The September issue of The Styleapple Juggernaut is now available, Here is an excerpt:

It's Fashion week in New York City. A time for the fashion industry to enjoy all the fruits produced from fashion designers who have worked around the clock to create collections they hope will invite rave reviews from critics and spectators alike.  For that reason We've dedicated this issue to all of our fashion designers in the Styleapple network.  Read the complete issue here.

Fashion Illustration by Camille Wilkinson

Are You Looking To Market and Promote Your Fashion Design Portfolio? 

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Illustration by Camille Wilkinson

The Article and Illustration by Camille Wilkinson details the complexities of a young fashion designer's journey to becoming a success in the fashion design industry.

Camille Wilkinson is a 25 year design industry veteran, currently freelancing in consultancy capacity in various phases of design and production. She welcomes direct enquiry via: cmllx@aol.com

Woe to the struggling designer - how do they get theirs?

They compete for contacts, funding, marketing, and following.

They spend 2-4 years fashion major in an accredited college of renown, internship in their final year

that leads to ground-up entry-level experience in a viable NY co. ...

When all they could have done,

(going the Celebrity Status Way),

is to the Manor been born...

Or cultivate their street 'cred',

or marry a spouse famous for sports,

or infamous for being in a rock music band...

A designer could overcome obscurity through Project reality show 'not-so-mellow' dramas,

or be the stylist for video vixen 'glamour' shoots,

or any of the other periphery 'MGM' cast of a thousand players and contenders

toward becoming the NEXT couture / designer

to present at the Big Top Tent 'really big' Show-

during a Market week of Magic.

Celebrity labels (celebrities of the aforementioned type) are cool and all,

but it would be nice to know there is a little more integrity to the branding

other than securing that the sun will never set on that celebrity's name game empire.

Well, in THIS 'Aesop' fable, the moral is:

There is Nothing that replaces research;

practice, interviewing for good advice even a little bit of knowledge going in,

about your market niche, and customer base that will yield results that endure.

Before enthusiasm blinds one to logic and sensible action, remember that following the first day of

strategy, success is not an overnight conclusion, without spit and grit ethics.

One's own commitment to lego-build The brand / The i-d / and The merchandise, is paramount to

achieving Empire Strikes Back status.

Barring being entitled to 15 minutes of fame that might lend us celebrity status,

most of us 'struggling' designers must come by our craft and success legitimately.

That is the norm, that is the constant.

And oh so sweet the victory when what one contributes to this industry amounts to something.

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I know as a design professional, finding the right designer to do a specific job can be time consuming and somewhat difficult, much less trying to find one when you're outside the design industry and not familiar with design at all. I've created the "Hire A Designer" series to help clients find the right designer by giving them some valuable tips on what to look for when hiring for their next big project.

I will be selecting design professionals from within the Styleapple design network to participate in this series and present what they feel are the top 10 most important things to look for when hiring a designer.

This week I've managed to secure Camille Wilkinson to discuss what she feels are the ten most important things to consider when hiring a fashion designer. Camille Wilkinson has worked in the fashion industry for over 25 years and has created a reputation for working with some of the top brands in the industry. I have had the chance to work with Camille and found her to be both professional and very creative. You can see some of her design work on Styleapple.

The designer tips in this series will be introduced on Branded Designers but the complete list will be posted on the Styleapple "Hire A Designer" pages where clients are submitting quote requests to the Styleapple Network.

Here is a briefing of Camille's Top 10...

POINT 1. From the first online (or offline) portfolio to the last portfolio you sift through, ask yourself: Which one blew you out of your socks?

POINT 2. Those portfolios that knock your socks off are where to start your follow-up.

POINT 3. What made them catch your eye, hold your breath, and call in the rest of your team to see what you see. If you know what you need, seeing what fits the bill should be easy. The plus of looking, is if you find something more, something je ne sais pas (I don't know what), but when you see it - wow - you know it.

It might be good to know what kind of environment they best design in... It is not just a passing curiosity to know how a designer thrives best. And aside from the physical environment, what is the computer environment or OS (operating system) - along with the programs - that made their work pop. Genius may also have its source in the tools used.

POINT 4. A good portfolio contains - like manners - a designer's best foot forward, their best work, their best representation of all of what they can do as a designer. And like manners, it's not a façade, it's not a put-on, it's in fact the super powers that they have cultivated throughout their career to the point where they are now: Now, ‘You Are Here'. So no worries, they should be able to back up what ever they have presented. That is to say, they should be able to apply all their talents and skills to whatever you may challenge them with.

