DON'T Start a Fashion Brand (Until You're 40)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- Today, we’re talking about what it would actually take to start a business - a fashion/clothing brand in particular. The allure of this business and industry comes from the success of many high fashion and famous brands. Starting a business, particularly one in the clothing industry, is not easy. And if you want to be the fashion designer of the brand, actual fashion design will be the last thing on your list - marketing, management, leading a team, wholesaling.
This information applies to clothing brands, clothing lines, fashion brands, fashion lines, t-shirt companies, streetwear brands, streetwear lines, designer fashion brands, luxury fashion brands, print on demand (POD), dropshipping and beyond.
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Join the Patreon or I’ll mess your hair up 😀
I was about to join but this offer is too intriguing!
Done! 😉
I like it messed up!
it's already messed up by the climate😂
Joke's on you, it's already messed up
This video is so necessary. I’ve read so many articles of designers that have their clothes on celebrities and everything looks good but they’re about to declare for bankruptcy. So much goes into having a successful brand I’d seriously suggest learning your craft under a brand and observing all the things happening within said brand (logistics, licensing, collabs, marketing, cash-flow, tax & accounting, HR, PR, Design, Quality Control etc)
If you’re a designer I’d suggest reading Brendahashtag’s interview with Peter Do on 032C
So happy to see you talking about this too I know its a little bit of a talked about topic at this point but would love to see a video from you about economics as well
Brenda, Ayo and Bliss in one comment... my fashion holy trinity
Link to the interview pls?
Seriously!! I knew from the get go when started in fashion that building a brand is more of a high rush/low reward business if not strategized and studied properly.
Everything Bliss said before this timestamp 3:07 facts!
I absolutely agree! It seems very scary for me, the thought of starting a brand, even if it is online-only at first, all the risks and expenses, so my first thought was well maybe I should finish my apprenticeship and look to work for a few brands first before going and creating my own brand, just to get into the business first. No need to rush anything. The greats have all started doing crazy past their 30s after all
I feel like ageism make us feel like we have to do everything while we are young, this video made me realize that even if I wanted to do everything, I would probably can’t and that’s fine, I have all my life to do the things that I want as a fashion designer
Beautiful way to put it🤙🏽
A tip I like to tell myself is “age is a concept when it comes to fashion” a lot of big designers didn’t catch a break until they were atleast 5 years in the game. Telfar started the brand in 2005 , didn’t go viral until 2020. That’s 15 years of designing and building. He didn’t drop his famous shopping bag until 2014. That’s 6 years until people took notice of his bag. And no one is telling him he’s “too old” for this shit, he’s 38 and thriving baby, don’t let age stop you, let age fuel you.
I can't be stopped by age or anything
@@purplealien640bellissimo
We need more videos like this. Not “5 EASY WAYS TO START A STREATWEAR BRAND”. We need the truth abt starting a fashion brand, how not to get scammed by the fashion industry, the real things people need not to discourage them, but to prepare them
**Heres a comment that was sent to me anonymously by a designer who shows in a major fashion week**
“One thing which is not so obvious or talked about is the fact that as you are transitioning from a small brand to a medium brand the expectations for your brand becomes increasingly unrealistic. You are expected to deliver Prada level of customer service, quality, packaging, shows, experiences and keep your prices at the same level.
Also the insight about Simon at Jacquemus could not be more true.
Your job is essentially managing people and building business. Very little time
For actual creative work.
especially if you are not in a place yet to trust a random CEO to take over. Usually these come from inside the company and have been at the company long enough to understand all the details.”
Dope
I'm much more open minded about fashion and much happier with my own wardrobe today at 40 than I was in my 20s.
Honestly not everyone is like that though, I am turning 25 in December and I am pretty confident in my taste, it’s pretty specific and it has been like that for the last 2 years, I mean sure it has been influenced by trends here and there but the core is still the same
@@odinxrk1424valid!! I’ve had basically the same fashion taste now at 29 that I did when I was 25, but now I have years of collecting things to back it up 😎😎😎
No matter when someone finds confidence in fashion it’s a good thing!!!
I’ve know I wanted to be a designer since I was about 12. I applied to fashion school and got rejected so I made the radical move to go to NYC and I’ve been in the city for 6 months, my skills with fashion illustration got me an internship with a brand. and I spend most days after I leave my 8 hour shift sketching and designing and trying to learn as much as I can.( I used to copy pages from fashion text books by hand back home in California) I said all that to say, as hard as this experience has been I made the decision that I would make a living not just as a designer but as an artist. Fashion is my medium. Success for me is being able to pay my bills and meet my basic needs doing what I’m passionate about. And I’m crazy enough to believe that I got a shot. Bliss you gave me a hard pill to swallow and I needed to hear it but I gotta soldier on because I don’t have a plan B. Wish me luck ✨
Good luck 💫💫
Very empowering! Especially, when you HAVE to do this in a dire situation of your shot. YOU will make it
PR is the biggest parasite in the industry, wrung me out and drained my putative spring well .
