Nicole Giordano, founder of StartUp FASHION

StartUp FASHION is a site that aids in the “process of starting, maintaining, and growing a business easier for fashion industry brands that want to make a huge impact but don’t have a huge budget.” QC asked Nicole Giordano, the founder of StartUp Fashion, some questions about her company and its origins, what she thinks it takes to make it in the fashion industry today, and what to look forward to in April.

1. Are there any other sites out there similar to StartUp Fashion; if so, how does StartUp Fashion compete/compare with them?

I think that there are a lot of sites out there that are focused on helping entrepreneurs with their business needs and I think there are some sites out there that are focused on helping fashion designers with their design and resource needs.  But what StartUp FASHION tries to do is combine the two.  We are the ultimate resource for the independent fashion industry. We try to come at it from all angles.

2. How did StartUp Fashion begin, and what were the stages of its development? 

We started as a basic blog with just myself writing, sharing information about the industry as I experienced it. From the ups and downs of starting and growing my own accessories line to sourcing textiles for some of the biggest names in fashion, I learned a lot and I wanted to share it. Over the last few years we’ve become more of a magazine.  We have a more organized and sophisticated approach to sharing information and we have added 6 additional writers to the team who share their knowledge and experience.  In that time we’ve built up a very strong and targeted readership.  Our next stage is set to launch in April and we’re really excited about the things we’ll be announcing for designers.

3. What is StartUp Fashion’s outreach strategy in finding new designers? Do you have someone actively searching for new designers to feature, or do you play more of a host role?

When we started out, we reached out to designers that we wanted to feature. But with our growth, came an onslaught of email requests to be featured in our BreakThrough DESIGNER column.  With that said, we have made the decision to be more strategic with the designers we feature. We are looking for designers who are not only talented in design but understand the need to tell a good story, designers who have a grasp of the business side of things and are starting to make an impact.  Remember, we are a resource for designers, we share tips and information to help designers succeed.  When we do feature designers, we want to feature those from whom very new designers can learn something.

WWW.STARTUPFASHION.COM

4. It seems that these days, anyone with determination and talent, and a bit of luck can make it in the fashion world thanks to better communication (ding ding ding social media, TV competitions, etc) and the trend of adopting “unique” small designers, whose work is elegantly packaged/marketed by big name department stores and “it” girls/women. How do you compare the designer scene now to your earlier experiences in the industry, and what are your predictions for the future? In the same vein, how do you think the role of organizations like StartUp Fashion will change?

Well, my opinion is that it takes a lot more than determination, talent, and luck. I think it takes talent and a lot of determination, yes.  But those things need to be combined with business smarts, a willingness to constantly learn, the knowledge that whatever you can’t do properly yourself you better find someone to help you with, the ability to truly leave your comfort zone, the knowledge that you need to build something that is bigger than just you (something with a purpose), and above all a very thick skin.  Once you determine that you have all those things, you can decide to move forward with having a business.

In terms of social media, it’s a great thing of course and can help new talent reach the masses in a way it never could before.  However, it can also make it a lot more difficult for new designers to succeed because now, unlike in the past, consumers have access to such an enormous amount of options that it is so very easy to get lost in the crowd.  As a designer, you have to understand the absolute necessity of a fantastic brand story as well as creating a product that responds to a consumer need (one they might not even know they have).

In the 10 years I have been in the industry, I have seen the rise of the digital age as well as the fashion industry’s slow acceptance turned super acceptance. The way I see it is that all this access, all this information, all these new ways to connect and build a business and make an are fantastic but they are just tools.  They only work if you know how to actually use them.  StartUp FASHION will constantly strive to teach designers how to use them.

5. To your knowledge, has your site quantifiably helped any fledgling designers who have ‘made it’ yet? Do you have any active relationships with site visitors/designers, or is it mostly a one-way platform? 

We work with designers in various ways, the most common being through our StartUp SESSIONS. This is when the designer has created their product, put up a website, opened up a bunch of social media platforms, and then…nothing happens.  We help them figure out why and what to change.  It is always so exciting when we receive an email after they have had the session talking about what a difference it has made on their traffic, engagement, and sales.

6. Is there currently any function on the site that allows designers to communicate and bounce ideas off one another? 

Remember how I hinted at some exciting updates and changes coming in April?  Well, this is one aspect of those changes.

To reach StartUp FASHION:

E-mail : hello@startupfashion.com
Twitter: @StartUpFASHION

Duration of internship:
1-3 months

Did you do this internship within the last two years?
Yes

Location:
London,UK

What kind of internship was this?
Unpaid

Number of days worked per week & Number of hours worked per week:
5 days a week standard, 6 or seven coming up to London Fashion Week. 10 to 7 was the regular working day, though they lengthened too when the show drew close.

