Podcasts about startup fashion

“I mean, I was ready to close it down” - Nicole Giordano from Startup Fashion tells us in today's episode. Have you felt like this before? When you're just tired of it all and need something to change   Today you'll learn about where to start when reinventing your business. You'll also hear about the importance of being the face of your brand, and what that really looks like.    Our best-selling course to learn how to set up a profitable clothing or accessories business:  https://fashionbrainacademy.com/launch/   Show Notes & More Information Links Here: https://fashionbrainacademy.com/reinventing-your-business/   You can find Nicole's Startup Fashion community on Substack at startupfashion.substack.com

Discover the untold journey of indie fashion's most ardent supporter, Nicole Giordano, as she unveils the intricacies of nurturing startup designers toward success. Every aspiring fashion entrepreneur knows the landscape is rugged, but with Nicole's insights from STARTUp Fashion, you'll get the roadmap to navigate the industry's peaks and valleys. We cover everything from the power of community to the tactical moves in retail and production. Nicole's transformation from a handbag designer to a beacon for emerging talents is an inspirational testament to the power of pivoting with purpose.Tune in as we tackle the hard-hitting challenges that new designers face, from pricing pitfalls to retail relationship woes and unearth strategies to set a brand apart. This is more than just a chat; it's a masterclass in market positioning, a caution against luxury brand pitfalls, and a guide to understanding the post-pandemic consumer. Nicole's expertise sheds light on the fundamental shifts in designer needs, offering a rare look into the fashion world's ever-evolving demands.Wrapping up, we go beyond the surface of brand creation, digging into production dilemmas like color choices and material selections that can make or break a new line. We're not just discussing theory; we're sharing actionable steps for building a brand with personality and making a lasting impression on the market. From the intimacy of trunk shows to the nitty-gritty of factory negotiations, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone dreaming of their label's name in lights. Join us as we reveal the behind-the-seams secrets to launching and growing a fashion brand that stands out in a crowded industry.Follow Nicole: https://startupfashion.com/podcast/nicole-giordano-startup-fashion-2/Shop Handbag Designer 101 Merch: https://www.emilyblumenthal.com/category/all-products Register for the Handbag Designer 101 Masterclass: https://www.emilyblumenthal.com/challenge-page/Masterclass Book a handbag session with Emily: https://www.emilyblumenthal.com/ Hire Emily to be a guest speaker at your event: https://www.emilyblumenthal.com/speaking Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HandbagDesigner101-IHDA Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handbagdesigner/ Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@handbagdesigner Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/handbagdesigner

From Student to Scaling with StartUp FASHION Founder, Nicole Giordano In this episode, Rachel welcomes Nicole Giordano, the mastermind behind Startup Fashion, to the podcast! Nicole's impressive journey from a textile design student to a successful entrepreneur in the apparel industry is nothing short of inspiring. We dive into a variety of subjects, from the nitty-gritty of business operations and fabric sourcing to the art of content creation and marketing, all aimed at helping you navigate the complex fashion landscape. Nicole opens up about her unique membership program at Startup Fashion, providing aspiring fashion brand owners with a roadmap to transform their ideas into solid products. We also explore her three-month program, specially crafted to guide new brands toward achieving consistent sales and audience growth. Nicole imparts some golden advice on forging meaningful connections with potential customers and the value of local communities for networking opportunities.  StartUp FASHION helps independent fashion brands around the world to launch and grow through education, mentorship, and community.  You can learn from their educational blog here and connect on Instagram here.    In this episode, you'll hear: -Nicole's blogging journey and what drove her to start. -Details about the membership program at StartUp FASHION. -The significance of mindset work within the program. -The most common blocks and how to get yourself out! -Tips for launching and how to make your first sale.   We can't wait to hear what you think of this episode! Like, comment & subscribe to Rachel's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@unmarkedstreet/videos And learn more at: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with her: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unmarked-street/ https://www.instagram.com/unmarkedstreet/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076027998346 https://twitter.com/UnmarkedStreet https://www.pinterest.com/unmarkedstreet/