Good luck!!
Thanks for the info
For a German girl it’s insane how much studying costs in other countries. I wish that one day education will be free for everyone in this world!!! Thank you bliss for being part in free education on this TH-cam channel. It’s my FAVORITE!!
Tbh its not THAT much better here, you still pay around 600-900€ per month for 4 years so it is still very much gatekept for people that have money to spend from the get-go
@@odinxrk1424€3600 vs £27,000 hmm
@@odinxrk1424 Where is "here" in that context?
@@annakilifa331 Germany
@@odinxrk1424 Public universities in Germany are legally not allowed to charge more than 500€ per Semester, most charge less. Of course students will still have to pay to live and with rent and food costs and all that the amount you named isn't unrealistic, but it isn't the anount you pay to the university and if your parents live close enough to a university and let you keep living with them, the cost can go down a lot. I feel like saying "it still costs this much" is misrepresenting that a bit. Not completely entirely untrue, but not exactly correct either. Also, naming 4 years as a length for a degree does seem unusual. There are some degrees that are supposed to take 4 years, but not that many.
And while bafög isn't ideal and should be higher and all that, it still exists. You *can* go to university without already having money to spend on it, though it certainly isn't ideal and and I'm not going to pretend that money can't be an issue there I still think you aren't being perfectly honest here. Of course not having money is a hurdle on the way to a degree, but it's not quite as big of one as you comment seems to suggest to me.
*sent by an LVMH Prize nominee*
“I’ve seen a lot of friends get scammed but I think there are definitely a few things you can do or questions you can ask yourself to bootstrap your business independently. For reference I did the first sampling run for my brand with 5000 bucks I made from flipping Yeezys.
The first thing would be to understand whether you have a market for your vision. Part of the design equation unfortunately involves how it relates to others especially if you’re bootstrapping it. You need to sell to survive.
Second thing would be to live below your means. That may mean moving back home (admittedly easier in your early 20s) or moving to an unfashionable city with a lower cost of living. Doesn’t have to be forever but really helps if you can keep your overheads low
To an extent your vision has to have some thoughtfulness when you launch but the idea of perfection shouldn’t stop productivity. People want to see your evolution irrespective of whether your marketing is personality driven. The process of seeing your growth is integral to the story of your brand.”
I've owned two popular labels, one I sold when I was 25 and one when I was 32. I'm now on my third at 40 and it's definately more successful and both of the previous businesses have closed or merged. I feel so much more confident in myself and I don't care about being popular, I just wanna do my thing now. I only paid off my Student Debt when I was 30, but I worked really hard to pay that off.
I completely agree with not being able to run a business and be a designer. This time I have a really good team and we're all really dedicated.
Bliss I love your videos. I've been doing this for 20 years and you're honestly the best TH-camr I've ever seen. You know your shit and your honest.
Edit- I need to add, I feel like you need to go work in other businesses before you can really understand what you're doing. I've worked at some good places and some terrible places, but I've learned so much from each brand I've worked for.
could I ask what your previous brands were?
will you be my mentor :)
It's crazy how much of this applies so much to artists in general. I tell photographers not to buy all these crazy expensive gear before you figured how how to really use a camera and established your style.
You're better off taking that money and building connections traveling and attending fashion week so that those relationships will help you later on in life!
I can say with confidence that I cannot differentiate a well lit photograph taken on an iPhone versus a well lit photograph taken on a $20,000 DSLR. You’re 100% correct.
I literally cried from the reality check because my biggest mistake was announcing to my friends and family how I would create a swimwear brand in the near future, years later people are asking “so what happened to your little business”. With the anxiety of fear of not keeping my word, I’ve forced myself to try to make it happen, knowing my pockets are empty and this idea is just unrealistic. I’m in my 30’s and dropped of out school to pursue creating a fashion brand without having to get a degree, it was more of a challenge for me. Wasted years pass by of trying to perfect my craft and I still haven’t raised money for my brand. I decided to go back to school and the same ones that doubted me are saying how did I waste 10 years of my life. People will always knock your confidence when they know you have potential. I am okay with being successful in my 40’s… Vera Wang did it.
Lets work
Why swimwear?
