Starting your own fashion label - how it works!

Some people dream of starting their own fashion label, but only a few actually do it. It is important to have the necessary knowledge to start a business and, above all, a great passion for fashion and creative talent. What qualifications and requirements are necessary to successfully start a fashion label? What legal aspects need to be considered? The answers to these questions and other important tips are examined in more detail below.

Idee für mich
via Tanja Seiffert
02/25/2021, 15:15
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Vocational training or studies not necessary, but useful

You don't need any specific training or a degree to set up your own fashion label. It is much more important that the founder is passionate about what they do. Creative skills and a great imagination round things off. There are numerous ways to establish yourself in the fashion sector and make successful progress. This does not necessarily have to involve designing clothes. For some, marketing and sales is also an exciting professional field. Setting up and running a fashion label is also feasible by employing designers and purchasing the necessary services.

In short, anyone can set up a label, as there are no professional requirements. Nevertheless, it is an advantage to learn basic knowledge and skills related to fashion design or tailoring. This makes it much easier to get started and shapes your understanding of important processes. The following apprenticeships and degree courses are well suited to acquiring practical skills:

Apprenticeships:

- Textile laboratory technician
- Tailor - Fashion designer
- Product tester
- Production mechanic specializing in textiles
- Fashion sewer
- Clothing technician

Study programs:

- Costume design
- Fashion Design
- Fashion, trend and brand management
- Textile and clothing technology
- Fashion and Design Management
- Textile business economist
- Textile design
- Textile management
- Fashion management

The most important tips for a successful fashion label

The first step that prospective founders should consider is the development of a business concept. This can take the form of a business plan in which the ideas are described in detail. The main focus should be on the areas of sales and purchasing. The calculation is always linked to the business idea and shows a realistic picture of the business concept. Here you can already clearly see how fundamental a good understanding of figures is.

Sales - offline or online?

Digitalization continues to advance, with more and more customers buying online. It is now possible to open your own online store in just a few steps. The main work then consists of presenting the fashion in an appealing way. It is always worth having a good photographer at your side, as an expert can present every item of clothing perfectly. This is important because there are so many competitors on the market. Customers also expect to be able to view the clothing from different perspectives. And this expectation can be fulfilled by giving each item its very own photo gallery.

Of course, you can also be successful in offline sales. A tailor's shop with a presentation room or a boutique is suitable for this. The advantage over buying online is that customers can feel, touch and try on the clothes. Offline, it is easier to recognize special features on the garment, such as iron-on labels. Of course, having your own premises is not a prerequisite, but it is an important platform for presentation.

A fashion label can be run in different legal forms. The legal regulations depend on the legal form chosen. For example, if you set up a limited liability company (GmbH), then entry in the commercial register is one of the necessary steps. It is also possible to set up a fashion label in the legal form of a sole proprietorship. In both cases, a business registration with the relevant office is required. An application for a tax number must be submitted to the tax office. In addition, a tax registration form must be completed. Once the business registration has been completed, the trade office forwards the data to the relevant chamber.

Conclusion: The path to your own fashion label is multi-faceted

The world of fashion offers creative people diverse and exciting opportunities. If you build up a good network when you start up, this is a huge step forward for the development of a successful fashion label. Good contacts in the fashion industry are almost indispensable and pave the way for a promising career. The most important thing is to get started and put together a good plan. High motivation, strong stamina and an irrepressible belief in your own success pay off.

Date: 25.02.2021