POINT 5. Check and balance your initial awe of pretty pictures with sound design process practicalities. If you don't see it in the portfolio, and you still want to investigate what the designer is capable of, let this be one question in your first line of defense upon interviewing:

QUESTION #1. Are you capable of detailing your designs in a tech pack?
You should also ask:
QUESTION #2. Are you capable of leading fit meetings for your designs?
And since you are on this track, ask this:
QUESTION #3. Are you knowledgeable of fabric types, constructions, knitting qualities, and gauges?

Yes, you need to get technical with a prospective designer, to know the perimeters of their skills. Even if you have departments who this work is delegated to, a designer must know how to communicate with them to get their designs to the next stage. 

See the complete list here>>

If you are interested in writing a top 10 for your discipline in design. Feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly at calvin [at] styleapple [dot] com

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I was asked to pass this information along to my creative fashion designers out there. The company is called Belles and Bulls. The company's mission is to help launch the careers of new and emerging designers. Unfortunately, I'm not very familiar with the company, so I can't recommend them personally. But they seem to have the right idea and focus. I'm always happy to share with you new opportunities, that will help in your success. From what I've learned so far, Belles & Bulls are looking to do the same. So give Ebonni Bryant (Partner at Belles & Bulls) a call and ask her the tough questions. For those who go on Saturday, please share your experience on the event in the comments. To get more information on the company and founders you can listen to this radio interview.

 Many Thanks.

Here is the info for the event below:  

-------------------------------

May 1, 2009, New York, NY - Launching the careers of new & emerging designers, Belles & Bulls connects the world to the future of fashion.

On May 9, 2009, Belles & Bulls is inviting designers to present their portfolio to a panel of judges, partners, and established designers. Along with being a part of Belles & Bulls, chosen designers will be featured in the Brooklyn Fashion Weekend this fall, among other designer benefits. The showdown is from 2:00pm - 5:00pm in New York, NY.

Judges include:

Daniel Saynt, Founder, Fashion Indie
Angelo Lambrou, Designer
Rick Davy, BK Style Foundation/BK Fashion Week
Samantha Von Sperling, Founder, Polished Social Image Consultants
Johanne Morris, Partner, Belles & Bulls
Ebonni N. Bryant, Belles & Bulls.

***********************************************************************

Belles & Bulls works with designers from Parson's, FIT, and other artist based programs. The company is a state of mind, connecting the world to the future of fashion. Curators of design, the company provides a marketing platform and buying events. Fashion designers create haute-couture pieces for the Belles & Bulls Contemporary.

For further information about the company and showdown contact:

Ebonni Bryant-Partner/ Ebonni@bellesandbulls.com/ 718.676.5509

Ebonni N. Bryant
Partner
bellesandbulls.com

connecting the world to the future of fashion.

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Design Job Description: "JACK OF ALL TRADES... NOT WANTED"

I meet designers who are involved in so many areas of design it's insane.  I mean I understand how common this is, after all creativity expands.  It is normal for a designer to know and have an interest in many things creative.   I say,  continue to immerse  yourself in the creative culture.  It's a great way to add to your inspiration and design perspective.  BUT....  You should choose what area of design you want your clients to see when promoting and marketing your design business.

The social media and the advent of the global design community have made the design industry a fruitful declaration of art and creativity.  We are seeing the most talented people  ever, showcasing incredible works of  art from graphic design to fashion design to animation design and so on.  

We no longer need to find someone that can do it all.  We are looking for someone that can do it right.... Which translates to someone that eats and sleeps a certain area of design.  So If you are a fashion designer  with major illustration capabilities.  Decide which one you want to be, a designer or illustrator - at least to your clients. 

Please do not misunderstand me.  I'm not saying to stop illustrating.  What I'm simply saying is to market and promote the fact that you are a fashion designer that does beautiful illustrations of  your clothing as oppose to being a Fashion designer and an Illustrator.

Use your other assets (in this case your illustration abilities) as the supporting cast for your number one priority (Fashion Design)  This will then add value to your services rather than dilute your expertise.

We are now in the time of experts and no longer need a jack of all trades, when a specialist is a click away.

"Thanks for listening"  Just a thought I had as I was having a discussion with a good friend of mine about branding strategies for design companies  and wanted to share with my you.

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We've been working hard, very hard these past few months on some major projects I believe will assist my designer colleagues who are looking to create some success in 2009 and beyond.