Today, host Nicole is joined by Nicole Giordano, founder of StartUp FASHION, an online community and business resource helping independent startup fashion designers around the world to take action, make progress, and reach their entrepreneurial goals. Nicole Giordano is on Start Scale Succeed this week to talk all about your pre-launch content strategy.   KEY TAKEAWAYS One of Nicole Giordano's top tips for your pre-launch strategy is to embrace the idea that you have to start the marketing process way before you have anything to sell. She sees people with their heads down in product development and then wondering why their launch failed.  Any content strategy has to begin with a very clear understanding of your ideal customer. Really zoom in on the word ‘ideal' because this is where you decide who to serve with your product and who your content should be greed towards.  Get clear on your pre-launch goals and develop content specifically for achieving those goals. The three goals Nicole develops with her clients are racing people, converting people, and finally nurturing people.  One of the most effective ways Nicole has seen recently of business owners actually getting potential customers to sign up to their mailing list pre-launch is to create a quiz. Make sure the title is clear and that you're actually making a quiz that they care about.  Ask yourself these questions about your ideal customer and then use that information to make content for them. What do they value, how do they spend their time, what do they care about, etc.  Six months before your product launches you should be out there building a community. There is no such thing as too soon and if you're waiting until 3 months before launch you might have waited too long.  BEST MOMENTS ‘When you launch they should feel like they know you and you know them' ‘Give them a reason to be on your mailing list'  ‘Ask yourself what is the brand I'm building' ‘Your superpower in the the pre-launch phase is that you're not trying to sell them anything' ‘You don't have to post every day, just bring them on the journey' EPISODE RESOURCEShttps://startupfashion.com/ StartUp FASHION® • Nicole, Fashion Business Coach (@startupfashion) • Instagram photos and videos ABOUT THE GUEST Hey, I'm Nicole. I'm the founder of StartUp FASHION. I began this business because I wanted to create a place for designers who cared more about building a business than creating a fashion label. And by that I mean, those designers who have entrepreneurial dreams and the determination to bring them to life. ABOUT THE HOSTBuying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line. She now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses.Join the Start Scale Succeed waitlist. How to start & scale a product business. A 12 Week programme:  thebuyerandretailcoach.com/startscalesucceedwaitlist CONTACT METHODBook a call with me https://thebuyerandretailcoachltd.as.me/discoverycallGET IN TOUCH HERE https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/instagram/Newsletter: https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/This show was brought to you by Progressive Media

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Nicole Giordano is the undisputed business champion for independent fashion designers.  Born and raised in Philadelphia, Giordano entered the fashion profession as a textile designer and soon learned the industry was more bureaucratic and imposing than she liked.  So, she did something about it!  She launched the Startup FASHION blog to discuss business challenges many designers encounter.  The blog eventually grew into a successful membership sponsored company assisting a community of over 500 designers and fashion creatives.Giordano is a smart, articulate, witty and inordinately passionate about Startup FASHION and the role it plays in the lives of “fashionpreneurs” saying, “our mission is to help entrepreneurs design lives they love by building businesses that succeed.” Giordano seems to relish her role as designer advocate and brings a fresh perspective to the fashion world reminding us all that fashion is business!  In multiple occasions throughout the interview, listeners will literally feel the passion as Giordano makes the case why independent designers must learn and manage the distinction between a fashion business and a fashion career.At its core, Startup FASHION is providing the fashion business education designers should have cultivated in college. For Giordano, the lack of formal business training is clearly a sore and baffling subject that has been discussed in academia ad nauseum.  However, one still wonders why most fashion design programs across the world fail to incorporate any business education?  The oversight and/or indifference to the business side of the industry has left a white space that Giordano and Startup FASHION are happy to fill. But fashion academia’s apathy towards churning out designers without an ounce of business acumen remains obvious.Beyond the business of fashion, the interview covers a variety of industry related topics including sustainability, fashion ethics and the impact of COVID-19.  And, of course, Giordano responds and speaks intelligently to each issue.In the massive international ever-changing fashion industry, it is comforting for independent designers to know there is a serious and experienced support community like Startup FASHION to assist in managing such a challenging environment.  More important, Nicole Giordano is the CEO!  Enjoy!www.startupfashion.comListen to the new podcast Startup FASHION: Do it Your Way on Apple Podcasts 

Nicole Giordano is the undisputed business champion for independent fashion designers.  Born and raised in Philadelphia, Giordano entered the fashion profession as a textile designer and soon learned the industry was more bureaucratic and imposing than she liked.  So, she did something about it!  She launched the Startup FASHION blog to discuss business challenges many designers encounter.  The blog eventually grew into a successful membership sponsored company assisting a community of over 500 designers and fashion creatives.Giordano is a smart, articulate, witty and inordinately passionate about Startup FASHION and the role it plays in the lives of “fashionpreneurs” saying, “our mission is to help entrepreneurs design lives they love by building businesses that succeed.” Giordano seems to relish her role as designer advocate and brings a fresh perspective to the fashion world reminding us all that fashion is business!  In multiple occasions throughout the interview, listeners will literally feel the passion as Giordano makes the case why independent designers must learn and manage the distinction between a fashion business and a fashion career.At its core, Startup FASHION is providing the fashion business education designers should have cultivated in college. For Giordano, the lack of formal business training is clearly a sore and baffling subject that has been discussed in academia ad nauseum.  However, one still wonders why most fashion design programs across the world fail to incorporate any business education?  The oversight and/or indifference to the business side of the industry has left a white space that Giordano and Startup FASHION are happy to fill. But fashion academia’s apathy towards churning out designers without an ounce of business acumen remains obvious.Beyond the business of fashion, the interview covers a variety of industry related topics including sustainability, fashion ethics and the impact of COVID-19.  And, of course, Giordano responds and speaks intelligently to each issue.In the massive international ever-changing fashion industry, it is comforting for independent designers to know there is a serious and experienced support community like Startup FASHION to assist in managing such a challenging environment.  More important, Nicole Giordano is the CEO!  Enjoy!www.startupfashion.comListen to the new podcast Startup FASHION: Do it Your Way on Apple Podcasts 

