Behind the Brand "An inside look at building a fashion brand.": October 2014

"The Talia" Cristina Bijou Spring 2015 Collection

"The Talia" Cristina Bijou Spring 2015 Collection Subscribe to our newsletter for preorder updates at www.cristinabijou.com

Designing a New Collection

When preparing for the upcoming season there is a lot of research that comes into play. You've got to go back to the drawing board and figure out what you'd like to create next. You've also got to ask yourself some very important questions. What worked and in some cases what didn't work in your current collection? What did exceptionally well? There's always room for improvement. What are your plans to make your next collection even better than the last?

Here are a couple of things to consider when creating a new collection:

-What styles/colors are the most popular in your current collection?

(If your brand is sold in a major retailer you can easily refer to your weekly sales reports provided by your merchandise team to asses this.)

-What pantone colors are predicted for the upcoming season?

-Begin sourcing materials and notions (zippers, buttons, hardware, lining etc.)

-Create a vision board that will help guide you in the direction you'd like to take your next collection.

-Begin creating rough sketches to give yourself ideas of where you'd like to take your next collection.

-The sample process can be very expensive, consider gathering a small focus group of your target customer to see if the ideas you have in mind gravitate towards them.

-Give yourself six months at the very least to go through the sample and production process to assure that you can meet deadlines and have your product sent out to stores & boutiques on time.

Leather samples

Hardware samples

Do you have a question about starting your fashion business? Get it answered here on Behind the Brand. Email me at reginacwhite@gmail.com

For more go to www.cristinabijou.com

"Throw back Thursday"

The very first Cristina Bijou bag to win everyone's heart! The Vacay, from our Spring 2006 Collection!! Eight years later and STILL a must have!

A Sneak Peek at Cristina Bijou bags Spring 2015

"The Talia"

"The Brooke"

"The Addison"

For more info about go to www.cristinabijou.com

Choosing the right manufacturer for your brand.

Finding the right manufacturer to produce your line is key when creating your brand. It's very important to find a production team that can reproduce the asthetic of your vision.

There are so many different factors that come into play in production to ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for. I've learned this the hard way. Over the years I've worked with different companies. Some produced quality, and some didn't. The smallest details can make all the difference when it comes to producing quality in the fashion industry. Fabrics, hardware, and notions all need to be carefully chosen during the sampling process to ensure you get the outcome you're looking for. For me it's been much easier working with a company that I can call or visit whenever need be to ensure that things are being done when I need it, exactly how I need it. This led me to work with a production team domestically based. This can be a little more expensive but it's what works for me.

Here are the top five tips for choosing the right manufacturer when starting a fashion brand.

1- Make sure the company is easily accessible. Can you pick up the phone or send an email and have your questions answered the same day? When your company is still growing, outsourcing internationally can be very difficult. Time differences cause delays in getting quick things done in a timely manner. Try to find a company that is either domestically based or has an office that you can contact or visit stateside.

2- In the beginning stages you'll want a lot of your final decisions to be made in person. Having the ability to touch and feel the fabrics, leathers, & hardware you decide on is extremely important. This ensures that you get exactly what you are looking for and your samples are produced correctly. Try to find a company that you can easily travel to so that you can have oversight of your production process. This helps ensure that you're leaving the least amount of room for error as possible. (And also helps me sleep at night. Haha!)

3- Before you begin the sample process make sure the manufacturer can produce the specific aesthetic you envision for your brand. Manufacturing companies normally specialize in certain skills or can offer a certain level of quality. Review samples of previous work they've done before deciding to work with them.

4- Find a manufacturer that can produce your products at a price point where you can successfully grow as a company. Getting an estimated cost amount to produce is a must. You never want to begin working with a company only to realize that you can't afford to give yourself a decent profit margin. All companies have different setup fees and costs, find one that best suits your company.

5- Make sure that your manufacturer is a company that you can grow with. As your business grows you want a manufacturing company that has the ability to produce the demand you need.

Do you have a question about starting your fashion business? Get it answered here on Behind the Brand. Email me at reginacwhite@gmail.com