We are now in beta for our new website: www.styleapple.com which has been going very well, Thanks to all our beta testers for taking part in our bug hunting process. BTW, We are still accepting beta testers as we continue to develop the site. [Become A Beta Tester]

Branded Designers - The Agency,  Camille Wilkinson - Fashion Designer From New York City

We have also started Branded Designers - The Agency. I've always had a desire to help young designers grow their businesses. The Agency will do just that. Branded Designers - The Agency is a talent agency focused in the creative industry. We will represent a selected group of designers, providing the personalized service designers need when starting a new venture or simply finding new freelance projects.

We are currently accepting applications until we have reached our capacity. The Agency will only represent a few selected designers in order for us to effectively serve the designers we represent. All remaining applications will be placed on our waiting list.

To apply simply submit your profile on www.styleapple.com and send us an email title: Branded Designers Application, please include your name, title and location in the email.
I looking forward to working with you.

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We have been working on Styleapple.com - The Branded Designers Social Network  [A place  for designers to create or submit their portfolios website URL, Promote their work, find new creative jobs, build their fan base and become fans of other designers]  for the past few months and we are now ready to show our readers the (Private) beta version. 

We are not ready to go into full beta until we've ironed out all the kinks.  You guys get the first stab at it.  I've included the email below that we sent to close friends and investors(family) which includes the username and password to enter the site, you guys made the list for the first rollout.  Please give us your feedback on the site.  Thanks.

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. WOO-HOO, Styleapple.com Private Beta Is Here! Dear Creative Pros You have been selected or have expressed interest in the past to be a part of our private beta testing.  We are still very actively in development but wanted to give our designers a chance to start testing the site.  Since this is private beta, we expect more than normal hiccups and bugs in the software.  Please be candid and give us all your feedback... Go ahead we promise not to take it personally.   To login visit www.styleapple.com, Username: beta   Password: tester    Once you've scaled our beta wall. You can create or submit your design portfolio to be viewed and envied by your peers while positioning yourself to be seen by future employers or freelance and project work opportunities.  Our goal is to find creative ways to help promote and grow your design business. Thank you for being a part of our private beta test squad. Sincerely Calvin --  Calvin Cox Director of Talent Resource calvin@styleapple.com Styleapple, Inc www.styleapple.com Build & Promote Your Own Design Portfolio Website In Minutes. | Our goal is simple; to provide an invaluable resource for clients looking to discover and hire the brightest talent in the design industry. | *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Unsubscribe *|EMAIL|* from this list | Forward to a friend | Update your profile Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* Copyright (C) 2008 *|LIST:COMPANY|* All rights reserved.

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I've been on a mission searching for fashion designers  or  fashion design companies who use their blogs to effectively promote their businesses.   This list will inevitably grow, so if you'd like to be included send me your link.

The Smashing Blog - All Things New and Smashing From the Front Lines of The indie Fashion Revolution. This blog spotlights young fashion designers and also have some great interviews of up and coming designers. The smashing darling website is also a great place to sell your new collections; great for young fashion designers.

Independent Fashion Bloggers -  A Fashion community made up of fashion design bloggers and pros  sharing ideas and growing their businesses. A growing resource of information for young  fashion designers or anyone in the fashion industry.

Fashion Incubator - Lessons from the sustainable factory floor.   Definitely a great resource for fashion designers, pattern makers or any fashion professional looking for advice from freelancing to billing clients to pattern making tutorials. 

Jack + Bill - Jack + Bill is a public relations agency dedicated to identifying, branding and publicizing emerging fashion talent.   I need to do a bit more research on them to get more details on how they business, but seem to have a genuine interest in growing young fashion designers.

Final Fashion -  fashion and fiction.  Danielle Meder is a fashion blogger/fashion illustrator who's work I've admired for a while.  Great blog. Very talented illustrator.

Truegrey - Adventures in Fashion Design & Illustration.   Megan Thomas is a fashion blogger/fashion designer who uses the blogosphere to effectively promote her design and illustration projects.

StyleBubble -Fashion blog.  What I like about this blog is how fun it is. The author, Susie is very creative and gives her reader a reason to keep coming back to see what's new whether it be a cool fashion trip she took or simple an outfit that she put together.

Compai - Compai is a crafty, green design studio dedicated to creative projects that employ recycled materials.

Fashion Design Blog - A Collection of Fashion Designers and Design Boutiques blogging and showcases their collections.

Jennyvi Dizon Couture - A custom bridal and eveningwear fashion design label effectively utilizing their blog to promote their business.

