Starting a New Designer Line to compete with Abercrombie and A|X

[jmsb]

I am planning on launching a designer clothing line, which will compete industry leaders such as Abercrombie and A|X. I already have designs on paper that I want to get started on producing. I need to know where to start and to know which direction im headed in. This idea came to me late last year, however I brushed it off, thinking I was too busy, or didn’t have the time for it, or how far will it go. I am gonna be straight up honest with you, im not going to kid myself in to thinking im going to see this take off and become successful anywhere in the near future. This isn’t going to come without hard aches and long pains, but I was recently reminded that life is too short, and it isn’t about sitting infront of a desk from 9-5 or going though four years of college. Get out, and do what you love. This is it. I have a passion for this, and this is what I want to do. So throw everything you got at me, why im going to fail, how I can make it succeed, where I need to go, comments, suggestions, anything and everything.

What I have accomplished in the past few months:
Really I was just toying with myself, just creating mockups on what I would do IF I were to start this. I woke up last week and decided I was going to start it. So right now, I just finished a website, displaying business ideas and plans. Im fully ready for this, I have the branding scheme, the identity the styling and a website portraying what is going to take place, and how im going to raise this up.

So what i need to know, is what I need to do now…I need every piece of advice I can use right now…harsh, welcoming, criticism, whatever. I also need some business guidance, for example how am I going to achieve some of this steps, how am I going to get the attention of some of the investors. I plan to launch my website publically something this or next week. Then I will post on this site, in the “Looking for Biz Partners” section. For now, I am just looking for some good word. I seriously think this brand has a lot of potential, from the amount of work I put into it, and from the way it looks right now. I wish I were able to post some scans, but due to obvious reasons, I cant quite make these available.

So let me hear what you have to say. oh and please dont tell me to go to prosper.com with your referral link, honestly thats on every single thread now, and its not exactly what im looking for, but thanks!

Cheers, Jmsb

[wully00]

I think we need a little more information to give you criticism or advice. We'd love to give you advice, just post the link here...

And why are you downplaying prosper? I, for one, borrowed money there to start a business. And theres no referral links, just people recommending it that really like it.

[jmsb]

sure. what would you like specifically? i was just looking on what to do next...i have the ideas on paper, and i have a web page detailing company goals and projects. so all the ideas are complete, now to take action. How do i go about doing this? Who do i contact, how do i contact them? I need to present these designs to people. Or are there more actions that need to take place before i get there? Just general advice on how to tackle this project. Any other questions, feel free to ask Will answer them to the best of my ability without giving away too much detail

oh and about prosper. I was looking for people who would look into my project and accept it ( or reject ) and then fund it based on their thinking that its a good idea. I would hate to "borrow" money from someone. Also the idea of paying interest, isnt very appealing to me. I understand i would be paying a far greater amount toward the investor, but i would come to think of him as a partner.

[lowininc]

jmsb,
I like your way of thinking about how life is too short to not be doing what you love. This is def a big project but I think you'll make it as long as you keep giving it 100%. I'm also in the process of going for a dream I've had but its more of an invention. I am probably about a quarter of the way through with it but it looks promising and def able to be done. Is there any trade shows or designers conventions you could take your business plan and some samples to? I guess I don't know enough about the clothing industry but I'd def suggest doing some networking and get people excited about your line. As excited as you are. Also I'd suggest doing some market research. See what kinds of other smaller companies like A&F you might have to compete with. I like Abercrombie so let me know when get a website public and you might have your first customer. If I can help you out with anything let me know. Good Luck!

lowininc

[wully00]

is your plan to manufacture and sell directly to retailers? I'd contact some small upscale boutiques and talk to them. Men or womens?

[Paint and Air Sportz]

Open up a store in your local upscale mall, and see if you can compete with the abercrombies and armanis. And remeber brands like lacoste, armani coach and other highend brands have been around for a VERY VERY VERY long time, and new clothing companys are started up everyday and fail everyday.

Why would i want to choose your brand over AX?

