Mary Bemis

The idea of starting a fashion line can be daunting – especially if you don’t already work in the fashion industry.  

  • Where do you source all of your fabric?  
  • Who will be able to help you with the patternmaking?
  • What will all of it cost?
  • Where do I find my customers?

These are just some of the many questions that ran through my mind when I decided to launch my sustainable activewear line this year.

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Purchase 'Business Woman' Scoop tee here.

I have a background in finance and advertising, and when I decided to start my line I could barely tell you the difference between a woven and a knit.  However, my belief that I would be bringing better products to the activewear market–for people and the planet–helped me overcome this obvious knowledge gap and find some great resources designed for fashion newbies.  If you’re thinking of starting your own line or just want to do some preliminary research, these resources are for you:

Maker’s Row

Maker’s Row is an amazing online database connecting you directly to suppliers and manufacturers in the U.S.  For a small monthly payment of about $35 per month, you get access to over 10,000 factories, so you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.  I used their platform to message a fabric supplier and the supplier responded right away.  It’s actually one of the suppliers I decided to use for my line!

They also have an incredible blog where you can read an array of free content written by their staff and others who have started their own companies, with advice on finances, sourcing, and communication.  When I was first starting, I read all of their posts religiously and they seriously upped my confidence.

One last resource I recommend from their site is the Academy; I began here when I all I had was just an idea.  You only have to create a login on the site and they’ll send you daily email mini-courses on Production 101, Sourcing 101, Packaging 101 and more!  I used these courses to secure what my course of action would be going forward.

StartUP Fashion

StartUP Fashion is another online community, but focused more on support and connection between fashion entrepreneurs.  The platform connects emerging brands and independent designers and facilitates conversations about victories, uncertainties, partnerships, and more.  The site is also a great place for startup brands to share tools and information with others.

The founder, Nicole Giordano, also sends out a motivational email every Sunday night and I look forward to it every week.  It always comes at the perfect time and usually focuses on suggestions for self-improvement, like writing your future self a letter or taking time off to avoid burnout.  She also writes about important topics like how to market your brand and steps to take to sell more of your product.

Factory45

I truly don’t know where I’d be without Factory45.  I put this resource last as it is really for those entrepreneurs who are ready to start a sustainable fashion line made in the U.S., but it’s also a financial commitment.  However, it’s worth every penny.   Shannon Lohr, the founder who leads all of the modules, provides direct hands-on assistance acting as your personal consultant through the entire process from sourcing to launch.

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My belief that I would be bringing better products to the activewear market helped me overcome this knowledge gap and find great resources for fashion newbies.

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The course is structured in five modules, similar to the 101 courses in the Maker’s Row Academy, but the tutorials are much more in-depth.  Factory45 covers sourcing, marketing, blogging, production, shipping, and raising money for a successful launch.  The course includes helpful how-to videos, homework exercises, and email templates when reaching out to production partners or media contacts.

Finally, the best part about Factory45 is the community.  Besides having full access to Shannon, who successfully launched an apparel line before starting Factory45, you get access to a large group of other entrepreneurs who are also taking the program.  For me, having people I could call or grab coffee with once a week, who were dealing with the exact same issues as me was extremely beneficial.  The entrepreneurship journey can be a scary one at times, but finding a network of people to empathize with and find strength from makes it much easier!

Best of luck to those of you starting or hoping to start a line.  Feel free to message me on bSmart with any questions along the way!

 

Mary is the founder of Reprise Activewear, a plant-based activewear company in New York City. She is also a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology and enjoys working out and eating healthy.

 

Comments (4)

  1. Angelina Eimannsberger

So impressed with you Mary!

 
  1. Mary Bemis    Angelina Eimannsberger

Thank you Angelina!!

 
  1. Meagan Hooper

Excellent resources!

 
  1. Mary Bemis    Meagan Hooper

Thanks Meagan!

 
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