The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Dear BoF Community,
Back in 2007, right at the beginning of my BoF journey, I learned very quickly how little information was available for entrepreneurs looking to making their mark in the fashion industry. I wrote a series of articles called 'The Basics: How To Set Up A Fashion Business From Scratch' and very quickly, they became the most popular pieces on the site.
More than a decade later, the series is still one of our top reads and entrepreneurs continue to form a significant part of our global community. As a result, our team here at BoF is regularly thinking about how we can serve this part of our community, as well as industry professionals who want to bring entrepreneurial thinking to their day-to-day roles.
Today, we are pleased to release Start-Up School, a 7-chapter resource composed of detailed practical advice on topics ranging from fundraising to finding product-market fit to planning an exit; along with a supplemental kit of tools, templates and frameworks.
[ Chapter 1: Define Your Business Model ]
[ Chapter 2: Fund Your Business for Growth ]
[ Chapter 3: Find Product-Market Fit ]
[ Chapter 4: Identify Your Target Customer ]
[ Chapter 5: Build Your Culture as You Grow ]
[ Chapter 6: Scale Your Business Carefully ]
[ Chapter 7: Plan Your Exit Strategy ]
Please also explore our Entrepreneur's Toolkit with practical frameworks and tactical guidance to help you with your new fashion business.
Start-Up School is part of our ever-growing library of BoF Education content that comes with our annual BoF Professional membership. Sign up today.
Imran Amed, Founder and Editor-in-Chief
BoF meets four designers from Raisefashion’s brand fellowship programme without formal fashion training, to learn the challenges they have faced in starting a brand and how the non-profit is supporting their venture.
Four designers from Raisefashion’s brand fellowship programme share how the non-profit has enabled the creatives to take their business from strength to strength, and better navigate on-going market challenges today.
Executive director and founding board member, Felita Harris discusses the non-profit’s brand fellowship programme — an 8-week masterclass for 8 BIPOC designers, conducted by experienced industry advisors and senior executives.
The brand, which harnessed the power of its bestselling Cookie bag and tastemaker customer base to become one of New York’s most promising emerging brands, wants to grow buzz at home and abroad.