[jmsb]

Lowininc,
Best of luck to you and your invention. I truly hope that you make it big, and plan on seeing your product in the market The thing with taking my designs to designer conventions is that I don’t want already established brands to use my design. I would like to set way for a totally new brand that would focus more on design that is not seen today. Taking the best of Armani yet focusing more on styling than just the name. A bolder, fiercer, brand. Thanks for the encouraging words, it really helps make a difference and keeps me going when I feel like it should quit.

Wully00,
Wow, that would be a great offer if you can really do that, but im going to have to hold out on it for now, as generous as it seems. My main point was to eliminate the retailer, the middle man, and have my own store. Of course this is a lot harder and more risky, but it is the only way to introduce your styles to the world. It is the only way to be different, take risks and introduce ideas which may seem absurd or ridiculous until they are exposed to the public. My first step would be to open an online store, and spend some money on advertising. Then if sales start to rise, and popularity increases I wanted to create a physical mark and open a store, and carry on from there. If you can help me with this process, maybe you know some other contacts that are willing to invest in this field or so, please do point them out. Also I am aware that you recently started you own business in printing, how is that going?

Paint and Air Sportz,
I have researched quite a bit on some of these companies and have come to known that these people of established their brands throughout time. A|X was established in 1991 and Abercrombie was in the late 1800s. And it takes time to create a name this big, I am fully aware of this. But you have to start somewhere right? If Armani backed down thinking Abercrombie was 100 years ahead of it, it would have never existed today. And your logic is dead on. My goal is to eventually open up a store, in an upscale mall however it isn’t that easy. Living in what is known as the “Mall Capital” of the US, containing 3 of the countries top malls within 10 minutes driving distance of each another, it is rather expensive to lease a store in one of these. My plan is to start an online store and run viral advertising campaigns throughout malls and other popular places.

You also pose a straightforward question, that I pondered before I began to work on this…”why WOULD you choose my brand over A|X” ?
It is a tough question but the only answer I can give at this moment is this. First and foremost, the quality, material and overall design of my line should exceed expectations. It is not a brand that you would pay just for the name. Secondly, its all about presentation. How you set up the store, your design and how much is it consistent with the store’s theme, website and advertisements. Also people tend to follow what their role models do. With the help of advertising and models I am sure this would pick up eventually.

Thanks for taking the time to reply and if anyone can help me out here, maybe point me out to some people who are willing to finance such a project. Or if you can just give pointers, any comments and suggestions that would help too. Any other questions just ask

Jmsb.

[wully00]

You also pose a straightforward question, that I pondered before I began to work on this…”why WOULD you choose my brand over A|X” ?
It is a tough question but the only answer I can give at this moment is this. First and foremost, the quality, material and overall design of my line should exceed expectations.

I'm always looking for great clothing, especially after the last few years of everyone wearing an Abercrombie outfit. People are looking for cloths no one else is wearing.

Business is going well. If I could only buy more hours in a week.

[jmsb]

^ good to hear. yeah, business is fun, if you take out the risk factor. It can become quite addictive in a good way.

and yes, that was my plan- to come out with a new brand to revive the current status of the clothing market, where everyone is "over dosing' on the already few brands in the market.

thanks for all your help guys. I plan on launching the site today, and will post in the other section. best of luck to you all.

[Paint and Air Sportz]

Also for an interesting niche you may want to have clothes manufactured in italy or france, the hollister shirt im wearing right now is made in peru and AX makes their clothes in another 3rd/2nd world country and when your chargin 30$ for a t shirt you can at least have it made in italy.

[jmsb]

^ thats a fantastic idea! but id need to get in touch with people there. i need to establish these connections. im gonna seriously look into that now. thanks for the heads up. anyone one know of people i can contact with these sort of connections?

also i emailed a company that runs major advertisements all throughout the country in all the major malls. im gonna see how much it costs to run these ads for a month....right in front of the A|X stores lol

[ramy]

jmsb, Have you completed a business plan ?

cheers

[dmdelectronics]

jmsb I responded to your PM. Please reply, thanks.

[jmsb]

ramy, yeah i actually do have a pretty solid business plan that I plan to stick to. why do you ask?

dmelectronics, sorry for the delay, im a little wrapped in something right now. will get back to you shortly.

[ramy]

Just checkin because many people dive into stuff without doing the business plan and that can cause them grief in the long term..

Good to see that you have a business plan completed.