Comments on: How to be a successful designer

By: Suki

Suki — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:46:49 +0000

I love this article…and you hit everything on the head…I am at the beginning phase of this business and I can tell you already its definitely no “party”…but I sure would love one day to finally see my own exclusive pieces at my own store…living the dream…lol…its definitely not what most think its cut out to be…but I love it because its who I am…

By: sarah

sarah — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:42:32 +0000

So many that talk to me and want to be in the industry just want to draw pictures all day. Well, they could get a regular job and draw pictures all day. Somehow they’ll have to pay for all those people they’ll need to hire to turn those drawings into reality. And so many hate to sew. I say good luck to you, I wish I could have the luxury of someone sewing all my stuff for me and sharing there innovations and understanding that came up as they constructed. I have found the need to be involved in every aspect, research, design, vendor hunting and gathering, pattern making and sewing, pretty satisfying. I love doing fashion shows and I hate doing fashion shows! They suck up two of the most precious resources, time and money. Especially if you’re not showing in a fashion center. But they give good documentation and some moments of glamour;) I street cast models and find hair and make-up; grab up photographers and gab up the press. At this point, it’s more than an expensive hobby, sometimes I even make money. SALES is what I have to work on now. Getting the flow of activities established and product out the dor and off the shelves. The dishes will get done, the bills will get paid, but yeah, probably in my jammies!

By: Nora

Nora — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:21:53 +0000

My heart just rejoiced reading this. Whenever I tell, I’m a designer, I ALWAYS get the ‘oohs’ and ‘aaahs’ and ‘I wanted to become one, too’s’. If they only knew how little time you actually spend time sketching. I used to work for a company where the owner/head designer sat in her office and everyone else was coming to her. Pattern makers and sewers were NOT equals and were treated as if they didn’t know anything. I was the oddball, running around like a maniac between the factory floor and sample room, helping out with the pattern making and sample sewing itself, which was unheard of. As I said, the designers were ‘upper class’ and everyone else ‘lower class’. Many of my technical co-workers were absolutely surprised I even knew how to make pattern and sew, as it was seen as ‘low class’ trade.
You don’t even want to know what went on at my college. The stars of the school were always the ones that drew the prettiest pictures. When it was time for construction it was either not possible or a mess.
So to everyone out there who just want to sit and sketch all day, become an Illustrator, not a designer.

By: ClaireOKC

ClaireOKC — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:00:50 +0000

This is so refreshing and so true….but she will be successful for one reason – she loves it! And therein lies the secret to life – love what you do. It’s all hard work, but when you’re having fun doing the work, somehow it doesn’t seem that hard!

By: Sandra B

Sandra B — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:57:52 +0000

I recently caught up with (actually, was brushed off by) a former friend who moved to another, bigger city and became a “stylist to the stars”. He gave a talk, and sat on the stage doing the “I’m so glamourous” pose and being witty (in a not funny, sarcastic way). He’s the one living the high life (he told us that he’s flown on John Travolta’s jet, whoo hoo, I don’t care who’s jet it is, I’d still need a sedative to take off without getting hysterical) and there is NO WAY I want what he’s got. I like my scrappy, edge of the seat, creative, insanely hard working designer friends. All he does is kiss famous people’s *** and tell ugly rich people they are “divine, dahling”.

The funny thing is, he was always like that, but it wasn’t quite so obnoxious when he was poor and it really was a pose, not a lifestyle.

Although, my kids are well behaved, and quite photogenic when I find time to get their hair cut.

By: Andrea Densley

Andrea Densley — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:26:13 +0000

Thank you for posting this, and Maria, for writing for us. It reminded me of Kathleen’s comment in her book regarding big apparel manufacturers, that they aren’t smarter or better than we on the smaller end, they just have more money to waste. (sorry if I bungled that, my book’s in the other room). When I mention to others that I am a designer starting my own line of clothing, they generally get an excited gleam in their eye….and teen girls usually add, “Oh, that’s so cool!!” It is fun to see that even “big brand” designer’s are immersed in the happy chaos, deadlines and stress just like everyone else. For me, the only difference is, at the end of the day I would choose a package of those little, chocolate-coated, Hostess brand donuts and an adsorbing book.
–Andrea D.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:37:41 +0000

Ha! I interned for a “successful” designer in Miami a couple of years ago, he does evening and bridal wear, everything is done in house: patterns, samples, cutting and sewing. As a fashion student I found it to be BORING but at the same time I knew why he was making money. First: He had a great business partner who understood the bottom dollar, they were located in a nondescript warehouse space by the airport, the furniture was as old as the company, about 25 yrs old. The computer systems were old (all DOS systems, not web based) but got the work done. He had minimal staff that wore many hats (in the office). I only saw one salesperson come by to meet with his assistant because they always used the same vendors they trusted. I never EVER saw him in any of the “fashion” publications in the area, in fact the only time he traveled was to present a new collection at his showroom in NYC. They were all family oriented people and they went home after a long day everyday.

Bottom line: It was not a glamorous job at all but they did a great job at delivering those 3k-5k dresses everyday!