Fashion Designer and Creative Consultant Lottie Woods joins Nicole on this week’s Start Scale Succeed to discuss what to ask a designer when deciding which designer to work with. What a designer will need from you.  Find out about the most common mistakes people make when starting out. How to be sustainable in your design process and thinking about sustainability throughout the whole process and at the end of a garment's life. 

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When you’re thinking of starting a clothing brand, you should have your brand vision ready before speaking to a designer. If you can bring inspiration images, some sketches, and an idea on the size of lines and shapes, you will have a headstart on the design process. 
• Keep in mind that different designers have different specialities, for example someone who already has experience designing swimwear will be a better fit if that’s your brand. 
• Always bring any ideas back to the original vision. A good designer will keep working with you to do that to keep it on brand. 
• One of the biggest mistakes you can make is working without a tech pack. It is an initial investment but if you cut corners early on then it can lead to problems later on in the design process. 
• Another mistake people make is not to plan in advance as much as possible. People can rush into things to hit a certain season, rather than waiting a year and really putting the time into the design and planning phase. 
• Sustainability should be built into the design of the clothing. A good quality product will be kept for longer and is more likely to be handed down or donated to charity shops. 

 

BEST MOMENTS

‘It’s important to know that you can get along with your designer’ 

‘You’d be amazed how the most simple sketch can be helpful’

‘The most sustainable product is a well designed quality product’ 

 

VALUABLE RESOURCES 

www.thebuyerandretailcoach.com
www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach
www.lottiewoodsdesign.com

 

ABOUT THE HOST

Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, 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. 

Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM) 

Join the Start Scale Succeed waitlist. How to start & scale a product business. A 12 Week programme:  thebuyerandretailcoach.com/startscalesucceedwaitlist

 

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