You got it! Don’t give up. Who cares what people think. Just know when you make it, they get no special discounts! My sister is currently doing this to me, but I know I will make it, so no free samples for her 😂
@@kenthegreatest thank you!! Amen to that! Then everybody would want to come around when you’re up! Believing in yourself is the mindset we all need! Good luck on your journey! Don’t let anyone stop you! 🙏🏻🫶🏻✨
@@leamubiu I chose swimwear because I love the beach life. My parents are Caribbean so I’ve always dreamed of living a coastal lifestyle and moving and retiring in Dominican Republic
Something to always remember is that fashion is a creative artform, which seems obvious, but the ramifications are not always obvious to everyone. In any creative artform there are very few people who are good initially. It takes years on years to be proficient, and it takes even more time to actually develop something that is your own, if that even happens at all. I've made music for over a decade now, and the first 3 years was just playing simple guitar chords and singing songs written by other people. I was absolutely awful at what I did for years, and honestly I didn't even know how bad I was until much later when I actually got decent.
Before actually putting your shit out there, you've gotta get past many different phases of creation, all of which cannot be defined or described because they'll be specific to the individual, until you are genuinely good at what you do, because people only really want to spend money on shit that's worth money. I am a firm believer that creativity should remain a hobby until it doesn't have to be, but it has to be for a very long time.
Point Number 5 is so important...
I mean, even Margiela towards the end of his career shifted his aesthetic a little bit. His work for HERMES allowed him to tap into a different side of his aesthetic.
When we think about young designers who succeeded, they were still allowed to make mistakes. YSL 's aesthetic actually started to make sense by the time he was 40. Azzedine Alaia started his own brand after 40. Everything was there...If you look at his body of work, you can almost have the feeling that he is doing endlessly the same collection but he was so sure of his aesthetic that technical evolutions allowed him to reach a new level of sophistication everytime.
If you are in your 20's, go work for somebody else where you will be able to shape your eye and your technique. Jacquemus is successful but he lacks in techniques. Olivier Rousteing who is his contemporary (5 years difference) is extremely skilled for example, having spent his teenage years to his mid 20's behind the scenes working on his eye and technique.
yesss super true
Im only 25 and my busniess is VERY small and we hardly sell anything online. But being able to write off the expenses of making my art is litterally what makes it possible. I think you are 100% right that many designers don't focus on their hard skills, but if you are working on hard skills and making progressively improving work i think a business can help build your career: I know that a major reason i have the job i have now (academic librarian) is bc of my time managing the business. I don't know how my story will end: but the current plan is to keep training in front of a small audience until i have the substance, skills and connections to be gainfully employed only making clothes.
I hadn’t thought of this. Solid advice.
hello fellow academic librarian - I have found it to be a good job to have stability (and resources) while working toward other dreams
I love that Bliss is EXTREMELY passionate about encouraging artists to just create.
Thank you Bliss for this Video. We all have received those NYFW emails promising to take all our money for give us nothing. So, Thank you for calling them out. On a personal note, I started my Fashion House (Development) 8 years ago in my garage in California with the mental acceptance that it will slowly grow and change. I also accepted that I would loose all my money doing this, but i loved making clothing so much that I was willing to wait and take the L. I am 36 now, I just moved to New York and i'm still growing as a designer. The Greed, lies, theft, sorrows and transformation will never stop showing up in this business, and its not for the faint of heart. But If you love it, and you know from your vision, dreams, deep down in your soul that making beautiful clothing is what you are meant to do, nothing thrown at you will stop you. Not event time. But take it (time), its worth the wait. 40 is still young. Great Video Bliss.
College almost broke me financially and working in fashion definitely broke me mentally, if I had to make a career choice today I would not choose fashion. I wish I could be a designer without the "fame" part, but unfortunately in fashion this two are intertwined, I know I don't have the patience or mental health to deal with online people.
What particular instance made you feel this way
@@tengoodquestions Honestly? having to look the other way to all the abuse/racism/misogynythat's all around all the time, it's draining and it made me question myself and my morals so many times, I worked for a "designer" in my last job that was the most horrible person I've ever met, I've witnessed so many coments that made my blood boil until I could not handle anymore, I used to cry before work and after religiously, I started having panic attacks everytime I got an email, so one day I just walked away and never came back (and I got payed about 600,00 Reais, in Dollars is about 250,00 a month working almost 10 hours daily)
The point where he talks about wanting fame through fashion kinda hits deep. I don't want to be a fashion designer, but I want to be apart of the fashion industry, and apart of it is because of the exclusivity of the industry. So right now, it's just me trying align myself to what my goals are and where I want to go. Don't get me wrong, I still love fashion for fashion, arts and etc. but this video is a much needed pill to swallow.
It’s really awesome that you’re willing to share this with everybody, thank you. Wanting to be cool and famous isn’t something you should be embarrassed about, but realizing that can help you understand that fashion may not be what you are truly passionate about.
When you find the thing that you *are* truly passionate about, you’ll be so happy that you didn’t waste your time doing something for the wrong reasons.
One recent bliss foster q&a video has a question where he goes on to explain that there's lots of different jobs in the fashion industry BESIDES model, photographer and of course, designer.
