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-->The Fashion Designers Survival Guide & Craft INC. - A Review
Knowledge is power and when it comes to operating your own small business it can save you time and money. 2 books that I would recommend to any small business owner who is producing goods to be sold in the “luxury” market are The Fashion Designers Survival Guide & Craft INC. Both books dig right into the nitty gritty details like order fulfillment, industry standards and product distribution as wells as marketing and the importance of PR. The FDSG is a step by step manual filled with sample forms and warnings of wholesaling in a take no prisoners industry. I have read this book twice now and each time I have a hard time putting it down. Newbies to the design world receive practical strategies and advice from both big names and newcomers. The result is a ‘must’ for any aspiring fashion designer: packed with strategy, insights, and even checklists for success.
Craft, INC. a recent holiday gift, was a quick read. It was less intimidating than The FDSG, but still packed with a great deal of knowledge and a variety of different tips that the FDSG did not have. What I found particularly interesting were the interviews with some of today’s independent design superstars like Jonathan Adler, Lotta Jansdotter, Variegated INC., and Port2Press. Another bonus, the book design is absolutely scrumptious and the paper that it was printed on is smooth to the touch and delightful to hold.
Both books are on my must read list for any aspiring designer or small business owner. I have to admit that I was a bit exhausted from downloading all of the information in each book, so be ready to take out your notebook to start designing your mater plan.