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Designer Colleen Quen in 2004 was talking about aspiring to become an influential fashion designer in the industry and today she is just that. She has been featured in print and television and has transformed her fashion business from I can to I did. For More information on Fashion Designer Colleen Quen visit her website: colleenquencouture.com

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UPDATE: 2/18/2009

Since this post, I was able to find 10 Fashion Design Blogs/Websites Young Designers Should Know.  Love to find more so if you own a great fashion design blog or know of a blog that focuses on young fashion designers, please share. 

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 My initial post was going to be strictly about internet marketing techniques for young fashion designers and as I started writing I realized that there were also some really cool offline marketing techniques that have worked for me and wanted to share those with you as well. I know how difficult it is to start a collection as a young fashion designer and have since learned from the things that I did wrong and also some that I did right. Breaking into the fashion industry is not an easy thing to do, so I've decided to start a list of marketing techniques so that young fashion designers can get discovered. So if you know of other marketing techniques you have used to get noticed or picked up by a store or boutique, I would definitely like to hear about them. CHEERS.

1) Blog First Design Portfolio Second:

I'm a huge fan of blogging for your business. I was searching online for fashion designers who blog and had a very hard time locating them. As a new fashion designer, blogging allow others to get to know you, see your vision and design perspective - you can talk about your inspiration for your collections and about your background as it relates to current fashion trends. On your blog you should have a link to your design portfolio as well as a fun bio to accompany it. Your Portfolio should have a definite way for your customers to either purchase your collection or directions to where they can go. I would also recommend having a link if possible to the online store(s) and item(s) your customers would like to purchase.

BLOGGER IS NOT FOR BUSINESS: When starting a blog make sure to use a blogging service where you can get your own URL i.e. http://www.yourname.com/. This may cost you a few bucks but is definitely worth the investment. I would recommend Wordpress or Typepad, Blogger is great for personal use but may not be a great option for your fashion business.

QUICK THOUGHT:

As a new designer in the industry, you might find it difficult to get your foot in the door of the Macy's and Barneys of the world. Even the smaller boutiques can be difficult. If you can't beat them, go around them for now! Once you've started your own buzz they will want to take a second look at you.

2) Post your Collection in online Boutiques and Marketplaces like Etsy, DaWanda, and Lovli.

These sites are great because they give you the opportunity to put your collection in front of millions of customers every day looking for cool and artistic things; many designers have started selling and have gotten retail accounts thru sites like Etsy including me. swap meet 2.0 is a great article on designer marketplace websites.

3) Register for an emailing service and put everyone you know on the list.

Start an email campaign for your collection. I would recommend Constant Contact or iContact for your mailing lists. Send out emails of your new collections and any updates or promotions you are currently running.

4) Wear your clothing everywhere:

Wear your clothing everywhere or select someone who will represent your brand well and have them become your spokesperson- That person should always have your business cards handy.

5) Contact local magazines and newspapers and ask them to do a story on you

(A Young Designer in their Area, talented and passionate) - I know it sound presumptuous and that's because it is. Do it anyway!

6) Participate in local fashion shows and fashion design contests like project runway

This will be great exposure for you. I would not recommend you do your own fashion show due to the major expense, but collaborations or sponsored fashion shows are ideal.

7) Find boutiques that are willing to put your collection on consignment , these boutiques can be located locally or nationally.

8) When meeting up with friends for the weekend or long holidays take your pieces with you just in case you get a buyer.

9) Create an intriguing business card and hand them out with your website information on it

10) Create a YouTube account with the name of your collection and upload your fashion shows, interviews and other video media.

11) Contact fashion bloggers and ask them to blog about your new collection.

12) Join Facebook and start a Business page for your fashion line

Invite your friends on Facebook to become a fan of your fashion business

13) Join LinkedIn

Become a member of a group for fashion designers and fashion entrepreneurs - Believe me when I tell you networking is not dead.

14) Join Twitter and follow other designers, fashion companies and boutiques

Join the conversation; there is an art to being effective on Twitter, My recent post: Twitter is Both the Coolest and Stupidest Thing Ever, should give you head start.

15) Write a Press Release for your fashion collection or company

This is by no means the least important. Creating an effective press release will let people know that you are a legitimate business and will be a source of web traffic to your blog and fashion design portfolio or website. Pr Newswire can get you started on your press release.

Are You Looking To Hire A Designer? 

Get A Free Project Quote From The Styleapple Design Network: Get A Freelancer>>

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