So have you ever been driving on a long road trip and go....hmmm that sign looks cool, let's stop here. Well that is what I have been doing on the internet lately. I have been openly overindulging on fashion sites and blogs, and while I have found some pretty great ones none have really stuck out to me until.......

I am in love with this picture provided by Fashionation. Very little sites actually make me want to subscribe and get updates but while browsing my staple PR Couture (link on the side) they highlighted this site. So if they think it's cool worth a click right? RIGHT!


Next stop was this article about BAPE from a business aspect. You know that I am all about Business + Fashion so when The Business Of Fashion announced two new team members, and that one wrote his Master's thesis on this brand I had to read it!

IMHO I don't think it's just enough to know about WHO is wearing it, but also the story behind the company/brand that's being worn.

Many times we think that because so and so is wearing it or endorsing it in their songs (Kanye-Stronger "In my Pastelle or my BAPE sh---), that a brand is a success. But this is the total opposite for this company. As the author of the article puts it,

"...while one would be hard-pressed to write off the current state of Bape as a 'failure,' the brand value at least appears to have struggled in the last 5 years in Japan."

It kinda reminds me of "Mommy got a new promotion that makes way more money but she's no longer coming to my ballet recitals." Mommy's gained value in the office but lost it at home.

I want to work in Branding and BAPE's story is as interesting to me as luxury brands. In my post about luxury brands I talk about the Advertising to Market Share ratio being something worth studying and the article about the Japanese street brand raises the question of Revenue vs. Loyalty. Staying true to home. Is success a double edge sword?

Remember on Sex and the City when Samantha reassured Smith that this ad was a success:

and she told him "First the Gays, then the Girls, then the Industry?" Well Bape's story reminds me of that. Once you're brand is counterfeited by China...YOU'VE MADE IT! But at what cost to your Brand Integrity?

Side Note: I will now be researching and calling up the powers that branding be and get back to you with a post about Brand Integrity and Brand Loyalty

This article started all kinds of questions in my head. So read the article come back and leave a Stamp. Let's talk about this!

Last stop on my Freeway today was a special on On Style Network about shoes and they went inside Salvatore Ferragamo to see the shoes being made!

Just like in the picture the shoes are 100% hand made. I was so impressed. When you buy these shoes you are getting something special for sure. Talk about Brand Integrity! With all the craziness about sweatshops, outsourcing, and going green Ferragamo has stayed true to it's founder's vision and has given a quality product that is made of natural materials and assembled with a vegetable base glue! "Get into this Love Muffins" as B. Scott would say.

So let's talking about marketing shall we? How smart was it of Ferragamo to show their workshop to viewers, fans, and stilettoholics? How many of us out there who cannot realistically afford a pair of these beautiful works of art decide that one pair is now more necessary than a Toyota Prius?

So here ends my journey for today...hope you enjoyed the ride, leave a stamp and let's get this conversation going.
Image provided by: source

Time to get out on the road and start your Fashion Freeway:


Fashion and PR Agency Jack + Bill are looking for one (1):

• Model
• Women's Apparel Designer
• Jewelery Designer
• Fashion Stylist
  

Those chosen will receive three (3) months of complimentary representation from the agency!

Date: July 15-16
Time: 3-9 pm
Location: NYC - Sandbox Studios, 250 Hudson Street 11th floor
RSVP: casting[at]jackandbillpr[dot]com


WWD and W Magazine are looking for Fall Interns. Check out this post from The Fashion Bomb for more details.

*Also don't forget to check to the right for more jobs posted DAILY here on No Fear, Just DIVA

Good Luck!

"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back! No Fear, Just DIVA"

When I was a little girl one thing I knew that I did not want to do was start my own business. I just was never one of those people who wanted to build from scratch. I thought that it would be just enough to work my way up the corporate ladder in 3 inch stilettos.

But there are some of you who know that you want a business of your own in the fashion industry and if so I suggest you make
The Business of Fashion a bookmark now. They have a wonderful series Setting Up Your Own Fashion Business and it is a must read BEFORE you take your first step towards entrepreneurship.

Part 1 in an 8 part series, author Imran Amed takes his pupils through an extensive questioning that boarders existentialism. Geared more towards a designer than another profession in the industry, Amed is honest about the hardships one faces when starting and failing the first business building efforts. Part 1 also discusses:

• Building a team to "Fill in the gaps"

• Truly understanding your customer and what your brand brings to the industry that is not currently made available by other brands

• Thinking of yourself as "a CEO first"
  

All of which appeal to those who are looking to work in any industry. I personally started to think about whether or not I am a "Forward Planner" and how sharp are my "Troubleshooting Skills?"


Also for the self starters out there check out The Fashion Business, Inc. They provide great resources and seminars for start up companies that want to succeed in the industry.

Membership fees vary depending on your status in the business (students $35 annual fee up to 2 years after graduation), but the site boasts great exposure for your label and website as well as discounts on classes and seminars. Once again this is more geared towards designers, and in this case manufactures, but I think that it's worth a click.

One of the things that I have learned especially from starting this blog is that You Never Know What Information is Out There Until You Hit the Road and Put Yourself Out There. (yes the caps were necessary) Email them, (whoever) and ask questions. Be willing to fail. When you're okay with failing at something you love you will ultimately succeed.

