How to Sell Fashion Sketch and Garment online

By khushbu sompura - July 30, 2017

Many fashion students and fashion designers ask for more info on how to make money from designs.  So let’s talk today about how and where you can sell your fashion ideas. Who are the potential buyers for your talent and why?

Before we begin it is very important to have a realistic idea of what you’re really good at. Try to be honest with yourself and it will be an easier path to walk So.....we set out to do the research for you, and share a few of our top suggestions below. What has worked for you? Please share in the comments any other good outlets you've found for selling your fashion designs.

IF you are better at designing

You are good at imagining great designs. Your head is full of creativity but unfortunately you’re not so great at drawing it the way it’s in your head. No worries!  You are like most fashion designers! Many fashion designers are better handling the fabric than they do the pencil. And this is absolutely fine. Your talent is ideas. Where you can sell your talent is:

Fashion companies

Assuming that you know how to put together a fashion portfolio you can apply for jobs as a fashion designer. Apply to work full time or freelance from your bed at home. Freelancers websites like www.upwork.com,  www.peopleperhour.com, www.thesketchingshop.com, www.freelancer.in are a place to start looking for opportunities.

If you are good at designing local wholesalers company also give you freelancing job, Sketches or they give you material for making designing sample for them.

Nowadays Fashion industry want design handmade and in adobe photoshop, adobe illustrator and coraldraw software. They want with presentation, color option and technical sketch with all the details.

Attention! your portfolio should look professional and polished. Otherwise you won’t get any calls for years.

Companies don’t pay money for your designs. Fashion industry just doesn’t work like this! You should show your designing skills in a portfolio and then the employer hires you to make NEW collection that are inspired by the trends of the future season.

Create a professional portfolio. This is called a "look book" in the fashion industry and contains photographs of six to 12 of your best designs, descriptions of their construction, fabric swatches and proposed prices. Photographs should show each outfit from different angles as well as include close-ups of details such as buttons, bead work and embroidery.

Handmade clothes

Everyone wants to look beautiful on their special day and look different from others in their routine day to day life.. Learn how to sew perfectly and start advertising your services locally, friend circle, family and relatives, neighbours and online. Make posters, visiting cards, use your social media profiles like Instagram, twitter, Roposo, blogging and Facebook page to show what you can do.

There are many websites similar to www.payumoney.com,  etsy.com, www.amazon.com, www.flipkart.com...  where you can sell your hand made clothes and accessories. Nice and professional made pictures are essentials if you are going to sell online. Pictures with your cell phone are a huge NO-NO. People will give their money if you show that you have attention to details and this includes good presentation (pictures + proper item description)

 Knowing how to sew is very, very important. These people won’t pay you for a sketch. (Nobody does that!) They will want a finished dress from you.

Clubs

Yes, this a great opportunity for those who like a little bit of drama and sparkles in their designs. Visit the clubs that you like and make a meeting with the MANAGER ( not the waitress, not the bartender!) . Speak with the men in charge and offer them to make the costumes for the dancers. Bring photos of designs you’ve already made. If they don’t need such services in the moment make sure you leave your business card – they might call you in 6 months, wanting you to dress the whole ballet.

Attention! Knowing how to sew is again very important. Nobody wants amateur costumes – they want something beautiful and head turning. Things might be not as polished as for brides and graduates but don’t ever send a sloppy outfit with your name on it.

Boutique

You will again need negotiation skills and not being afraid to talk with people. Explaining them your design concept. Make a list of the boutiques in your town that sell clothes similar to what you design. Make whole presentation for them on how your design is very different from others. How different looks you can give customer to there special occation.

 Live tip: Always try to talk with the person in charge. The sales lady will most likely  tell you to leave or take your business card and never give it to the manager. Learn to ask the right people if you want to receive the right answers!

 IF you are better at illustrating

You are a great painter. Holding the pencil is a bliss for you and anything that you create people love it. Even if it’s a simple design.  You are like most fashion illustrators! Fashion illustrators stay between painters and designers but their head is turned toward the painting part. Your talent is presenting ideas. Where you can sell your talent

Fashion designers

Many fashion designers prefer to hire an illustrator to bring their vision to life. This guarantees them that when they show up in front of a client or an investor their ideas will be approved and bought. Designers also work with illustrators when they need to take their collection to the manufacturer.

Bloggers

Oh, fashion bloggers are a great inspiration. They would usually hire you to make a portrait of them or to illustrate a special article. Sometimes they will want you to illustrate the cover image of their blog or a certain product ( make up, clothes, fashionable girls). Contact bloggers that you love and show them a few cover images you’ve made. If they like your style they will get back in touch.

Finding the buyers for your talent takes a bit of talent, a lot of courage and a lot of patience. Don’t stop trying if you don’t succeed the first time.  If you are made of what it takes to be in fashion industry you never quit! Fall and rise until you make it!

Illustrations-These should not only be flattering, they should be informative. Make sure you show not just the front but the back of the garment. Think about what you would want to know about it before buying. You only need one image on your catalogue page, but the item page should have more.

The business of fashion is always competitive, but good service is a great way to win loyal customers. There are still a lot of women out there who find shopping online intimidating, so it's your job to show them that it can be a positive experience, no more risky or difficult than shopping on the high street. Give them what they want, and they'll give you great online sales.