice would be do not be afraid to ask for help. It's something that I continue to struggle with, but each time I've asked for help, I've either learned something invaluable about myself, or made a new connection!"
Photo: Courtesy of Zac Zac Posen/Getty8/10Zac Posen
"You have to be patient and resilient and learn how to delegate when working in the fashion industry. It’s important to build a team of people you trust and empower them so that they are able to collaborate and create together."
"When designing a collection, it’s important to have a focused starting point but don’t be afraid to experiment. My process is always to start draping and see how the shapes and forms come together. They can be modified throughout the process but the essence stays the same."
'My advice would be to trust your instincts and be authentic. Creativity is a lifelong journey and if you pace yourself you will have a long ride ahead of you."
Photo: Getty Images9/10Cynthia Rowley
"The most important lessons I’ve learned are be yourself, think like an original, and create your own world."
"When designing a collection I always ask myself, 'Does this look exciting?’"
"Working in fashion can be the most grueling experience, but for all the hard work you put into it, you will be rewarded with double the amount of satisfaction.”
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