Pretty late in the post the reason why I call this a Construction Zone is because when starting anything from scratch there is a lot of mapping out, tearing down. breaking, building, starting over, and waiting, all the while causing a traffic jam. Sometimes what can look like a whole lot of mess in the beginning can turn into something really amazing when it's completed.

Here's to the amazing...

If you have ever looked for a job in fashion anywhere, doing anything then I am sure this logo is very familiar to you. Apparel Search is one of the top sites to find a job in fashion and learn more about the companies that are offering them. Type "Jobs in Fashion" into your search engine and this is surely one of the top results.

I had the great fortune to interview the creator of Apparel Search, Michael, who is also the creator of the mega networking site Fashion Industry Network (FIN) where industry professionals, or those who aspire to be, meet and connect. Groups are created to connect those in similar fields and allow a greater visibility for those just starting out.

These sites are the perfect place to start your Point A. But how does one just starting on their journey properly utilize these sites that they too might see themselves riding along the Fashion Freeway towards the desired Point B? Here is what Michael had to say to my standard Road Maps questions, plus a few more:


I originally found interest in the fashion industry because my father was in the industry. As far back as I could remember, he had been an outerwear designer. Because I am not clever enough to become a doctor, I have followed in my fathers foot steps and entered into the clothing industry. During Junior High School and High School, I had several jobs. One of which was working at a clothing store called Mandees. During college, I worked one summer at Macy's. After graduation from college, I begin my formal career in the fashion industry. I have been working in the apparel industry for approx. 16 years (yes, I am now feeling very old). Nearly a decade building Apparel Search.

2.) What's your advice to those who want to best utilize both FIN and Apparel Search?

When utilizing the Apparel Search website, I suggest you start at the second page of the site. That is the page you will arrive to after clicking the Apparel Search image or click the word "Enter" after arriving at www.ApparelSearch.com On that second page, you will find key categories along the left border of the page. Depending on what you are searching for, you will need to select an appropriate category. You can then drill down thru the directory and hopefully find the subject that you wish to further investigate. If you are having difficulty finding the information that you are searching for, you can also try the search box that is found on the site. That engine is currently set to only search the Apparel Search Owned websites. If you still can't find what you are searching for from the directory or by using the engine, use the contact us form at the bottom of the page to let us know what you are searching to locate. We will try to point you in the proper direction.

In regard to the Fashion Industry Network, the best way to utilize this site is to create a very detailed user profile. It is important to allow other members to understand your experience in the industry and your goals. If you take the time to create a good profile, it will help you as well as other members. For example, if you are a fashion designer specializing in women's fashion, it is best to be specific and not simply list that you are a fashion designer. List your specialty so that you are not contacted by people looking to collaborate with a menswear designer. The more details that you provide the better for everyone. After creating a profile, I suggest visiting the "groups" section. Although we all work in the fashion industry, this is the section where we can more easily locate the people that have the most similar interests. For example, a hair stylist is better off in the stylist group then being a member of the sewing group. If a member has a niche interest that is relevant to the fashion industry and finds that we do not already have a group set up that matches his or her interest, the member can notify me and I can create a new group for them.

3.) Any Traveling Music? Any songs or videos that helped push you along your journey?

I enjoy music, but it is not a major part of my life...


I also asked:

• What inspired you to create both these sites? They are amazingly helpful to those that are in the fashion industry or would like to be in the future, how did the idea come about?
• Were there any challenges?
  
• When did you know that your sites were truly successful?
  
• What is your advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps of creating a successful business/site?

The concept behind Apparel Search was my desire to better organize my own contacts. I personally had many business cards from factories, wholesalers, retailers etc. Creating web pages, was a great way to organize my contact list. After I started to create web pages to organize my own resources, I decided to add a method on the site for companies to submit their company details. As information was submitted, I added new pages and new categories. I never looked back... and now Apparel Search is a very large directory.

In regard to challenges, I would say that the most challenging issue is that there is not enough time in the day. I have a zillion ideas on how to make Apparel Search better for the viewers. Unfortunately, I do not have enough time in the day to implement the ideas. The second biggest challenge is that when companies change their phone numbers, website address, etc., they do not always inform Apparel Search of the changes. Therefore, the listing will become inaccurate. The goal is to keep everything up to date. However, it is a challenging goal.


The Fashion Industry Network was developed as a method to help members of the fashion industry meet one another. The site is as helpful to me as it is to the other members. I have already made several great business contacts. The challenge of this site is to keep people off that do not belong... People that do not have a true interest in fashion are NOT welcome. Hopefully other members will continue to report to me if they start receiving correspondence from other members that do not appear to be business relevant.

As far as I am concerned both Apparel Search and the Fashion Industry Network are successful. As long as we have at least "one" member that finds the sites to be helpful, I am happy. In all honesty, I would not care if the Fashion Industry Network had only ten members. As long as we all helped each other out and treating each other respectfully, ten members would be a success.


There you have it! Crank up your Traveling Music, or whatever inspires you and get started on your Fashion Freeway now!
"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back. No Fear, Just DIVA!"