Another Work In Progress

Here's a peek at a garment I'm working on for the fashion show. It's been work, work, work, keeping up with my accessory line, clients, and working on garments for the show. I don't think I even know what sleep is anymore!

Also to remind you, today I will be attending the Starting a Business Seminar with my area's Small Business Development Center. It will be held at the University of West Florida Fort Walton campus. I'll inform everyone on how it goes.

Some Inspiration for ACS Fashion Show

Here are some looks that have helped inspire this collection. I'm thinking Victorian-rock vampire meets Greek goddess, sheers contrasted with tough leathers/pleathers. The basis of the collection will be a combination of the first two pictures, looks from Charlotte Ronson Spring 2010 and Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2010). The other photos will inspire certain features, for example the feel of the coats. We will see how close I stick to this concept! lol

(Photos: Look 1: Charlotte Ronson Spring 2010, Look 2: Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2010, Look 3: Carlos Miele Spring 2010, Look 4: Burberry Prorsum Spring 2010, Look 5: Aquascutum Spring 2010
All photos in this post copyright: Style.com)

First Consult

Hey Hey!!

Just wanted to inform you guys on my first consultation with the Small Business Administration.

The telephone interview is to let the entrepreneur learn what the SBA offers, where the start-up company currently stands, and where I see it going . The counselor started by telling me about their organization and gave me an overview on what services they offer. As far as I can tell, the administration offers a large range of services from one-on-one specific counseling to group seminars on certain areas of starting a business. My local SBA also has a resource library that is open to me to use during business hours. They recommended I attend their "Starting a Business" workshop (fee: $35.00), afterwards, which, they would schedule me for an in person interview with a counselor. This is their typical path, however, if I can not attend the workshop, they would go ahead and schedule the interview (fee: free). Since I am not sure I will be able to attend the coming workshop, I let them know I would register closer to time when I know for sure of my schedule. They also asked me questions about my business and what kind of information I thought I might need.

As the summary of the experience, I will inform you that all counseling is free, while seminars/workshops have moderate fees. These fees cover software and resources given to you to take home and use after the workshop. The interview was very informative, the counselor was very polite, and overall I am impressed with the services offered and the response time.

Working on Dreams,
Anna Maria

First Sketches

Hey Hey!
Here's the first idea sketches for the fashion show. These are rough drafts; I may post more detailed sketches for each garment as I go along.

Questions & comments welcome! Let me hear it!!!

Workin' on Dreams!!!!!!!!

Busy-Ness

Hey Hey People!!!

Several things have been going on these last few days. Time to fill you all in...

The SBA returned my call, and I now have an appointment for a phone interview on Tuesday 19 January 2010. Hopefully that goes well.

A new manager took over Stella, the boutique in Fort Walton Beach Florida that carries some of my accessories and paintings. The new manager told one of my close friends that she really likes my work and wants me to call her about putting in some more product. BLAH!! Phone calls!!! lol This is a blessing and a curse all wrapped up into one. The blessing comes from more product in store equals more sold. The curse part being that more product equals a lot more work!! Also, the manager stated that she's thinking of going with a particular theme in the store. Uh-oh, I don't know how that will be.

Next, the government sent me a prospective jury summons for a case scheduled to begin soon. Now I am all for serving my duty as an United States citizen, but the case is expected to last three months!! Yes, three months, Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm!!! The case would continue through the date of the fashion show. Now how am I supposed to create a collection for the benefit of the American Cancer Society, start my own apparel/accessory company, keep up my freelance work, and work a stable job while I'm spending nine hours everyday at the dang courthouse which is located over an hour drive both ways!!! Keeping my fingers crossed that this case settles out of court.

Lastly, I've done some sketches for the show. These are very quick sketches just to get my ideas down. I may or may not go back & add more details. For the collection I'm thinking layered sheers contrasted with black leathers & pleathers. I'll load the sketches for everyone to see.

Fashion Show

Hey Hey,

First off today, the SBA called me today, but I missed the call. Wow, they contacted me a lot quicker than I expected! I returned the call, and left a message on the woman's answering machine that contacted me. Hopefully, I'll be able to speak with someone tomorrow.

Now for some exciting news... I will be showing a clothing collection along with my accessories in a fashion show for the benefit of the American Cancer Society on 7 May 2010!! A friend of mine, Tim, is putting on this show in honor of his late mother. This is going to be a whole lot of work!! Exciting though!!

Tim and I met today to go over some paperwork and deadlines for the show. I signed a contract stating that in the event that I do not meet the deadlines/requirements I would not be allowed to participate. Better get on it!! lol This will be the first show I've done since college. Have to say I'm a bit nervous!! :-P

I'll keep you guys up to date on the goings on in preparation for the show.

Exciting, exciting!!!

First Step

Hey Everybody!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I completed Step 1 on the list for Chapter 2. The local Small Business Administration (SBA) offers free counseling to those wanting to start their own company. This must be signed up for online, and then the SBA will contact you. I'll let you know when they do, and how it goes.

SBA offers seminars/classes a few times a month on different areas of starting a business. The seminars I looked at cost $35.00. Next month I plan on attending at least one. So I'll post all the information about it.

Yes, this part of starting an apparel company is boring, but you were warned! lol
Don't worry, I may have a little bit more exciting news involving a fashion show to post soon...