How did you find this internship?
Website

What kind of work did you do and how relevant were your projects?
The work was all very hands on and you got a broad range of jobs so no day of work was boring or repetitive all while learning an awful lot. I worked at a very busy time in the studio, I would imagine the pace to be different at less pressured times of the year. To gain the most you can from this internship you must go with an open mind and be very willing to tackle whatever they throw your way. Being able to sew is a huge necessity along with being able to read and draft patterns.

Number of interns you worked with on a daily basis:
6

Describe the dress code:
Relaxed and easy, just do your best to be presentable.

Rate the level of professionalism in the office:
9

Please rate your internship from 1-10:
10

Additional comments:
Enjoy your time here, don’t be afraid to make friends with the staff and other interns and have fun with the work you do. The brand is young, terribly cool and fresh. The team at Holly Fulton are among the nicest people I have worked with and only expect the best from their workers. It is great to be involved in an up and coming brand in London. Get to know London on your time off, the energy of the city is second to none. It is an amazing place.

The Menswear Ready to Wear Design Team at 3.1 Phillip Lim is seeking a detail-oriented, reliable, and organized intern.
Candidates will work directly with the design team and will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience within the fashion industry.

It’s a great opportunity for a candidate who is willing to learn and apply their past experience and knowledge into a fast-pace exciting industry while being in a great environment.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Hand detail work
- Research for inspiration and ideas
- Assisting with daily projects as they arise
- Working with various vendors in reference to fabrics & trims
- General organization & maintenance of samples and other relevant information

Qualifications/Requirements:
- Candidates should be either 3rd or 4th years in school.
- Candidates should be proficient on MAC and PC platforms.
- Proficiency in Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Minimum commitment of 3 days per week.
- Minimum commitment of 3 months.

Stipend:
- 15$ per day for lunch.
- Reimbursement for transit.
- School credit

Please provide your resume, cover letter, and 4-5 examples of your work/website to: hr@31philliplim.com
Please address subject line as “MENSWEAR Design Internship”

photo credit: Mary Newman Photography​

Felicia Barth-Aasen, the founder of the clothing line, Collective 26, is one of those rare few.

Equipped with a BFA degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Felicia used her education and additional fashion industry experiences to develop Collective 26, a contemporary women’s fashion line that is exclusively made in America.  “It embodies a modern aesthetic mixed with bohemian and grunge elements.”  While working with skilled American artisans, Collective 26 creates handcrafted knits, outerwear, and swimwear.

“What I learned”:
“During my time at F.I.T, I learned so many skills I use daily for Collective 26.  I learned the conceptual stages of design, sketching, line development, as well as many technical garment skills such as pattern making, draping, and sewing.”

“The Name”:
The name, Collective 26, came from the definition of the word itself: “relating to, or being a group of individuals”.  Felicia’s idea was to bring different creative minds together to help create the “Collective” collection.  The goal was to unite American artisans and incorporate their crafts into their garments.  The number, 26, is Felicia’s lucky number as well as her birthday.

“On Entrepreneurial spirit”:
Although it is commonly frowned upon to start a fashion line straight out of school, Felicia went against the grain of popular opinion and wasted no time putting her entrepreneurial spirit into play right after graduation.  “Oddly enough, I’ve always wanted to start my own business and while many discourage this, my parents have not only instilled the entrepreneurial spirit in me, but also expected from me as well.  It hasn’t been easy and I have had to work part time jobs as well, but it is so amazing to create and build a business that your passionate about.”

“The Obstacles”:
“I think the biggest obstacle launching Collective 26 has been learning the business side of things.  It isn’t something they really teach you in school.”

Felicia sees experience as her best teacher.  “I always want to think the best of everybody and approach things in the nicest way possible, but sometimes in business you have to be tough, stand your grounds, and make sure people are meeting your expectations.”

Duration of internship:
7+ months

Did you do this internship within the last two years?
Yes

Location:
New York, NY

What kind of internship was this?
Unpaid, School credit, Stipend

Number of days worked per week & Number of hours worked per week:
Summer: 9am-6pm, 5 days/week
School Year: 12pm-6pm, Averaging 2 days a week

How did you find this internship?
Friend

What kind of work did you do and how relevant were your projects?
Never had to get coffee/other menial tasks
Very relevant to the field, lots of work to do every day

Number of interns you worked with on a daily basis:
0

Describe the dress code:
Rather casual, people wore jeans

Rate the level of professionalism in the office:
8

Please rate your internship from 1-10:
10

Additional comments:
Great people at Tommy, good working environment
Cheap, good-quality cafeteria food
My only complaint is that the office is a little hard to get to (closest subway is 3 avenues away)

Duration of internship:
1-3 months

Did you do this internship within the last two years?
Yes

Location:
New York, NY

What kind of internship was this?
Unpaid, school credit

Number of days worked per week & Number of hours worked per week:
5 days per week.
40 hours per week.

