The EDGE network of emerging designers share business tips and advice on their journey as an up and coming brand in the fashion industry. These direct quotes are from the EDGE Radar designer interview series.

Explore boundaries and believe in what you’ve set out to accomplish. – An interview with Amabelle Aguiluz. . .

My advice to others would be: choose what matters to you and be loyal to it. You can’t do everything, be everything, and please everyone all the time. Stay true to your values and priorities, and stay open minded to review your ways of working as you progress. – An interview with Paola Masperi. . .

 

Learn the industry hands on as much as you can before going out there, because school won’t teach you the reality of it. Starting off it’s all about budgeting and maintaining because the industry comes with a price. Set realistic goals for yourself and don’t mimic anyone else because things will automatically work different for everyone. You have people that made millions from designing something as simple as socks because they may have had the financial backing to generate the business. On the other hand, you have designers that can create beyond belief but because they don’t have the money or right resources, they go unnoticed. That’s why you have to create your own route, everything will not work for everyone. Some will be successful and some won’t. I mention this because this is the reality of fashion, and it’s so easy to get discouraged because it’s such a fragile industry. – An interview with Herbert Victoria. . .

So many milliners have helped me grow in my career through mentoring and providing apprenticeships, that I have really come to value all of those experiences, and I truly don’t think I ever could have achieved the success I have today without all of their help. Millinery is an old style industry with special handwork techniques handed down from milliner to milliner. It would be impossible to learn all of the specialized tricks of our trade through a regular college or university program. – An interview with Karen Morris. . .

I have been a designer for over a decade, but I am still learning about business. A tip that has served me well… stay focused! – An interview with Marion Ayonote. . .

The hardest part for a lot of creative designers is understanding business, in my opinion. I’ve met a lot of extremely talented designers with stunning pieces, but they have no business acumen on how to market and capitalize on their creativity. I think the best business tip for any emerging designer – is to learn the business side, and not just the creative side. – An Interview with Jamar Canty, H. S. Reid, Owners of DYG. . .

 

. . .But the whole idea of “you have to do it like this or you have to know this person” I just don’t play that game. . . I believe in staying true to who you are and what you create, as long as it’s not bad work. – An Interview with Herbert Victoria. . .