Its a rich persons game and you will never be invited a seat at the table unless you have money or social capital
@@balaclava__musicmay I know which title? I'd like to watch them
@@kath6556 "Why is Fashion so Repetitive"
im 19 and wanting to be a fashion designer, but because of alot of designers not starting their company till 40 actually gives me hope that i can, because if every designer was starting at 23 i know i couldnt do it, because i cant financially be ready at 23 to start a brand, im going to just make clothes for me and friends for awhile, hopefully try to get on at a company and maybe one day be able to start my brand.
this doesn't mean you cant make it. you can still make it, don't miss the point. there is always room at the top
@@buyiphilip oh no i know i can make it, i just gotta be patient and fashion luckily is an industry where most designers start later on in their life on their own company
tbh bliss makes me feel so confident in my fashion journey being older and giving insight in an age where at 18 i’ve feel crazy not having it made
Wow. Watching this made me realize that 90% of the fashion design work that I have made in my life never made it out of my studio, onto the internet or to be consumed by anyone else’s eyes. I always thought of this as problematic and have recently been feeling very pressured to share the work and honestly this video kind of took away some of that angst. I feel like on the same topic through a different lense, we as creators are often pressured by the norms of the global creative community currently, to post post make content share (or your not relevant). And this perspective you’re giving here really solidifies that it’s okay to be a creative, making work regularly and to not be plastering it all over the internet. In such a superficial era of creativity, it is still okay to make for the sake of making, and not for the sake of being part of the creative rat race, for validation, or even for pure intentions behind sharing one’s world they’re building. I think anyone hearing this that does make for the sake of making, would be comforted by these words Bliss is sharing. Because if you make because you love the process, and the vision, and the experience of producing creative work in this life, you’re in the best possible spot to be in, in the industry of the arts. WOOO
Starting a fashion brand is often only worth it for people who are obsessed with status and glamour. Most people are spending money to be a part of the industry and to experience some kind of social high.... Its intense.
But the artists and designers - most of us just want to create. Its a difficult dichotomy to overcome when all you want to do is make things and explore ideas.
I have the best job right now where i get to design cool things and run public programming but it took me like 13 years, a lot of work and school and experience in the fashion industry to get here and it doesn't pay all that much. I would still rather do this job forever than have to run an entire fashion company (or do almost anything else). I've seen it and its hell. Expensive hell.
And yes, i would and did do this for free with no instagram for myself for years. :)
I feel really stressed because the kind of things I need to xplore, people can´t understand it. I create things that costs 10 years to become mainstream. this is very exhausting.
What do you do for work exactly if you don’t mind?
@@wooopwopwopwwooo609 I´ve worked in every creative areas do you khow and sadly is the same everywhere; but mostly fashion and clothes for arts.
As a fashion designer it’s true how much this could hurt your pockets. I chose not to go fashion school or college specifically for that reason. And after working on clothes for a few years it has forced me to start living in a vehicle. I got a van to live in and will continue making clothes in it regardless. It’s been challenging and I’ve had to accept that it’s about getting other people dressed with purpose rather than my ego. just being able to have enough money to eat, be sheltered at the end of the day and have loving friends is all I need.
Best of luck, homie. I’ve been there 💫💫
Also, someone like Martin Margiela didn't start their own line without getting experience working at top fashion houses. Even super talented fashion designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, both worked for high end couture houses, and RTW before they started their own lines.
See all you're doing here is encouraging me tbh. While I don't know that making the pieces I want just for me would be enough, it isn't for the attention. It isn't for clout. It's because the stories I hope to tell are too compelling to keep to myself. I HAVE to share them, because not doing so is a disservice to the art, rather than an effort to further my own ego.
If you aren’t very rich from a rich family or very well connected to people who can give you tons of cash DO NOT EVEN TRY.
TRY FOR THAT REASON 🎉
I love the hypothetical "what if you could only make clothes for yourself?" This is how I started. I don't plan to ever start a fashion brand. My sewing room is the art studio that allows me to indulge my creativity. I do earn money from commissions, but at the end of the day, I want to make wearable art that reflects my taste.
Bro I needed this so much. This video definitely came from God. Everyone in my family is saying to start a brand now, but I honestly don’t think I’m ready for all that. I’ve been agonizing about wanting to start one and for it to be successful and it’s been tormenting me. But now this vid came at the right time now I know I don’t have to, BUT I do want to make clothes. I want that studio and I wanna design and just make clothes for myself and learn. Not be hasty to make profit right now. Thank you so much man. Really opened my eyes to a new perspective.
Not in the fashion industry at all but I thought this was soooo interesting and informative!! To everyone who aspires to create their own fashion brand, be careful and good luck!
