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Written by : Cora Klase |
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Thanks for this great article
Thanks for your comment Magan Mackowski, have a nice day.
- Cora Klase, Staff Member
this episode of the casual is brought to you in part by Squarespace from websites and online stores to all the marketing tools and analytics Squarespace delivers it in an all-around package so you can build an easy streamlined and beautiful online presence what's up everybody and welcome to unscripted now I have a confession to make the casual has always been about the business of fashion giving you insight into brands their history and case studies with the dash of Japanese culture and style because why not we're here in Tokyo but the bread and butter of what we do is always about understanding the fashion industry with that said today we're gonna talk about starting a clothing line in 2020 but it's probably not what you expect and it's probably good for anybody looking to do something in the next few years let that said I'm your boy Reggie casual let's get it now before we get into the nitty-gritty it's important to remember that starting a brand requires a lot of planning and if you're looking for one one video to tell you all the nuts and bolts of starting one you got another thing coming because it's because it's hard and most of what's out there especially on YouTube is more inspirational than technical usually to the effect of look what I did so you can do it too and I'm not gonna give you that there's a multitude of ways to start a brand but the secrets are in what it's not said because the reality is starting a brand in 2020 is really no different than starting a brand at any other time funny that the only real difference is the year and access to more tools even more tools we are truly an integrated world for that reason alone there's never been a better time in history to start a clothing brand or any business for that matter however it is quite saturated every tutorial out there will tell you plan out the brand make a logo find a manufacturer get an e-commerce site take some product photos or have somebody do it for you reach out to some influencers maybe even use some promotional ads on some social networks make some sales rinse wash repeat some will even suggest using a print on demand service like printful to start for cheap and yes I recognize I skipped a few parts but that's essentially the nuts and bolts of starting but for anybody who's ever tried this they know yeah that ain't all it chief because making a brand isn't necessarily hard but making a successful brand is so let's take a detour of the just making and talk about something that is often omitted from the other tutorials out there because largely they they do they do it but they just didn't know it's called personal branding one of the most useful tools of starting a business in today's world we'll start with a question what do you do like what do you do out there sitting there like what's your talent what is something you can showcase are you an artist a photographer are you funny are you motivational can you make a dress from scratch or a blazer can you style others are you good at setting up parties and events are you a DJ what are you and what do you do now why why why do I ask this because whatever you are maybe the key to getting noticed because that is your personal brand and if you can garner enough support with your personal brand when you start a physical brand you'll be in a way better position because you'll be able to talk about it from the standpoint of you think of all the individuals out there who are big in fashion a great many of them started and created a personal brand before ever starting a physical one Virgil was known for a curating style and design before he met and worked for Kanye for 10 years before he started anything Jerry Lorenzo was known for a club promotion for ROH music of course you know she Fujiwara was known for his knowledge of Western pop culture Nikko the same Verdi made flyers for punk concerts religiously before becoming the biggest street wear designer in Japan the point all these individuals built personal profiles well before starting labels aka they put in work on themselves so what can we learn from this small sample size well it means that what you do is far more powerful in attracting followers than selling them something this is the core of personal branding selling your talent now before we continue established brands don't necessarily have to do this they use celebrities for outreach because they have the money and you could too but have to be on a lower level but essentially you can still use the same tactics by becoming sort of a pseudo celebrity or self take for instance Magnus Ronnie running I forgot how to say his name he's my man's no you probably have seen him he's successful brand because he built a personal brand talking about his full raisin fashion via YouTube can eg my guy who I've spoken to like once but he also used YouTube to talk about his escapades in Japan and linked that to a high street brand that sells out every time he releases and he only releases a few pieces at a time and I don't have to mention the hundreds of artists on Instagram that for years make artwork accumulate an audience and then drop merch featuring that artwork now some of these people didn't even have a plan to start a brand or at the very least a merch line but decided what the hell and started an additional stream of revenue and voila from personal brand to bonafide business now you may be saying right about now well Reggie I don't want to do a YouTube channel or an Instagram or be it influencer or whatever I want to start a brand and I am asking you to do just that start the brand of you your photography your artwork your story your expertise whatever if you can't start a brand about you which should be infinitely easier and much cheaper how do the hell do you expect to start a brand when money is on the table with personal branding not only are you creating dedicated believers in what you do you're also learning valuable tactics that you'll be able to apply to your eventual physical brand and if you are a fashion designer let people in on the process show them sketches how something is made engage with people you have the power to do this tell them a story you have to be willing to become sort of an influencer in your own niche but also have a purpose the purpose of not simply being an influencer but with the intent of starting a label plan everything ahead and strike while the iron is hot take for instance young and famed designer Jacques musts who created his namesake label by first creating his designs having his friends wear them and showcasing them at Vogue fashion night out in Paris he had no buyers no interest he was just bold enough to showcase the work he was doing little under a year later his brand is started fast forward a few years and he's one of the most celebrated designers on the runway now we're not all JAC muss but he did something most don't do he was bold enough to not only create but to showcase and engage because he was proud of his ability and that's what he wanted to do because starting any business involves marketing but more importantly engaging and what better way than to use yourself
Thanks Pemanowlelonse your participation is very much appreciated
- Cora Klase
About the author
I've studied social theory at University of Maine at Machias in Machias and I am an expert in american history. I usually feel bittersweet. My previous job was air crew member I held this position for 21 years, I love talking about shuffleboard and drawing. Huge fan of Leo Buscaglia I practice luge and collect first editions.
Try Not to laugh !
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