Join me and Nicole Giordano, Founder of StartUp FASHION as we talk about how she incorporates collaboration and partnerships into the fabric of her membership community. View the show notes at bailyhancock.com/scl/58 {This is episode 2 of 4 in the CREATIVITY X COLLABORATION mini-series of Season 2}

Join me and Nicole Giordano, Founder of StartUp FASHION as we talk about how she incorporates collaboration and partnerships into the fabric of her membership community. View the show notes at bailyhancock.com/scl/58 {This is episode 2 of 4 in the CREATIVITY X COLLABORATION mini-series of Season 2}

On this FittBite we'll go through the basics of budgeting as a start up fashion brand. We'll outline the key financial factors that you'll need to consider as a new brand in order to ensure your business can remain above water and achieve long term success. Book a 1 on 1 with our host, Shadi for personalized advice on how to create and grow your fashion business: https://www.fittdesign.com/services/consultation Design your own collection with our instantly downloadable factory ready tech pack templates: FittDesign Tech Pack Templates Follow our host on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadiadada/ https://www.instagram.com/fittdesign/ Got any other questions, email us for an instant response at: studio@fittdesign.com Subscribe to our weekly fashion design podcast (New episodes every Thursday at 4pm CST): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fittdesign-podcast/id1454410683 Visit our website:https://www.fittdesign.com/ Follow us on:https://www.linkedin.com/company/fittdesign/ https://www.facebook.com/fittdesign https://www.pinterest.com/fittdesign/ https://www.behance....

  Memberships are pretty popular these days. It may seem like an easy way to scale your business, but what goes on behind the scenes? Today we’re talking to Nicole Giordano, founder of Startup Fashion, an online community and resource helping thousands of global independent fashion designers with building their businesses.   Over the past 7 years, Nicole has built one of the industry’s most-read fashion business blogs and created the first business education hub specifically for independent designers, giving them a place to access an extensive library of resources, as well as connecting them with one another to share information and exchange ideas.   Mary and Nicole share a love for community and that makes for perfect chemistry during today’s conversation. Nicole talks about everything from tips to tech including:  > Why someone may want to add a membership feature to their business > The skills and characteristics required to be the leader of a community > Common mistakes people make when beginning a membership community   Please join us in the HQ and share with us the memberships that you’re a part of!   As always, please subscribe to the FearLess Business Podcast wherever you listen, and we are always eternally grateful for a review.   Find Nicole here: Website: www.startupfashion.com Membership: www.members.startupfashion.com  Facebook: @startupfashion  Instagram:@startupfashion   Twitter:@startupfashion  Pinterest:@startupfashion   

Where on one end Fashion Industry seems to be very Glamorous, there are dark secrets and challenges making it difficult for many to succeed. To learn about these secrets listen to Jodi Goodfellow, Founder of Startup Fashion Week and Co-Founder of FASH PR.

Startup Fashion Week (SFW) has been helping emerging creatives and small businesses since 2014 and has also become the world's only multi-city fashion week. Launched by Jodi Goodfellow, the trailer provides insight as to what led her to create this disruptive fashion week concept. She also mentions some of the incredible accomplishments made by SFW over the years. The SFW FRONT ROW podcast will provide exciting content from industry leaders, startup entrepreneurs, alumni and visionary creatives who will explore the world of fashion in conversation with Jodi. Therefore it only seemed fitting to name our podcast after the most coveted position at a runway show - FRONT ROW! For the Startup Fashion Week FRONT ROW Podcast you won't need to walk a red carpet or RSVP but we do encourage you to subscribe so that you can get VIP access for updates on new episodes. We would also love your feedback and welcome suggestions on potential topics or guests for future episodes. We hope to educate, inspire and inform our listeners with exciting content! Insta: @startupfashionweek / @sfwmontreal / @sfwvancouver e-mail: info@startupfashionweek.com Web: www.startupfashionweek.com Photo Credit: @nsbkim

Steve Villanueva is an entrepreneur with a history of success in multiple industries. And, like at least 40% of men, he’s also less than 5 foot 9 inches tall. Frustrated with clothes that just weren’t made to fit short men, Steve set out to find a better way to design clothing for this underserved market. The things he discovered in his research and the unique approach he’s taken with his brand, Otero Menswear, may surprise you.  In the interview (which you’ll love), we will cover: Why not studying fashion in school may have given Steve an advantage; One reason even the most talented designers can fail when they launch their brand; One of the most important steps Steve took FIRST;  The cultural issue that drove their design concept; Why it’s not just about making things shorter; What Steve discovered about over 90% of men that helped his brand take shape--Literally! Why Otero’s business model is difficult for retail… And why they forged ahead with it anyway; The marketing challenges Steve wasn’t expecting; What he credits for Otero’s miniscule number of returns; Steve’s new strategy to change the retail game; And more! For the full show notes, including links to the people and resources mentioned, head to the Successful Fashion Designer website!