This video is perfect timing! I’m supposed to leave for fashion school in NYC on Sunday and honestly I don’t think now is a good time for me. Thanks Bliss💗
Ive watched this like 3 times!!! How does Bliss keep on getting better?! Like just talking about the structure of the videos the flow and Bliss just speaking more clearly and comfortably it keeps on improving!!! ❤️
I go to an art college and from day one i could see the type of designers that just want attention and followers. Fashion design isnt my major but being interested in fashion it kinda angers me that these people lack the type of passion thats needed to stand out. Amazing video love everything you said.
My pattern drafting professor alluded to having started a brand once upon a time. He knew fabrics inside out, engineering tricks that weren't even on the textbooks, and could cut with the grace, precision and speed of a machine.
I don't think he runs a brand anymore.
This was a great video. After watching your content. I've had the realization that it really takes a tremendous amount of work to be a great designer... thanks for keepin it real with us, Bliss.
That last part about the Fashion Week scam is truly the worst. It takes advantage of the designers and the models under the guise of being at Fashion Week. Smh
A lot of these can be applied to different artistic mediums , thank you Bliss.
Love this and your direct way of telling the truth. Your stuff is sooo freaking valuable and it’s insane that it’s accessible to anyone just like that. Thank you for sharing!
The best route for young designers who cannot afford fashion school and cannot afford starting a company is to go the social media route and build a following making handmade 1of1s, screen prints, and low moq work with manufacturers if you have some money to spend. These "underground fashion" brands that are usually ran by one young person or a collective of young people is how you build experience and form connections before starting an actual label that sells to stockists and holds shows. You don't need to start your Louis Vuitton at the age of 25. Fashion isn't music or Hollywood and models are not designers. If you make it in fashion as a designer at 30 you have won the lottery. The best comparison I could make career-wise for fashion design is filmmaking. Directors often are stuck shooting short films without making any money until they're in their 40s. It's a long game.
Love this, I have been advising young British designers, and I always try and encourage them to work for another brand first. Build your network, get to know manufacturers, agents, etc. Learn the business and find out what elements of the businesses you are actually good at. Such as marketing, finance or operations. Find out what skills you will need to attract when you do eventually start your brand so that you can divide and conquer.
There is nothing is less than inspiring than someone who wants to slap a logo on a tracksuit and call themselves a designer. There are too many of those sort of brands coming up in the UK.
So, find out what you can add to the fashion conversation in a sustainable brands. The late Vivienne Westwood took 20 years to make any money. McQueen was still getting employment benefits at the start of his brand and got very lucky with some of his friends being extremely well connected. Tory Burch had a millionaire husband. Stella McCarthy a millionaire dad. Take your time and learn what you can with another brand first:).
I love that there is no intro and you just get right into it. swag
Thank you for this video! One thing I would like to add is that this is very much focused on the kind of fashion we would associate with "haute-couture". Within this context I 100% agree with you. However, I would argue that if one wanted to start a brand that does't aspire to go to Paris fashion week, for example because the idea is to sell basic hoodies with custom embroidery, the argument becomes a little different.
Anyways though, really appreciated this video! Much love ❤
THE WAY I GOT SO EXCITED ABOUT THE HYPOTHETICAL STUDIO OMG.
I would actually do anything to have that thats is like my dream 😭
Bliss you're the goat for keeping it real and educating us from relevant experience
Thank you so much for this. Listening to this makes me feel validated and on the right track. It’s so hard, but all what I do for my brand is the most passionate I’ve ever been.
THANK YOU 🙌🏻
I’m so glad you got some thing from it! 💫💫
Love you and love this video. I’m not even in fashion but I started following you and joined your Patreon. What you say about giving someone the studio and the tools and materials but they can’t show anyone and just have to go after work for years to do it for themselves is essentially how I started my company. And yes I did not have a social life for 4 years that I worked 7 days a week. My advice, find any way possible to work part time and support yourself so you can have real weekdays to get your work done. It’s the only way it’s possible, you cannot do it while you have a full time job. You are a human and need nights to recuperate and rest.
This video was so insightful and surprisingly really motivating to me to keep on making clothes for the love of it. Thanks for all your work gathering and sharing this valuable insight Bliss!
Thank you for keeping it real with us about the fashion industry😊
Thank you Bliss for being so completely real about this 🙏
Great insightful video. Really like your transparency and knowledge you provide to your content.
Can we talk about BLISS' PERFECT HAAAAAIR?!?!
Love watching your videos, huge respect from a New Zealand viewer/designer.
Amazing video. Definitely a different perspective then what’s normally talked about. A lot of food for thought. Thank you.
