A look behind the seams
As someone who worked with a bunch of different fashion labels, I got to see what goes on behind the scenes and what’s involved in bringing collections together.
There’s a lot more to it than just making nice clothes.
Here are 8 habits I noticed from the fashion designers I worked with that helped get the best out of everyone and keep the label running smoothly.
Habit #1: Always be looking to generate new ideas
Plenty of people can come up with 5–10 items that look great and could make it into a collection. But what about 60? And then 60 more next season? My old boss was constantly capturing the most mundane objects around her. She’d photograph colour contrasts on window sills, stickers stuck on telephone poles, obscure signs, torn seats, and decrepit buildings. Everything could lead to an idea. Maybe not right now but maybe in a year that random picture might connect the dots for a new garment.
The first time I met her I had these reflective cycling bracelets on my ankles and she bypassed saying hello to me to get a closer look. A variation of these made it into her (very rushed) upcoming collection.