How much is this fashion line production going to cost me? Who’s going to be making my designs? Can you recommend a factory to me?  I recently received a DM on Instagram asking for a recommendation to a factory with low minimums and that was cheap. And I felt that this warranted a little more than my individual response to her, as I feel that this is a question that gets asked quite often.  In this episode of the FastTrack Your Fashion Brand Podcast, I’m discussing the dos and don’ts of finding a factory. How do you avoid falling into the trap that so many fashion designers have dove into head first? How do you keep it professional and not sound like you’re not sure what to ask? I’ve got you covered, with these seven questions!   IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT How to avoid the fashion factory trap What questions you should be asking to sound professional Why putting all your eggs in one basket (or factory) may not be the best idea This is more of an interview, factories do not have all the power!   #1. What am I trying to sew?  Not every factory is created equally. They don’t all specialize in the same thing. It would be like going to a FootLocker expecting to find a prom dress…Doesn’t sound like it is the right fit. So the first question is something you need to be asking yourself! What kind of garment am I looking for?    If you are making dresses, you probably don’t want to find yourself in a t-shirt factory (which has a high production with lower quality fabrics). So narrow it down.   #2. Do you specialize?    Now that you’ve figured out exactly what it is that you are trying to design, does the factor you are looking into specialize in anything? Do they specialize in cutting, sewing, patterns, samples, productions, send outs, trims? Are they the full package, or are you going to require multiple vendors?    There is nothing worse than thinking that you are getting a quote and a good deal, but it turns out that they were only quoting you for cutting material, not for the full production.    #3. Do you offer a full service package?    Although I do not recommend this for people who are just starting out, you have to know what your end game as far as pricing strategy is concerned:  Does this cost make sense?  Can I retail it at this cost?  Can I wholesale at this cost?    Companies that specialize and include full package options can give you a certain amount of information about the company. It tells you the level of experience they have, and what they’ll be able to provide you.    #4. Low minimums   When asking about low minimums, we’re actually talking about low production quantities. Some factories will allow for low minimums  of 500+ units. This leaves a lot of room for negotiation, to lower that cost of production. If you can find someone who can work with you around lower minimums, so that you’re not spread super thin with your inventory.   A lot of factories are going to change minimums depending on colors or style. If you everything you design is white, your minimum will probably remain low. Whereas, if you ask for 5 black, 5 blue, 5 pink, and they have to change thread for each color requested, your minimums will increase to account for this time.    #5. Cost   We’re all trying to make money, so of course cost is going to be a concern. But this is something that you never want to ask right off the bat. Starting a conversation with “how much is this going to cost” is not going to make you sound professional to the factory. They won’t be able to tell you that until they have an idea of what style you are going for, what kind of fabric you’ll be using, how many colors will be involved, etc.    If you only come in with a drawn design, they’ll most likely create a sample for you before they are able to give you an estimated cost. So my best advice in this instance would be to go to the store, and find something very similar to what you have in mind, and bring that with you when you go to the factory. Then you can ask, how long would it take you to manufacture something like this?    #6. Who else are you working with?    What kind of brands are they representing? This is a presentation of their past work and quality of work. They may not be a part of your company, but they are an extension of it. They will represent the quality of your product, so it is very important to know if they are up to you standards.    #7. Turn around time   We all have deadlines when it comes to launching our collections. Whether we are trying to get our line launched while a trend is still hot, and will bring a lot of loyal clients, or if we have a self-made deadline, it is essential to give your manufacturers time to produce your products. So, give yourself about 2 or 3 weeks of the additional buffer.    S*** happens! Factories can take on new clients, get backed up, and your production gets delayed. We’re fashionprenuers, we have to be prepared for everything!   EPISODE BREAKDOWN    07:15 -  8:20 -  #1. What am I trying to sew?    08:23  - 9:50 -  #2. Do you specialize?    09:53 -  12:40 -  #3. Do you offer a full-service package?   12:48 -  14:40 -  #4. Low minimums   14:48 -  17:00 -  #5. Cost   17:06 -  17:50 -  #6. Who else are you working with?    17:54 -  19:45 -  #7. Turn around time   CONNECT WITH ME INSTAGRAM: @nicole_di_rocco FACEBOOK:  www.facebook.com/nicoledirocco WEBSITE:  www.fashionbizmentor.com SEE MY DESIGNS: www.mynicolita.com   LOVE OUR PODCAST? Hello my FastTrackers and Fashionprenuers!    This episode had a lot of great information about making sure to connect to your community because it is really hard to feel like you are going through this alone. There are moments when I’m talking to my husband and the empty look tells me that he truly has no idea what I am talking about.   But Nicole’s community StartUp FASHION offers a great, safe space to talk to people going through the same things as you! It is one of the ultimate Mastermind Groups that recognizes the struggles are real, but so are the successes. Find a group to help you get out of your lows and celebrate your highs.    If you like the podcast, make sure to rate and leave a review. Definitely give a shout out to my amazing team who puts in a lot of work to help rock and roll these episodes out!    Make sure you are subscribed to the show to know when our next mastermind will be sharing their zone of genius.  Click here to subscribe in iTunes! RESOURCES MENTIONED Dream to Launch” Video Series