I have no desire to create my own fashion brand, but I love making my own clothes. When you said if you have every resource, would you be able to go make clothes after work 4 nights a week but without posting pictures or selling; I was gagged bc that’s literally been my schedule the past month or so LOL
Down to earth, raw and authentic! Love this! ❤
Thank YOU, homie 💫💫
Thank you so much for this video. I don't have anyone in my life who knows these things. And as much as your warnings may scare some people they mostly give me a lot of hope, made me feel uniquely equipped for this calling.
After watching the video, I guess the question of if it's enough if the clothes are only made for you is a really important one. For the last 2 years i've only sat i my atelier after school and basically worked my ass of everyday as well as on weekends to make stuff happen and learn how to make certain things, nearly no posting on the gram. It's basically what you describe, making it for you and only share it with you and maybe some friends. But at the same time it would be great to just post it, to get certain attention and have content so people are actually aware of you which it really do needs to make it a proper business at the end. But i guess we also need to point out that a business takes more than just a designer who is really ambitioned about designing, it can often end up in people who are getting lost in designing and not properly taking care of the business( focussing to much on the product than the way of communicating it). I guess thats also a BIG part of why young designers need to declare bankruptcy, and businesses are failing. Great video :)
I can definitely see why designers step down. I'm a quilter and have spoken with shop owners. One thing that has been said across the board is that they have little time to actually quilt. The bulk of their time is spent running the shop.
Great video, Bliss. I'm also sorry to hear about the scam that happened to your friend.
I wrote such comment before but I just love how it also translates to other art forms, great video by the way.
Thanks Bliss for this video! I feel like the possibilities with opening a brand now are more than ever. But that it in most cases feels like the designer more wants fame and to blow up their streetwear brand on TikTok. People like you are needed, to retain the true meaning of fashion and to remind people who truly likes the idea of designing and the value of FASHION. Thanks again!!!
Fashion designer here, for jcrew atm. I’m confident in that I disagree on the “sewing only for yourself, no pictures, no business part”. As accomplishing and cathartic as art can be, I don’t think it has even half the value it would have if it’s not shared. Imagine if we never saw a Mark Rothko painting, or the Eiffel Tower, or a Nike shoe. Art is made to affect other people, make them thing, challenge, etc. Also very literally, clothing that is not being worn and then not even seen by others like in a museum or a theatre play, is nearly useless. There I think you get into the territory of people who say “wear your shoes” or look down on those who lock away fine cars behind red rope in museums and hardly even clock 1,000 miles on the speedometer. Aside from fashion design I paint and I’d like to take my stuff seriously but as for now it’s merely a hobby. Some paintings I really like and get extremely excited about, but the fact that at the moment they’ll hardly be seen by anyone because I am not exhibiting anywhere and have no notoriety sort of renders them redundant. It’s like if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to witness it… Hot take maybe, but I get your point 1000%, there are way too many people these days wanting to do things just for the glamour or what it will earn them in terms of status but have no passion and when questioned clearly have less knowledge than one would expect. But I wonder if I’d almost call an artist mad for just making stuff hidden from the world and be content with that. Many artists have taken their lives due to never breaking through and getting their vision through to people. This is so long I’m sorry haha.
My ideal 10 year plan so far is to finish my tailor’s apprenticeship in the next two years, work for other brands, perhaps smaller ones at first, learn everything I need to know and maybe start my brand somewhere around my 30‘s (I am turning 25 in December). I feel no need to rush what I want to do in the end because I feel like the road there should be enjoyable too and I definitely feel like I lack the experience to actually start a business. It is MUCH scarier for me to think about just diving head first into fashion after my apprenticeship and seeing what happens. But then again I am aware of the risks so I want to minimize them as much as possible first
I like how real you are about these things bc I always romanticize going into fashion and crafts but I have to snap myself out of it bc I know I would probably hate it
Thank you Bliss, Truly insightful and necessary video if you're a young designer
I don’t want to be a fashion designer, but this video was pretty comforting for someone who is 28 and still career/life confused. What are the things I want just because I want to look cool to other people, what are the things I continue to do even when no one is looking, and a big sigh of relief for not enrolling in professional school and accruing massive debt for a career I didn’t want.
When I was younger I was so headstrong, but now that I’m older I’m realizing how much of me was (and tbh still is) lava. And that’s okay.
