TegTalks

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 [...]

In more recent history, most fashion brands have started and built their businesses solely using a Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) sales model. With very good reason: it’s a straight shot, so to speak, from your brand to your customer. All thanks to the growth of social media and some very user-friendly shopping platforms (yay, internet!). DTC puts you in complete control of your brand’s communication, and there’s no better way to create an on-going, back-and-forth relationship with your customer. They get to know your brand, and if you’re paying close attention, you can quickly learn what they like and don’t like. It makes perfect sense financially as well. DTC is a boon to your profit margins, as you are selling at your retail price. Typically, with the exception of any website fees, every sales [...]

Aka, “Ah, I’ll Just Wing It” It’s a heady feeling, for sure…you’ve got a great idea for a fashion collection! Or maybe you’ve already done some designing and creating, and you’re ready to turn your lifelong dream into your new reality. Congratulations, that’s great news! But before you take the plunge, heed this word of warning: Nothing is more important than a detailed, comprehensive plan of action. We can’t emphasize this enough. There are many moving parts to launching a clothing collection. Each of these moving parts comes with its own unique challenges and needs its own separate plan. In this post, we will illuminate some of the more common areas where many designers fail to properly plan, and how to avoid these pitfalls. This will put you in a better place [...]

Chances are you’ve had the same dream for as long as you can remember: designing and running your own fashion brand. Maybe you’re just out of fashion school, or maybe you’ve been working for another fashion label for a while. Or possibly you’re in another industry altogether, just chomping at the bit to follow your lifelong dream. We know the feeling! The excitement that comes with unbridled creative freedom, days (and nights!) spent thinking about beautiful fabrics, trims and other finery, and the chance to be your own boss.  Well, before you jump in with both feet, hold on a sec. There’s a wise old saying that goes, “a goal without a plan is a wish.” This holds true in all business ventures, and maybe even more so in fashion; where the [...]