Marianna Sachse is the founder of Jackalo, an industry-changing line of durable, organic children’s clothes. That in and of itself is awesome, but Marianna and Jackalo take their purpose one step further by accepting all of their used clothes back to be repaired and resold or responsibility recycled. Jackalo’s innovation is reducing the environmental impact of the children’s apparel sector and I can’t wait for you to hear Marianna’s story and how Jackalo came to be! 2:16 – The Marianna 101 Marianna founded Jackalo, a line of durable and sustainable playwear for kids ages 4 to 14. Before starting Jackalo in July of 2018, Marianna already had a career in public health as well as many years of experience working in social change. Originally from Washington D.C., four years she moved to The Netherlands for her husband’s job. She knew she wanted to get an idea of the ground at that time focusing on the durability of children’s clothes. When she noticed that her oldest son’s clothes weren’t lasting very long, she started researching more durable clothing brands, but very few of them met her standards on ethics and environmentalism. She saw an opportunity to do it better and decided to start pursuing her idea of her own clothing line. More specifically, she noticed that her mom friends who had kids who were more sensitive needed durable clothing that still felt good to the touch. Living in The Netherlands proved a great location to build the foundation of her company. She lives near hubs of the fashion industry and fabric production. 7:04 – Where Do You Begin? Trial and error seem to be a theme when starting a business from scratch, and Marianna’s story is no different. She started with a fabric trade show in Paris and walked the floors with her business card just talking to vendors. Most of the vendors were not prepared to help a startup business in a sustainable way because they were looking to sell more fabric than a startup would need. Marianna quickly learned that it wasn’t the right path. Instead, Marianna joined an online group called Startup Fashion and found a mentor named Dana Fried, who has helped many successful fashion companies and helped Marianna carve her own path to a sustainable clothing business and while proving to partners that her business would grow. Marianna did her own fabric sourcing in order to have more control over quality and sustainability. When she researched a little deeper, she often found environmental certifications for fabric companies lacking with the tougher fabrics. Marianna found a mill in Germany that works with sustainable producers to raise cotton at the highest level of organic certification while also using solar energy and taking smaller fabric orders. Since Marianna knows how to sew, knit, draw, etc., Marianna initially hired a freelancer for the first garment and then studied taught herself how to do technical flat designs. 15:18 – Purpose and Healing When Marianna’s son was just four months old, her mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and began palliative care. In the middle of her mother’s illness, Marianna found out she was pregnant with her second son, and a month-in-a-half into the pregnancy she found out she was in the early stages of a “molar pregnancy.” In a season of loss, community with women who understand is a powerful thing. Once Marianna told her story, she realized it was important not only for her to share for her own healing, but the healing of others as well. No matter what kind of loss you experience, you don’t get over grief, you move on with it. It’s important to experience grief together while understanding we all experience it differently. This journey of grief taught Marianna about the need to nurture her creative side. It made her realize how central creativity is to her identity and decided to set aside time and space for creating every day. 32:16 – The Future of Jackalo Marianna's goal with Jackalo is to find ways to reuse as much as possible for as long as possible. Her research has shown that there are plenty of sustainable, durable clothes to reuse with Infants and toddlers, but the market is lacking in the same kinds of clothes for older kids. Jackalo aims to sell clothes that are so well made that they will last through a hand-me down phase AND the second-hand market. Jackalo’s trade program allows families to send back their used Jackalo clothing to be washed, repaired, and resold. Marianna is now starting to receive hand me downs back that only need to be washed and will upcycle any of those that cannot be resold. Keeping second-hand clothes in the US is also an important way to reduce the waste we send to places that don’t want it and where it disrupts the local economy.  38:18 – Getting To Know Our Guest Find out what Marianna’s favorite TV show when she was a kid, what cheesy song she has memorized, what she’s reading, and of course what it means to her to run a business with purpose. Connect with Marianna Marianna Sachse is the founder of the triple bottom line enterprise https://hellojackalo.com/—an industry-changing line of durable and organic children’s clothes that accepts all of the used clothes back to be repaired and resold or responsibly recycled, thus reducing reducing the environmental impact of the children’s apparel sector. Prior to launching Jackalo, Marianna spent nearly twenty years helping individuals and communities improve their health and wellbeing. She worked with and for such noted organizations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Whitman Walker Clinic, the Aspen Institute, and the Federal Reserve Board. Hello Jackalo https://www.facebook.com/hellojackalo/ https://twitter.com/hellojackalo https://pinterest.com/hellojackalo/ https://www.instagram.com/hellojackalo/

