TegTalks

We are big fans of higher education. An education can jump start creative thoughts and ideas, improve your resume, and build a strong network of like-minded people; the advantages to education are real and the purpose of this discussion is NOT to discount them. That said, higher education often comes with an even higher price tag that isn’t feasible for everyone. This is an unfortunate fact, and with the economy being what it is, a fashion degree could look unlikely for you. If you find yourself unable to shoulder the burden of tuition, or your life doesn’t allow you the luxury of going to school right now, don’t give up your dream of breaking into the business or building your own brand. It is possible to do so without that revered piece [...]

As a designer in love with your brand, it’s not surprising that you’re immersed (or should we say, obsessed?) with every aspect of it. In fact, that’s typical behavior for any designer starting out. You dream of your brand, work on your brand, talk about your brand; your brand is everything to you. 24/7. As it should be. Or should it? Chances are you’ve seen a lot of discussion about work/life balance. Instead, we’d like to talk to you about something that is more realistic and achievable: work/life harmony. Work/life balance implies that both sides can be equal; that you’re striving for an even 50/50 split. 50 percent of your life will be devoted to work, and 50 percent will be devoted to your personal life. We contend that goal sets up [...]

We’ve all heard the phrase “fast fashion.” Maybe some of us have even shopped a piece or two of it ourselves. As a fashion aficionado, it’s practically unavoidable. And its proliferation grows day by day. As Investopedia says, “Fast fashion is the term used to describe clothing designs that move quickly from the catwalk to stores to take advantage of trends. (At times, designs move from sketchpad to store in a matter of a few weeks, vs. close to a year in traditional industry practice.) The collections are often based on styles presented at Fashion Week runway shows or worn by celebrities. Fast fashion allows mainstream consumers to purchase the hot new look or the next big thing at an affordable price.” Okay, that all sounds well and good. After all, who [...]

As an emerging designer, the idea of sustainability and eco-friendly practices probably looms large in your plans. As it should. But creating a sustainable brand does require some dedicated research. This two-part series is designed to give you a leg up! Earlier we posted an article, How To Launch a Sustainable Brand, Part I: Fabric Decisions, Deadstock and Upcycling. Now we’re going to discuss the next steps, fabric certifications and eco-friendly fabric treatments, such as dyeing and bleaching. So, without further ado, let’s dive in. Certifications and What They Mean To You To start, talk with your fabric vendor in detail about the sustainability of their product offerings. If the product they offer is sustainable, they will be proud of that fact and happily share any information with you, including industry certifications [...]

In the last few years, we’ve seen quite a growth spurt here at Teg. For which we are, of course, very grateful. Yet in order to accommodate our expanded menu of services, we found that we were literally running out of space. But not anymore. We’re pleased to announce that we’ve moved to a new, larger location. We’re still in the Arts District of DTLA, but our offices are now located at 1321 Palmetto Street, Los Angeles 90013.   The new space is light, bright and airy, and we’re settling in quite nicely. But better still, we’re thrilled to have the space for things like our expanded fabric swatch library, a large, private atelier for fittings with our clients, even a bar area for you to relax and regroup after an intense [...]

You’ve got a great idea for a new brand. Maybe it’s a niche product, like athleticwear, or something more complicated, like a contemporary designer collection. Well, before you forge ahead with the development of your brand, take into consideration this statistic from Environmental Magazine, “almost 90% of consumers see companies that support social and environmental issues in a positive light. Another 88% of customers tend to remain loyal to these businesses.” 90% of consumers! Digest that tidbit for a second before we move on. That alone should certainly be enough for you to give some serious thought into the sustainability and socially-conscious practices of your brand. Don’t panic, you don’t need to be perfect. No one is. But if you adopt sustainability practices that work for you and your brand and follow [...]

It’s impossible not to notice; in recent years, there’s been a real push towards putting eco-friendly practices into place. Not only in your home, but in your business as well. We won’t go into all the reasons why this is a good idea (of which there are a multitude), but there is one good reason to do so that you might not have considered: being a socially and environmentally friendly company can actually help you build your business! Just like you, your customers look for companies that share their values. If your customer is eco-conscious, they’re going to want to do business, and share their money, with companies that mirror this ideal. According to Environmental Magazine, “almost 90% of consumers see companies that support social and environmental issues in a positive light. [...]

Once you’ve settled on your final patterns and samples, there’s a big decision looming on the horizon for you and your brand. Where in the world do you go for your bulk production manufacturing? Well, the options are as varied as points on a map. China, Bangladesh, Peru, Italy, Indonesia, Vietnam, Italy, Portugal, USA…the list of possibilities goes on and on. But before you make your manufacturing decision, there are some real considerations that can affect your brand’s quality, bottom line, and image in the eyes of your employees and your customers: How does the manufacturing of my garments affect the environment? What about the treatment of the people sewing my garments? Does the factory abide by fair labor practices? What about shipping fees (and the impact of shipping on our ecosystem)? [...]

We’re taking bets here at TEG that this will be the least-read post of all. After all, you didn’t decide to become a fashion designer so that you could have long and riveting conversations about finance and bookkeeping. Indeed it’s not as fun as learning about new advances in sustainable fabrics, or analyzing the latest runways shows. But please, stick with us here because this topic is important to the wellbeing of your business and your brand. Even though you’ve most likely hired a professional accountant or bookkeeper, or will be doing so very soon, it’s vital that you personally understand the basic bookkeeping needs of your small business. We’re going to assume that you thoroughly vetted your business accountant and deemed them to be trustworthy. Which is great. That said, as [...]

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for years, you’re likely aware of the power wielded by social media influencers. Their influence and reach, so to speak, is unavoidable and significant. Here are some compelling facts and figures to prove the point (from Rakuten Marketing): “Consumers are frequently discovering new products and brands through influencers, with as many as 41% of consumers saying they find at least one new brand or product from an influencer weekly, and 24% saying they did so daily. With 65% of shoppers discovering something of this frequency, brands are presented with many opportunities to reach new consumers through influencers.” To continue, “When consumers do get inspired, they have little reservation about shopping through an influencer’s page. Four in five globally surveyed consumers said they made a [...]