Image via Complex Original
Everyone and their mother wants to be the next one to come up big in the fashion world. And why shouldn't they? Menswear has definitely become more profitable over the past few years, and making it big could lead to a life of fame, a shit ton of money and co-signs by names like Lebron, Kanye and Pharrell.
But what does it take to start a successful menswear brand? More than you could ever imagine. What if you could get some key insight? Perhaps rules of some sort from the top minds in the industry. Well, lucky for you we were able to enlist the help of some of our favorite brand founders and shop owners. Honestly, we thought about keeping all this good advice for ourselves, but it was just too good to not share. Take out those ruled notebooks kids, here's How To Make It: 10 Rules For Success From Fashion Industry Insiders.
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jeffstaple (Staple Design/Reed Space)
Rule: Take a bullet.
"Jay-Z once said: 'Well we hustle out of a sense of / hopelessness. / Sort of a desperation / Through that desperation, we become addicted. / But we feel we have nothin’ to lose. / So we offer you, well, we offer our lives. / What do you bring to the table?'
If you're thinking about starting your own brand, be ready to die for it. Because THAT is how hard you'll be working in order to make it successful. This is no walk in the park. If you're questioning your passion, your commitment or your ability to 'make it work,' then do something else. You'll be happier in the long run. For me, there was NEVER a question of 'will this work?' There was simply no other option."
Rob Babigian (WHARF)
Rule: Know you don't know everything and being willing to learn what you don't know.
"I was not in fashion or retail before I opened WHARF. I have built brands before as a marketer, but never anything like trying to start a brand (and store) from scratch. I had my business acumen, an idea, and the motivation to see it through. But along the way I have invested countless hours researching, talking to experts, visiting factories, other brands, other stores, etc. All of the knowledge I did not possess about the business is out there, so if you are willing to accept there are people smarter than you, with more expertise in what you are trying to achieve, be humble and ask them."
Frank the Butcher (Butcher's Block/Boylston Trading Co.)
Rule: Being "inspired by" is different than "stealing from."
"It’s the circle of creativity when past and present designers inspire you — but there's a fine line between inspiration and trying to replicate what sparks you. One can build off inspiration, turning that seed into something new. When you can’t define the line between the two, you have lost your identity."
Eunice Lee (UNIS)
Rule: Know your customer.
"Who are you designing for? What do they expect of you? Are there actually people out there willing to pay money for your ideas? Don't ever forget: fashion is a business. You're in it to sell product. So know who's buying it."
Shimon & Ariel Ovadia (Ovadia & Sons)
Rule: Stay true.
"A key component is to stay true to yourself and design things that you love and want to wear. The result will be clothing you believe in and that feel natural and unforced."
Chris Gibbs (Union L.A.)
Rule: DO YOU!
"There is no job that's easy or without drama. So if you're getting into something that is gonna take all your time, energy, commitment and money, you might as well at least be doing something you love. 'Cause when the shit hits the fan and times get rough and rugged (and they will), it would suck to be giving your time to some shit that you don't even feel.
Furthermore, if it's authentically your shit and vision, heads will pick up on that and support. It will be unique as opposed to every other brand out there doing the same thing. It's a marathon, not a race."
Rule: If you're afraid of failure, don't even bother.
"We each were instrumental in helping to start 3-4 lines before we finally got it right on our own with Acapulco Gold. Each one of these lines were either a huge success or a mess. With AG, we made sure not to repeat the major mistakes, while learning from our greatest successes."
Andrew Chen (3sixteen/Self Edge NY)
Rule: Transparency is key.
"Whether you're running a business alone or with partners, it's important to be open and honest with everything you do. If you're going to be a little late in paying your manufacturer, let them know. If you need an advance on your paycheck because you've got some personal stuff to handle, say something to your partner. All company owners should have open access to the books at all times. I experienced this firsthand when some bad stuff went down with a former business partner. In retrospect, it was my fault too because I didn't put my foot down with having access to the information, and because of that it gave an avenue for dishonesty. Transparency is paramount in running a successful business."
Mark McNairy (Mark McNairy New Amsterdam/Woolrich Woolen Mills)
Rule: ENJOY IT.
Editor's Note: Mark McNairy really types like this. Deal with it.
"IF YOU DESIGN CLOTHES OR ANYTHING BASED ON WHAT YOU THINK OTHER PEOPLE WANT YOU'LL NEVER ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS IF YOU'RE DESIGNING WHAT YOU ENJOY. IF YOU'RE NOT ENJOYING IT THEN WHY DO IT. BE GOOD TO PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH AND WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE GOOD TO YOU AND YOU'LL BE FINE. OR DO THE OPPOSITE. ME NO CARE."
Matt Baldwin (Baldwin Denim)
Rule: Be passionate about meeting a need.
"It starts with a passion for meeting the needs of a community you know and care about. That has to be your true motivation, it can't just be about money."