Since you started your fashion/designer journey, have you found yourself asking: “Am I doing this right?” “I am ready to launch my line?  “Should I tell my parents and my friends about my crazy fashion idea?” “Maybe I shouldn’t share my design. What if someone takes it?” Every designer, aspiring fashionprenuer, and creative have found themselves standing on the edge of glory (yes, just like the Lady Gaga song), unable to move from an idea to action due to their own self-doubt. That little voice in your head that is constantly questioning everything that you do. If you’re finding yourself feeling completely alone when discussing your troubles or success while launching your new collection, this FastTrack Your Fashion Brand episode is just what the fashionprenuer ordered.  In this episode of the FastTrack Your Fashion Brand Podcast, I’m talking with the founder of StartUp FASHION, and 15-year professional designer Nicole Giordano to discuss the importance of community support when building your fashion business. No matter what stage of the designer process you are in, having access to an incredible community of like-minded people who can offer advice, encouragement and years of fashion experience is one of the greatest tools you can possibly have as you enter the fashion world. And I would know since I am actually a member of Nicole’s community.  IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT How all fashion designers can feel alone in the process The main reason Nicole Giordano decided to build a community to help people just starting out in the fashion world How traditional learning (fashion school) prepares you for a job, but not an independent business Fears we face as we attempt to launch our first collection and how being a part of a community can be beneficial Identifying your values and your hook to help build your fashion brand Why Nicole Giordano founded StartUp FASHION Nicole Giordano started as a textile designer and after she graduated from college, she knew - as most of us have already discovered for ourselves, that she didn’t want to work for other people. But fashion school doesn’t really prepare you for that, they give you the technical experience to go out and get a job somewhere, but not the experience necessary to launch your collection independently. She started designing bags and selling them at boutiques (because this was before the age of Instagram!)  With 15 years of design experience behind her, she realized that designing wasn’t what she wanted to do. Her ‘zone of genius’, and what really lit up her world was encouraging people. She realized that the fashion industry had a very old school mentality, which held onto the idea of exclusivity and not wanting to share. We’ve all experienced this at some point or another: not wanting to share our ideas or designs, factories we use, etc. But you have to let that go if you want to be successful! Nicole Giordano has created an incredible community that offers resources, classes, and has redeveloped the entire onboarding process to really help you be where you need to be at that moment! And most of the time, you’re not really where you think you are. Say, you’ve launched a website and your first collection, but you’re not seeing any sales or traffic on your website. It's because you overlooked your brand identity, identifying your values, your hook, and what your brand is truly all about.  Nicole Giordano and the entire StartUp FASHION community are there to answer questions, encourage you during your highs and lows, and be the ultimate resource no matter what part of your journey you are in. People are really giving, and you’ll really get out of this what you put into it. You have to remember that just because you sign up does not mean that the hard part is over. You’re entering graduate school, and you’ve still got homework to do!   EPISODE BREAKDOWN  07:01 -  09:29 -  An Introduction to Nicole Giordano and StartUp Fashion 11:11 -  13:19 -  The Best Time to Join 13:20 -  16:51 -  Fears for People Entering the Fashion Realm 17:00 -  20:31 -  Zone of Genius - What Lights You Up? 24:15 -  30:50 -  Identifying Your Values   CONNECT WITH GUEST INSTAGRAM:  @startupfashion FACEBOOK: Start Up Fashion WEBSITE: https://startupfashion.com/   CONNECT WITH ME INSTAGRAM: @nicole_di_rocco FACEBOOK: Nicole Di Rocco WEBSITE:  www.fashionbizmentor.com SEE MY DESIGNS: www.mynicolita.com LOVE OUR PODCAST? Hello my FastTrackers and Fashionprenuers!  This episode had a lot of great information about making sure to connect to your community because it is really hard to feel like you are going through this alone. There are moments when I’m talking to my husband and the empty look tells me that he truly has no idea what I am talking about. But Nicole’s community StartUp FASHION offers a great, safe space to talk to people going through the same things as you! It is one of the ultimate Mastermind Groups that recognizes the struggles are real, but so are the successes. Find a group to help you get out of your lows and celebrate your highs.  If you like the podcast, make sure to rate and leave a review. Definitely give a shout out to my amazing team who puts in a lot of work to help rock and roll these episodes out!  Make sure you are subscribed to the show to know when our next mastermind will be sharing their zone of genius. Click here to subscribe in iTunes! RESOURCES MENTIONED StartUp Fashion Community JumpStart Your Line Video Series  

In this episode, Katie interviews entrepreneur Jodi Goodfellow who is the founder and executive producer of Startup Fashion Week. She’s giving us the details of how everything started, details of their fashion week in Montreal, and how you can be apart of it. ALSO, we are really proud to announce that Katie will be the keynote speaker for their Business of Fashion Conference! Startup Fashion Week Montreal, get your tickets here: https://startupfashionweek.com/tickets/ IG: @startupfashionweek @sfwmontreal @sfwvancouver Follow @mtlkatie and @undertheinfluencer_podcast on Instagram to submit your own questions, get involved and much more!

This week on the Becoming Fearless podcast, meet Nicole Giordano, the Founder of StartUp Fashion, an online resource and community that helps independent fashion brands reach their entrepreneurial goals. Nicole went to school for textile design, and the more she learned about the fashion industry, the more she realized what she didn’t like about it – namely, its exclusivity and lack of collaboration. So, Nicole started a blog that eventually became StartUp Fashion. Join Nicole and Annie as they talk finding internal motivation, building community, creating a mantra, setting boundaries for yourself, and knowing what success means to you.