The Elena Velez article was amazing, too.
omg the loneliness thing is so true of creative fields. its one of the reasons i started leaning towards fashion after considering the fine arts, its definitely more team based than like slaving over a painting for 100 hours
this is really good, lots of questions to think about before persuing fashion as a buisness
what you talked about in this video is so true, as a brand owner in its 2nd year presenting product out to the masses i have been only losing money, but as expected cause i already know its gonna be a few years till people actually recognize my brand as a potential buy for them… easier said than done tho you need incredible patient + hard work + financial stability before decide to start out a brand
A hard hitting video but very realistic and grounding. You need to be pretty resilient too and strong to criticism and failure. It was the emotional stability that ended my dreams and now I can’t work for mental health reasons. I pursue fashion and design for myself and that’s cool and enough. Great advice bliss - loved the issey top btw ❤
Very true, and insightful. I still have not reached where I want to be in days of solitude and long loooong nights take tolls. The dream has to be cemented💙
Such a powerful message. Appreciate your passion on this subject as well. I think this message could/should be applied to any creative endeavor. I’ve asked myself this question and there’s only one outlet that I’d do for zero fame, recognition or money. I couldn’t have answered this truthfully in my 20’s.
Wow!.. you sent chills down my spine with the whole idea of making stuff without taking photos... That's what I've done for 35+ years developing and manufacturing products for people from all walks of life and I too hear horror stories every week about scammers taking advantage of young people desperate to be a "Tiktok designer"
You are doing an amazing job sharing your fresh perspective with students and industry veterans alike 😎
I’m not even a fashion person, just watched this video because it sounds so interesting. Thank you for making the video!
This is breathtaking, I can relate to this but the most remarkable thing is the game has changed, it is best to develop and design for the community, not the society, or the masses.
This video is so real. maybe a chat for the discord but I can go on for days
I love sewing my own clothes, that scenario you mentioned sounds heavenly!!!
Man I ducking love ur videos these are so good omg thanks bliss
Every aspiring designer should see this!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH BILL👌❤️
I love watching these videos as a science student, fully not working in the fashion world, studying something completely different, just to learn about art and the people who make it. Super interesting video as always!
ima fashion designer as well and I love your insight on the industry and appreciate you for not sugarcoating anything. I host events as well so I definitely can't fully agree with EVERYTHING outside of official fashion week being a scam, but I would say that with any event that your investing time and money into ; the event team should have solid proof that they can provide what they promise, because my events aren't as big as mercedez benz YET, but their still hard AF and brings value to the designers, audience, event team and really everyone involved. N ima stop b.s. and join ya patreon, I fw you bliss please keep educating us. blessings
The reality of being a very outwardly ambitious young designer is that people around me probably expect me to start a brand a few years after uni, like people are anticipating that as a probable option for me and having to explain to them that i probably will be working for other companies at varying job descriptions until im atleast like 30 is rough 😭
The fear that comes with that is also rough because i know i have a sort of "ill do it myself" addiction that will make it so hard to not try and start something or atleast make it very frustrating to stay employed by other people ahh. Anyway great video as always, the reality check was needed so thanks 😭😭
Point 3 was a really weird wakeup call, but in the opposite way than I think was intended. I'm watching this at 2AM, alone in my basement, extremely frustrated over having to choose between a design that's in my head, and what's actually possible to embroider onto corsetry mesh. Even through this frustration, yes, I am happy here if I never even attempt to show at fashion week. I've wanted to be a designer for ages, but honestly, the thought of heading a fashion house really stresses me out. Maybe I'll just order label tags and call it a day 🙃
I enjoy being asked questions like the one with about having access to a studio… These are the questions that help me confirm I am on the right path. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful 💫💫
Damn, having a studio and just making amazing clothes sounds honestly amazing. (hehe giggles, I've been slowly building my sewing studio over the last years, so I have a near dream set up at home hehe) what Bugs me most about this industry is the social media/marketing/pr part. I want non of this. I wish I could just delete Instagram altogether and be done with Social media for good. But then I remember that I am studying fashion design and need it to reach out to brands and people for collabs and internships - and maybe even jobs. Not at that scary part yet thankfully. I often wonder whether fashion is a smart career choice. Thank you for posting this video. It did provide a lot of great insight I wasn't aware of and now I have quite a bit to think about. Keep up the great work
Hey algorithm, this channel is incredible!
I needed this video. Thank you.
Hi Bliss, I have my show at London fashion week this septemeber, would love you to come. as someone who is 33 years old I totally relate to this video.
But I think bringing up the fact that there are so many people in fashion in like marketing, PR, communications, etc who are just trying to scam small up and coming designers also drives home the fact that the fashion industry is still very much a business about selling product, making profits, and gaining numbers.
I think its great and really important that designers hone their craft and personal taste and vision but in the same vein I think it's also really important they wise up and realize that if you want to start a *business* you need to really do your research on what that entails and how the fashion industry as business operates so you don't fall prey to those scams. Make no mistake, these slimy characters aren't wolves in sheep clothing, they're often hiding in plain site.
If they want to start a business its more than getting a bunch of money, making a bunch of clothes, and showing at fashion week. It takes developing a highly strategic business model, forecasting the future, and then reassessing and calculating as time goes on.