How did you find this internship?
Friend

What kind of work did you do and how relevant were your projects?
I was in charge of their Pinterest and Polyvore account as well as worked on the backend of their e-commerce site. Working on their website learning about visual merchandising and writing copy for clothing descriptions was definitely a great learning experience for me. But when there were days I was just working on their Pinterest and Polyvore I felt I could have been doing more with my time and felt it was somewhat a waste because I wasn’t learning anything I didn’t already know.
4

Number of interns you worked with on a daily basis:
4

Describe the dress code:
casual. stylish.

Rate the level of professionalism in the office:
4

Please rate your internship from 1-10:
6

The Women’s Ready to Wear Design Team at 3.1 Phillip Lim is seeking a detail-oriented, reliable, and organized intern.
Candidates will work directly with the design team and will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience within the fashion industry.
It’s a great opportunity for a candidate who is willing to learn and apply their past experience and knowledge into a fast-past exciting industry while being in a great environment.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Hand detail work
- Research for inspiration and ideas
- Assisting with daily projects as they arise
- Working with various vendors in reference to fabrics & trims
- General organization & maintenance of samples and other relevant information
Requirements:
- Preferably a background in Textiles, Apparel/Fashion Design, and/or Graphic Design.
- Minimum 3 month commitment with a minimum of 2 days a week.
Please submit resumes with select examples of your work to: hr@31philliplim.com

2/21/13

Since then, Bland was able to find a space in Brooklyn that would be able to  provide designers with the resources & skills to streamline their production process, and transform local manufacturing into the most affordable, high-quality option for all.  According to Bland:

“In the last two decades, the United States has lost 80% of its apparel manufacturing jobs, and the decline of the Garment District in NYC is a visible sign of these crippling losses. There isn’t enough support available for emerging designers in the fashion industry currently. We need to join together as a community, engage the public & use our collective voice to resurrect apparel manufacturing for a new generation. Demand for affordable, consistent local production is high, and yet we continue to lose jobs to overseas factories that are facing worker unrest and a desire for higher wages themselves.” 

The Proposed Space at Industry City (Photo Credit: Nathan Blair)

Over 200 people attended Manufacture New York’s Fashion Week Party(Photo Credit: Christine Coen)

During New York Fashion Week, Manufacture New York held a launch party at the Textile Arts Center to promote their upcoming fundraiser for this innovation hub to much success (over 200 attendees!).   From February 19, 2013 to March 31, 2013, Manufacture New York will launch their IndieGogo campaign to raise funds that will go towards three necessary components of the organization, and will be sourced as follows - location, equipment and most key - new jobs.

We encourage our readers, whether you are from New York or not, to contribute to the campaign!

Manufacture NY (official website):  http://manufactureny.org/
IndieGogo:  http://manufactureny.org/indiegogo
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/manufactureny

Marking / social media intern with strong writing skills and e-commerce/fashion experience.

Please submit resume and writing samples to Loni@stitchcollective.com

2/15/13

We are a group of driven individuals that focus on building brands in the fashion and design industry. The agency deals predominately with menswear designers in the garment and accessories industries. Currently, we are looking for an intern who is extremely detail oriented and organized, and who has passion and experience in the fashion field.

*We are asking for applicants to be able to commit anywhere from 2-4 times a week between 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (depending on project deadlines)

Tasks you should be able to handle include (but are not limited to):

-Help with sample trafficking and logging samples in and out of the showroom
-Assist placing phone calls to editors + buyers for follow-up and to set up desk-side/showroom appointments
-Tracking all media placements and posting these on the Facebook and Instagram accounts
- Help compiling digital lists to pitch stories to online networks, blogs and social media
-Properly handling samples for fittings, shoots, events and styling purposes (i.e. taking photos before and after borrowing, release of liability form etc.)
-Assisting stylists in pulling for photo shoots and attending photo shoots to help facilitate use of designer’s collections
- Help organize and execute fashion launch events, cocktail parties, fashion shows, sample sales, etc.
-Assist in organizing a weekly/monthly fashion event calendar and updating it to the company’s calendar
- Help keeping an organized chart of press breaks, pending placements and goal placements in media outlets

PLEASE EMAIL JOHANN@THEBARBARIANAGENCY.COM AND BE SURE TO INCLUDE RECENT PHOTO + RESUME IN BODY OF YOUR RESPONSE!

2/14/13