This week, we're bringing a listener favorite back to the show for a rare second episode on the Spirit of 608 podcast. We first heard this FEST founder's story in podcast episode 53, but a lot's happened since then. Not only has she continued to grow her business by leaps and bounds, she's expanding into new territory as she explores new ways to serve and support the sustainable apparel brands that graduate from her online accelerator program. Less than a week ago, she debuted a new marketplace that's already catching buzz, and she's back to tell us all about it - and the surprising things that happen when you keep pushing forward slowly, strategically and with intention. Meet this week's guest, Shannon Lohr, Founder of Factory45. Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. What you'll learn As the sustainable and ethical fashion space grows, one has to wonder what the terms “sustainable” and “ethical” really even mean. Is truly sustainable possible? What does ethical mean exactly, and are we even using it in the right way? Shannon is back on the Spirit of 608 to share with us her thoughts on the matter, this time she’s armed with a couple more years of experience and a more holistic point of view of the ethical and sustainable fashion industry. How you'll be inspired So often we think about business growth bringing more complications and headaches. Bigger business, bigger problems, right? But Shannon has a different story: as her business grew, things actually got easier. Like a lot easier. Hear how she did it on this week's show.  What you'll tell your friends Did you know that there's a new online shop for sustainable and ethical, made-in-the-USA brands? You'll find an excellent, curated selection of labels -- and each company actually came through the Factory45 program, so you know they've been trained to produce apparel as responsibly as possible. Resource of the week Asana: As we find out in this episode, Shannon is a master of planning. She credits part of that to Asana for her daily, weekly, monthly and yearly to-do lists.  Connect with Shannon Lohr Website: factory45.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/factory45co Instagram: @factory45co Mentioned in this episode: Hear Shannon's backstory in Spirit of 608 podcast EP 53   Kickstarter   Shop Market45   Google Analytics   WordPress   Asana   Startup Fashion   Jess Lively   MeetEdgar   Google Drive   T-shirt motto: Go vote women.   Find more episodes featuring women at the forefront of FEST online at www.Spiritof608.com.

Will my business succeed? SHOW NOTES AND LINKS: http://fashionbrainacademy.com/nicole/ I was looking for a fresh perspective on "the state of the independent fashion design business" so I reached out to Nicole Giordano from Startup Fashion. Nicole is always game to help, we hopped on an interview. and then she SPILLED IT - the true, fresh perspective of startup fashion designers right now.  Here's what we cover: Starting your clothing line with a signature product, not a full collection The traditional fashion calendar is broken - the internet happened What designers are doing NOW in Nicole's community and what's working A new approach to selling wholesale to boutiques Running your business like a business The monthly framework for assessing your business As a business owner, excitement and fear are the SAME feeling One brand's brilliant strategy to get started with sales Content marketing - is it worth your time?

This week on StoryWeb: Ann McGovern’s spooky story “The Velvet Ribbon.” Like many pre-teens and teens, I played the same records over and over and over again. My poor mother! When I was ten, she had to listen repeatedly to The Beatles’ 1970 collection, The Beatles Again, – and in later years, she was subjected to endless repeats of The Best of Bread, Eric Carmen’s self-titled album, Elton John’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt County, and perhaps the album that sticks in her mind most notably, Albert Hammond’s It Never Rains in Southern California. But one recording that still haunts her, I am sure, is “The Velvet Ribbon.” This spoken word track was part of a 1970 Scholastic record, The Haunted House and Other Spooky Poems and Tales. Read by Carole Danell, this version of “The Velvet Ribbon” was written by Ann McGovern. Like “Bloody Mary” or “Hook Hand” or “The Ghostly Hitchhiker,” it’s an oft-told tale with many variations, especially in the color of the ribbon. Black? Red? Green? It doesn’t really matter: the outcome is the same for the woman every time. She warns her new husband that he must never remove the velvet ribbon from around her neck. But does he listen? Of course not! When the disastrous result occurs in Ann McGovern’s version, the woman wails, “I told you you’d be sorry!” Danell’s narration is powerful and chilling. I loved that line so much – “I told you you’d be sorry” – that I played it constantly. Curious about the origins of this frequently told tale, I did some research (of course!). Many commentators believe that the tale started during the French Revolution. A notable written version of the tale is Washington Irving’s 1824 short story, “The Adventure of the German Student,” which indeed is set in Paris during the French Revolution. Why the French Revolution? Well, there were many beheadings: heads did roll! (Listen to the story, and you’ll see the connection!) And according to one website, “some analysts have noted the French Revolution-era tradition for the widows and widowers of those killed by the guillotine to wear red ribbons and scarves around their necks.” The history of choker necklaces is also fascinating. The StartUp Fashion website provides an interesting overview of the role choker necklaces have played in Native American, East African, and European traditions. In Europe as time went along, a black ribbon tied around the neck was often a signal that the woman wearing the ribbon was a prostitute. Buzzfeed’s article “The Secret (and Not So Secret) History of Choker Necklaces” notes that chokers were also popular in Chinese, Indian, and Egyptian cultures – and the article includes many images of choker necklaces through the ages right up to the present time. If you grew up in the 1970s and want to rekindle your love of Scholastic books and records, you can buy a used copy of the Scholastic record at Discogs. A used copy of the accompanying paperback is available through Amazon. Visit thestoryweb.com/mcgovern for links to all these resources and to listen to the 1970 Scholastic recording of “The Velvet Ribbon,” written by Ann McGovern and read by Carole Danell. You can follow along with the text at the Dreadful Dreary website. As you get ready for all the ghosts and goblins tonight, you might want to take a listen again to last year’s spooky offering: Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Visit the storyweb.com/poe to learn about the story and to hear me read it in its entirety. Happy Halloween!