Once it is about making a profit, gone are the days simply teetering away at your sewing machine in peace and solitude.
which to add I actually find kind of sad and heartbreaking! I'm absolutely not here to shit on designers be all gloom and doom. It's just unfortunate that in order for so many creative and innovative designers to bring their best work to the masses and to even afford to continue making that work at some point they have to come back to earth and think about the numbers and essentially "how can I sell more of these boring pants I hate so I can make more of the cool groundbreaking jackets that I love"
Bliss you truly are the best youtuber
Thank you for this, such a good video!
I’m 43… old enough to see trend cycles repeat themselves enough times to be jaded YET I’m still curiously creative! Rn I’m tailors apprentice after being a fit model for 10years and on my way to create some badass clothes!!!! Bliss what are your measurements, I got you!!!!
I love hearing stories like this! You have such a great perspective to considering your work as a fit model. Reach out to me on Instagram! We can’t accept any gifts, but I would love to see what kind of work you’re producing! 💫💫
the thing about taste evolving hit hard. I'm still a student and the work I've created over the last 3 years could not be more different in aesthetic.
I have a friend New York who had her own fashion line. She was featured in an article in the New York Times with Michael Kors in Marc Jacobs. She said it was the most stressful time of her whole life and she felt like she was becoming a monster. She’s a creative person and not a business person. She jokes that she still has PTSD from the experience. Thank you for a great talk and a strong dose of reality. It’s too bad that most people aren’t interested in the creative process.
thank you for this bliss
Im not a designer, I have no fashion education…. I have tried to teach myself to sewing and make patterns but instead I just spend money on collecting Fabric over the last 10 years. I gave up on trying to learn as I have no discipline. Last year my husband gave me an ultimatum that if I havnt done anything with the fabric by December, I need to donate it. The thought made me so so sad because it’s like giving up all my hopes and dreams and ideas. It’s tough because I work long hours and when I have free time I spend it with my little girl. So what I decided to do was get in touch with a pattern maker and a seamstress to make me ideas a reality…. I have only sold 4 items of clothing which was such a sense of achievement. It’s going really slow because the pattern maker and seamstress have their own stuff going on so I have to wait weeks to get my samples but … I am Atleast getting my ideas life and they are tangible things. I really wish I could get in touch with someone who I could partner with to do this venture together … but I know I will get there…. It’s slow but the dream is becoming a reality… I’m turning 40 next year , so this video gives me hope 😂
That scenario of yours sounds like absolute heaven - I spend all my time outside work and study sewing or making lace for my sewing projects (literally - I bring little projects whenever I spend time with my friends. They're fine with it). I really really don't want to run my own business, I don't want to be recognised on the street, and I don't have social media. I just want to make beautiful things for myself and my friends forever. And someone to pay me a million dollars to do that, of course!
Love this. Would you consider doing a part 2 with a deeper dive into this?I’ve been working on my brand for a little over 3 years and have first hand experience with these scams you mentioned. I’m dedicated to this and love this art form and have no plans on stopping, but i have so much to say about this topic, with a lot of details and stories. I’ll be back when I can type it on my laptop instead lol
I’m 32 by the way and have worked in the industry as a stylist in nyc luxury, formal wear tailor, and at a design house in London, all in the decade leading up to starting my business, which will be launching late 2023/early 2024
BLISS!! I love you! This video is everything I wanted to hear. I graduated from fashion school about 8 years ago, and chose to go and have a family instead. I'm 32 now, and I felt so old.. plus, I have little to no interest in the fame part. I just want to make pretty, whimsical clothes. That's all. It's a lot of work and pressure and sacrifice to be a big designer, and I'm accepting that I may not have it, and would rather spend that money, if I had it, on my children and my fabric stash. There's plenty of room for folks who just want to create and maybe take the occasional commission. What you described, just going 4 days a week to my own unlimited studio, is my dream, I don't even care about selling the stuff! Thank you so much for your content!
(A future Patreon supporter, just gotta make that coin first 😁)
I'm 29 and I've been trying to start my brand since 2015, but it's a very slow process. I spent years mad and dissapointed because I was getting "old" and couldn't start my business after graduating, I realized I was very young and naive... I live in Venezuela, this makes it three times more difficult, I know... but I think it's better this way, to keep working and working until I get it. I think that now I know things I didn't when I was 21 and I am still learning which is great. My taste is certainly different than before and what I want from my clothing is totally different from what I wanted 10 years ago or when I was a Fashion student. However, even when I'm aware of this, of course I still get the scary thoughts, but this video was necessary to dissipate all these fears in my head, all the doubts about time passing by. I realized that being a fashion designer is a lot better when you're older and it's something you can still do when you're over 50 or 60 if you're in good health and the business is good, so I feel a lot better about it. Keep working, my guys, it'll pay off! Thank you, Bliss. Your videos are always a blessing♥