Comments on: just a thought – designeritus

By: final fashion » just a thought – the value of a fashion show

final fashion » just a thought – the value of a fashion show — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:55:52 +0000

[...] I’m impressed with both of these designers for thinking of resourceful, clever ways to get their lines out there – and what gives me a lot of confidence in them for future seasons is their clear-eyed assessment of the value of a fashion show versus the cost. All one has to do is look at programs of previous fashion weeks to see how many new designers fall into the deadpool after one or two fashion shows. I have mused before on why that is in my post designeritus. [...]

By: Danielle

Danielle — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:44:46 +0000

“Of course, you can’t really blame us, as we’re the generation that grew up with the flashy FTV imagery” – reeraw

With the first part of the post I tried to explain how come so many of us are swayed by the glamour – I’m not trying to blame anyone, just pointing out that its a shame so many people are confused.

Rebecca and Serah-Marie – agree that these opportunities are too rare and too many designers forge ahead without them – its a greater risk. Still, the option of starting out by designing an accessory or one or two key pieces is open to everyone.

Auntie Fashion – totally agree that licensing as we knew it in the 1990s is all but dead – unless you count the new “designer collaborations” with all the discount retailers (H&M, Target, et al)

Ada – fashion schools are totally complicit – no wonder so many fashion grads are angry at their educators!

By: Alina

Alina — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:42:58 +0000

Danielle,
your “just a thought” has really turned into a GREAT thought! I absolutely agree that the one thing successful designers have in common is a strong, distinct style, personality and point of view. Being unique makes all the difference!
Ada, I agree with you. Designer schools nowadays are succeeding at training students to follow instructions and routines that quite frankly are non-existent in the realistic fashion world. Coming out of school, fashion design graduates are not prepared to work independently, and deal with the challenges with which they are faced. To succeed in the fashion world, a student must learn how to stand out. It’s a tough world out there.

By: Ada

Ada — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:58:13 +0000

Great article…

In my opinion the amount of schools for “fashion design” is just overwhelming…the fashion industry is one of the hardest to survive in. I think the schools are not giving a realistic point of view on being a designer, nor prepare you for working for yourself.
I am constantly surprised how easy it is to get into schools here.

Most of the design schools in my country, to get in, you have to go through a crazy amount of tests starting with some knowledge about fashion history, sketching to plain old sewing, even if its just basics…
I think more schools should have an eliminating process like that, and than we would have less graduating “designers” working as sales help, because its not that easy to get a work in the industry…
I guess, I just have to remind myself, that I do live in a very capitalistic country and schools have to make money as well…

Ok, this was a long point of view, somehow relevant to yours. ;)

By: Auntie Fashion

Auntie Fashion — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:40:38 +0000

Yesterday I posted about fashion’s current “It” label, Balmain. It appears as if they’re charging an exorbitant amount for their “designer jeans” while their menswear licenses are still selling poly-cotton shirts at Sears. It makes me believe that we’ve reached critical mass again. Licensing is dead, for now.

By: serah-marie

serah-marie — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:49:39 +0000

I agree with Rebecca, but I think the issue is that were is a Canadaian based designer going to apprentice? It’s not like there is the possibility of getting a low-level job at Marc Jacobs and learning a thing or two before breaking out on your own. Even if you live in a major city, there are very few jobs – even for free – to even land. What a prospective designer to do? It’s leave of DIY imho. This is of course a veer off course of the original post which I really enjoyed and hope you continue to write more like it!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:35:56 +0000

Interesting post.

When I started watching Project Runway, I was surprised that so many of the contestants had their own labels when, from my vantage point, it seemed like they needed a couple years of apprenticeship to get a better grasp of their trade.

I think what you wrote applies to all fields.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:36:45 +0000

reeraw – KL bootstrapped in the sense that he used other people’s money and not his own to establish his career.

re: who to blame – I’ll have to come back to that. Great comment!

By: reeraw

reeraw — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:06:20 +0000

great posting! i think that what’s clear in most of the designers mentioned (with the exception of ze super-rich Lagerfeld — he really established the tradition of being a distinct ‘hired gun’ designer tweaking an older house’s tradition… but did he really go w/out cash? there was that mother of his who rented the big french rivera villas for the entourage…) is how important it is when you’re starting out how by any means *unnecessary* designeritus is.

of course, you can’t really blame us, as we’re the generation that grew up with the flashy FTV imagery — this fantasy is what first took our breath away. we weren’t too hip to our own industry disappearing post-free trade, post-recession. our elders were pretty naive to it. plus — and i’m obv drifting from international context to canadian, apologies if it’s ot — how well were most designers in securing licensing and holding onto it? i can only really think of Alfred Sung/Club Monaco/Mimran, etc.

i find this moment very interesting, and not in this whole f/w 09 embrace/nostalgia for the 80s, but for my own understanding of how we’ve all gotten to this present moment. of designeritus…

By: Wanderlusting

Wanderlusting — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:41:00 +0000

Not confused – I completely agree! It’s nice to read something more thoughtprovking, thanks!