Getting Started on Fashion Design Early

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Young entrepreneurs working on their fashion designs.

Young entrepreneurs working on their fashion designs.

Some of our young entrepreneurs recently met at the Fashion Design Center Denver to get a sneak peek into the local fashion scene. The FDC, located in RiNo, was created for emerging designers who want to stay, design and produce, and sell their lines from Colorado headquarters.

We started the event with formal introduction and handshakes. A reminder to all entrepreneurs to always be networking! The young entrepreneurs presented the target market for their unique fashion designs to the group. Can you think like a designer? Try to answer these questions:

  • Who is your customer?
  • What are they like?
  • What are their habits?
  • Do they shop on their smart phones?
Sirinya, 11, used jewel tones and layering in her sketches.

Sirinya, 11, used jewel tones and layering in her sketches.

Next, we used a croquis (the fashion designers model) and layered sheets of tracing paper with colored pencils to sketch and color fashion designs for Spring/Summer 2016. Time to think like a designer again! Consider the following questions:

  • What is your vision for your fashion collection?
  • What will your target customer want to wear next year?
  • What will the trends be?

We took a quick snack break and toured the amazing facility. Meta, 8, took a break to eat a donut in her

Meta and her designs.

Meta and her designs.

homemade dress!  We came back together as a group to discuss how much it would cost to produce one piece of fashion. Time to think like a fashion designer once last time. We filled out a worksheet and needed calculators to help with these questions:

  • How many yards of fabric will you need?
  • How many seams does the garment have?
  • What about shipping costs and manufacturing?
  • How many snaps and closures?

At Young Americans, we are always proud to work with young people in Colorado who aspire to be future designers and business owners, but FDC President and CEO Lisa Ramfjord Elstun said it best “Denver has much to look forward to in the coming years with these talented young ladies!”

Thank you to Lisa and the FDC and to these hardworking young entrepreneurs who came out to learn on a Saturday. You can support these young entrepreneurs and more like them at our Spring Young Entrepreneurs Marketplace on April 18th from 10am-2pm. If you are an aspiring fashion designer or have any business ideas be sure to attend upcoming classes and events, or call or email Maura for an individual coaching session.

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