Coming to you live from Startup Fashion Week's Fashion Tech Forum! On October 6th, journalist Amanda Cosco moderated a panel on the future of fashion and retail with key characters dotting the fashion tech landscape, including Roger Chabra of Frank + Oak, textile designer Fionna Hanna, Vincent Thériault of Surmesur, and Mario Christian of Daniel Christian Tang. The panel touched on the different ways Canadian companies small and large blend fashion and tech, as well as some key challenges (Photo by Stephanie Greenall. Music by Andrew Applepie)

Industry Leaders from the world of Beauty & Fashion providing thought provoking insights from Inspiring minds. Guests are interviewed on their experiences in both Fashion and Beauty and offer the Beauty Fashion and War audience guidance, wisdom and candor.   Nicole Giordano Bio Nicole Giordano has been critical in the launch of hundreds of independent designers’ successful fashion businesses. In addition to founding StartUp FASHION, she has partnered on special projects with WWD MAGIC and eBay FASHION. I use my 10+ years of experience in the fashion industry to assist brands with creating an online presence through website content, editorial creation, and social media development. In 2011, this experience led to the opportunity to spend a year living in  Singapore as the Vice President of Digital Content for an international fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform. It was one of the most enriching and exciting years of my life, filled with hard work, extensive travel, and great food! In 2009 I founded StartUp FASHION, the leading online resource and educational platform for independent fashion brands. Prior to launching StartUp FASHION, I founded and led the artistic development for Nicole Giordano Textiles LLC, my New York based accessories brand as well as consulted on the textile direction and raw materials sourcing for fashion labels such as Jill Stuart, Doo.Ri, Prabal Gurung, and Porter Grey. I currently work to build StartUp FASHION into an even greater resource for the independent industry while simultaneously consulting on digital content strategy for fashion, textile, and lifestyle brands. Must Read’s: The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It  Look Inside on Amazon - Click Here  Description:  "In this first new and totally revised edition of the 150,000-copy underground bestseller, The E-Myth, Michael Gerber dispels the myths surrounding starting your own business and shows how commonplace assumptions can get in the way of running a business. He walks you through the steps in the life of a business from entrepreneurial infancy, through adolescent growing pains, to the mature entrepreneurial perspective, the guiding light of all businesses that succeed. He then shows how to apply the lessons of franchising to any business whether or not it is a franchise. Finally, Gerber draws the vital, often overlooked distinction between working on your business and working in your business. After you have read The E-Myth Revisited, you will truly be able to grow your business in a predictable and productive way." More Must Read’s: To Kill A MockingBird    Look Inside on Amazon - Click Here Description:  "The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic. Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature." Technology That Rocks!  Favorite Internet Resource:  www.startupfashion.com Startup Fashion | Description:  "… StartUp FASHION takes the mystery out of starting and running your fashion business by giving you a place to talk shop, find answers, and feed your entrepreneurial soul." Favorite internet resource app:  View iOS Evernote App On iTunes - Click Here Evernote | Description: Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve your productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, snap photos, create to-do lists, scan business cards, record voice reminders--and it makes everything searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go.  View iOS  Xero App On iTunes - Click Here Xero | Description: Xero users - run your business from your iPhone with this completely rebuilt application, now updated for iOS7. Track your finances and easily manage your cashflow: check bank balances, invoice customers, upload receipts – all while you’re on the go. Xero – beautiful accounting software. Social Media Links:  Google + : https://plus.google.com/+Startupfashion1 Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nicolemgiordano/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/startupfashion Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/StartUpFashion Instagram: http://instagram.com/startupfashion/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupfashion Email: nicole@nicolegiordano.com  

Interview with Syama Meagher (ScalingRetail.com) If you’re still waiting to discover that perfect business idea, it might just be sitting under your nose. That was the case for my guest today, Syama Meagher, in 2008 when she was working a day job in merchandising at Barney’s. After dealing with countless startup fashion brand who had no idea how to pitch their products to the big-box stores, she started a business that was designed to help them–Scaling Retail. Scaling Retail is a retail consulting firm that specializes in sales and marketing for small and medium businesses. Syama’s company has helped launch stores in Manhattan and scaled brands in Bali. She is a featured speaker for organizations like the  American Express Open Forum, Fashion Business Inc, Startup Fashion and Fashion Business Accelerator. She’s here on the show today to chat with me about what it took to grow her business from an idea to a full-blown international business and how she’s managed to quit her day job, work from anywhere, and travel around the world. Cool stuff mentioned in this episode: Scaling Retail Lean Startup Did this podcast rock your world?   If you liked this podcast, leave a review on iTunes!! You will be immediately showered in gold and diamonds and all things sparkly. Visit www.gofireyourself.com/review to check out the iTunes page. Plus…sharing this episode on social media will undoubtedly add to the glitter fest. Satisfaction is guaranteed. The post GFY 054: From Quitting Barneys to Building Fashion Businesses appeared first on Go Fire Yourself.