About Me

"Fashion for Profit"was first conceived for the many talented students that I have had the pleasure of teaching, who want to achieve their dreams of one-day owning their own company, and of producing a successful line of clothing. The apparent lack of business information for apparel start-up apparel manufacturers motivated me to provide this critical education and business training. I developed a class for the continuing education department at Otis College of Art and Design, in Los Angeles. This "hands-on", "how to" class, provided the one-on-one which assisted entrepreneurs develop a small, workable clothing line, and get the business training needed to become successful in a business well known for its failures.

The classes were filled and proved to me there was a need for such courses. Some participants had the design talent and training but no business skills; others had business skills, but no idea where to begin when planning a line of clothing. It was stimulating to assist these talented individuals achieve their dreams by providing a solid business base and expertise on the various aspects of owning a small apparel company. The fundamental material for "Fashion for Profit" has evolved over the many years that I have been involved with the fashion industry, both in the U.S. and in Europe, where I received my degree, began my design career and to teach. Incorporating my experience as a teacher, and from having twice owned and operated my own business has provided me with much information and experience.

"Fashion for Profit" has been developed so that it would cover all the important aspects of going into business; licenses, business plans, bookkeeping, financing, costing, fabrication, contracting and the every day logistics of running a small apparel manufacturing company, plus the marketing (including E-commerce) and sales. (The design information in this book is minimal, as there are plenty of other books and courses offered which will cover this information).

There have been many textbooks written about the fashion industry, but "Fashion for Profit" is a unique book, which fills an educational and information gap which has been unavailable until now. The book will provide critical help to a start-up apparel manufacturer, and resource information needed to operate a small business successfully. In the book the reader will find that it has been planned in four main sections of information to enable the users to get immediate help on topics of importance to them. Starting with Product Development, Financing your business, which then leads the reader to the production section and the many stages there in. The final part is devoted to sales and marketing of the product, including Mail Order, E-Commerce and E-Tailing.

In the day to day operations of running any business there are always forms and basic application forms necessary; from licenses, specification sheets, pattern cards, purchase order forms, shipping forms etc. Use the blanks provided with the purchase of this book. In order to use these forms all the manufacturer has to do, is to have their own business head printed on the top then they will be ready for your immediate use. This will save immeasurable time and energy in finding these "must have" forms and applications.

I am not an accountant, a banker, or a sales representative; I am a trained designer, and educator. Most of the information in this book has been put together with the help and advice of many experts, much reading, my own expertise and experiences. To give the book more validity I asked a number of professionals from their own field of expertise to review and up-date the material covered in certain key chapters. This gives the book a solid basis of "real" material and expertise. I however, would still recommend that a start-up company should find the best experts that are available to them in their own area who will help steer and guide them through the rough waters of this industry, it is not easy sailing and never boring! Toward the back of the book there is a list of industry recourses, which can assist entrepreneurs with more detailed information. There is also a glossary of fabric information included and a vocabulary list to educate the reader with necessary industry related terminology.

"Fashion for Profit" has led me to a number of new venture and a partner: "The Fashion Business Incorporated", (LA) which was conceived by Sandy Bleifer (my partner), an artist and Realtor. Sandy had a vision of helping apparel entrepreneurs find a joint space to co-op, to share some of the major steps involved with manufacturing; receiving, cutting, sewing and shipping etc. Determined to facilitate the success of these businesses rather than simply lease space, Sandy formed focus groups comprised of struggling apparel manufactures and representatives of the major fashion schools and programs throughout the city. It was already apparent to me that the link most needed by emerging designer-driven manufacturers, was business education and training, or (fashion economics), plus networking opportunities, resource information, sales and marketing, plus ways of promoting their business.

The FBI has its home office at the New Mart in the heart of the fashion district in down town Los Angeles. We were fortunate to meet Joyce Eisenberg, president of the Ben and Joyce Eisenberg Foundation, who realized the potential of the Fashion Business Incorporated. She generously offered us office space, and showroom facilities for markets at the New Mart plus the use of their fashion theater and other communal areas as a donation to the FBI. We have recently been awarded a city block grant and matching funds from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and will be building a new 5,000 square foot training facility in the New Mart. The new facility will house a product development lab, computer labs, photographic lab and lecture class rooms.

Some of our FBI members will eventually make it into the big time, and with the FBI behind them they will have much more of a chance to survive and succeeded on many levels. Some may choose to remain on a more secure level and keep their sales small and manageable. But whichever type or size of business these entrepreneurs decide on, having the Fashion Business Incorporated will benefit the industry, the local economy and the community as a whole.

It seemed to me there is a need for programs such as the Fashion Business Incorporated throughout the States and globally. Offering our programs on-line along with this book "Fashion for Profit", and as a Business to Business, E-Commerce site selling directly to smaller retailers would enable us to further assist emerging designers. Not only locally, but also worldwide, which would in turn pump new blood back into a struggling industry. Selling to the Mom and Pop stores would help to circumvent the larger retailer who can mean sudden death to the start-up manufacturer, with the charge backs, discounts and returns. For those start-up manufacturers that wish to sell directly to their customers and who wish to totally circumvent the retailer there will be an on-line sales site available for this type of direct selling. This is my plan for the near future!

I am convinced and committed to what we have started here in LA. I know we will continue to grow and eventually prosper. I believe we have a collective responsibility to create the infrastructure, community, educational resources, and the opportunities that will enable the next generation of new entrepreneurs to spring up and blossom right here on the west coast of America, or where ever they happen to be on this earth.
Frances Harder 2002