Working on Dreams,
Anna Maria

Step by Step Plan: Draft 1

Alright Everybody,
Here is a list I made to simplify and break down the tasks in Chapter 2 of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide. Each tasks will eventually have to be broken down into smaller sections, but for now this will suffice. At least now the chapter seams far less mind-boggling! And that's always good!! lol

Chapter 2 Step by Step

1. Look for local classes provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA)
2. Write Rough Draft of Company Overview
3. Research my company's Market
4. Write Description of Target Customer
5. Write Draft of Sales Strategy
6. Research and list my Direct Competitors
7. Figure out and list my top three Indirect Competitors
8. Write Draft of Operations Plan
9. Complete First Draft of Business Plan
10. Check out Lawyers (for Setting up Business/Discussing Business Options)
11. Design Company Trademark
12. Talk to Small Business Owners about Starting my Business
13. Look into Bookkeeping and Accounting (Quick Books Pro?)
14. Talk to Lawyer
15. Financing Options

Note: This plan can and most likely will change, grow, and be updated at anytime, but of course I will post those changes so you guys can stay up to date about everything.

Chapter 2 is Killing Me!! :-)

Hey Hey Everybody!!

Read Chapter 2, and it kicked my butt! lol
This chapter detailed the basic first steps of starting a fashion line-- beginning with the business plan...

And the elements of the business plan are slightly overwhelming!! Gehlhar informs the reader on the Executive summary, Company Overview, Sales Plan, Operations, Financial Projections, lions, tigers, and bears... Oh my oh freaking my!! She adamantly insists that you write your company's business plan yourself because who better to make your company exactly what you dream it to be.

A section in the chapter informs the reader on deciding what type of company to set up, whether it be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or variations of the three. Trademarking and choosing a perfect company name are briefly discussed, and hiring a business lawyer is greatly recommended. The chapter ends with a brief section informing the entrepreneur subjects including insurance, employees, hiring accountants etc.

The steps discussed in this chapter, I know, will be ridiculously difficult if I do not break them down into smaller tasks. So my goal for tonight is to break a few sections down and make a step by step list for myself. I will post it for here for everyone to see.

Some Supplies

Hey Hey Everybody!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!
Today I decided to post some pictures of a few of the supplies I use in making accessories. I apologize for the horrible photography; I am not a photographer at all!! lol
Also, I'm going to soon be reading some more in The Fashion Designer Survival Guide, and I will let you know the details.

'Till Later...

First Chapter

Hey Hey!!

The informative first chapter of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide included several aspects and facts that persons thinking of beginning their own fashion line should know. Some of these facts include horror (HaHa) stories and statistics on how likely a new fashion company is to fail. Such as the Small Business Association statistic that at least 50% of new business fall out within their first year! Scary!!

Readers are let in on a little of what to expect when running your own fashion company-- how much money to expect to spend, how much time the designer will have to work, business sometimes is untrustworthy etc. Let's the reader know the truth about the industry, rather than filling our heads with glitter and glam.

Before reading, I was not truly aware of how important utilizing connections and keeping open relationships are to the success of a new line. Even if someone aproaches you with an offer you can not or do not want to use at the moment stay friendly and on good terms with them-- you may want to take them up on their offer sometime in the future. No bridge burning!! lol

This first chapter taught me several useful tips. Thanks Gehlhar!

Working on Dreams,
AM

The Fashion Designer Survival Guide by Mary Gehlhar

Hey Hey Everyone,

About a year ago I ordered this book The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: An Insider's Look at Starting and Running Your Own Fashion Business by Mary Gehlhar with Foreword by Zac Posen. She is the Fashion Division Director of Gen Art. The book is supposed to tell you how to start your own fashion business; it is going to be one of my guides throughout this endeavor.

I've scanned a couple chapters, and it seems very informative. Hopefully, it will be a great asset. I am going to read a chapter tonight, and let you guys know how it goes.

Working on Dreams,

Anna Maria

Intro to Anna Maria and 365 Days to Runway

Hey Hey Everybody!!!

Just writing to introduce myself a little. My name is Anna Maria, and my degree is in Apparel Design and Textiles. I've in the fashion industry for a few years, with experience in New York City on an urban line and also have experience with a specialty line in Paris, France. For the past two years, I've been working miscellaneous jobs and surviving as a starving artist. (HaHa) Technically I've been avoiding working a "real" job ;-) because I enjoy the freedom of making my own schedule. I love it!!!

In the world today, television shows, magazines, and web-zines make the fashion industry out to be entirely beautiful and glamorous. Don't get me wrong, there are glamorous aspects in the industry i.e. celebrities, travel, art, but these are only a very small percentage of the whole. A beautiful clothing line doesn't just pop out of sketch over night. Blood, sweat, months of work, and many, many hands goes into creating each garment. Everyday I meet people that have no idea what the fashion industry truly is. Friends come up to me saying, "Hey, I saw this leather jacket on a movie, could you make one like it for me by this weekend?" which just happens to be only three days away. They do not realize how much work and time goes into creating a custom garment. Yes, yes, I know some of you are thinking about a certain runway show right now, and yes, I know they create their garments in just a couple days. However, you also notice that often the garments are left uncompleted, and I bet that if you turn those dresses inside out the finishing is most likely not up to par.

Since college I've been wanting to start my own clothing or accessory line, but haven't been able to keep myself focused on this goal. A local gallery and boutique does sell some of my art and my accessory "line." Quotations are placed around line due to the fact that the actual line is a very small amount of items that have yet to have the name made official. I am out to change this...

The blog will consist of my day to day journey of creating a fashion line from start to runway in 365 days. Every detail will be included from the more mundane aspects consisting of such things as fictitious names, legal, trademarks, and financing, as well as, the more creative parts that I personally consider more fun i.e. inspiration, sketching, finding models, and photo shoots. You will get the dirty and gritty along with the shiny and sparkley. My freak outs and my fashion highs. I hope you enjoy the ride, or at the very least, learn a little something.

Remember, 365 Days to Runway...

Working on Making Dreams Reality,

Anna Maria