In this post, we're exploring some of the key topics that budding fashion business owners should consider building their skills and knowledge before they embark on setting up their own fashion businesses.

let's count them down, 16 key areas and in no particular ranking. That would be way too subjective.

1. Self-Awareness About Your Suitability as Your Own Boss

Not everyone suited to being their own boss. So if there's one place that has to be considered before you get all worked up and head to the nearest bank for a loan, it's to do some self-assessment and figure out why you want to run your own business. How prepared are you for it and where can you get ongoing support from? Understanding your self, your motivations, strengths and weaknesses will provide you with a clearer idea of how suited you are to the role of self-emp0loyment and all it's pluses and minuses.

2. Industry Segments

You need to learn about the industry segments, core product categories, roles within the...

Not everyone wants to be a fashion designer. And with the multitude of roles to form a long career in, fashion has plenty to offer young talent that seeks more to life than design. 

In this month's interview, Larissa Lima gives us a look at what inspired her into choosing fashion journalism as a career, what it's like working in fashion, as well as some tips for achieving success in the field of fashion media.

How would you describe yourself as a fashion journalist? 

First of all, I love to write! And because of that, I describe myself as a passionate writer. My skill is in being versatile as a writer. My career has enabled me to work in fashion, beauty, marketing, culture, and lifestyle. All those segments are so important because they make my writing skills more enriching.

What is your background and what training have you had?

I started my career early, at 16 years old, and my first job was as a sales associate for a luxury multi-brands store (Prada, Valentino,...

Everday is an opportunity to take one more step on your path to fulfilling your dreams of becoming a fashion designer. This post is based on a lesson in our free course, Advice And Guidance On Choosing A Career As A Fashion Designer.

Read it and learn about specific steps you can take over the next 12 months to develop a better understanding of working in fashion.

Ok so here's a list of things that you CAN Do over the next year to move closer to your dreams. All of these steps are actionable. In other words, you can make this happen.

When you enroll on the free course you can download the list too in a Word doc and make use of it as an action planning tool.

They're not listed in any particular order of priority.

1. Review who you follow on social media and only follow people that help you to learn more about fashion design and the skills you need. Look for professional designers, pattern cutters etc as well as fashion colleges and universities.
2. Make sure you are signed up to...

This post is going to give you some practical advice on how to pay off your student loans, and avoid working in the classic jobs that most students end up in to earn their way through college.

This is practical information that you can apply immediately.

This is not a get quick rich scheme. We genuinely need your help and you could genuinely benefit from ours.

1. Join The Fashion Student Hub Affiliate Scheme

All you need to do is promote our courses. To get started you need three things two of which you almost certainly have. We'll give you the third for free.

Here's what a successful affiliate needs:

1. To be active on at least one social network.
2. Have an interest in fashion.
3. An affiliate account with The Fashion Student Hub. To sign up click here.

How It Works

Once you register with us you are provided with your unique affiliate account. We'll send you the log-in details then once you're logged in your account dashboard will show you all the courses that are eligible for...

Annesia is a creative leader & visionary. She services a diverse range of clients addressing their needs both domestically and internationally. Originally working in design, textiles, and sourcing, Annesia has been contributing her innovative talent to large fashion houses for over ten years and offers a dynamic range of aesthetic & skills. She is currently a full fashion service consultant.

In this month's interview, she gives us a look at what inspired her into choosing fashion as a career, what it's like working in fashion, as well as some tips for aspiring designers.

How Would You Describe Yourself as a Designer?

"Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live.” – Gianni Versace.

I design from my experiences, travels, culture, architect. I feel you find beauty in every step of your journey and you turn that into fashion, you wear it and...

Applying for a job can be tiring, stressful and tedious. But it's got to be done if you want that job.

Despite your best efforts if you fail to win an interview it's best to always reflect back and consider what might have happened. There are lots of things that are in your influence that you should pay attention to.

This list is divided into two sections. Areas you have influence over and areas you don't. Use the list to think about what might have been the cause of you failing to get to interview and also what you can do to increase the chance next time.

Areas You Have Influence Over

1. Poor Keyword Match.Your resume didn't do a good enough job of matching you against the needs of the job advert so when their automated system was set to search for possible candidates, you got rejected.
2. Poor Skills Match. You have not clearly indicated how you have applied the desired skills you say you have or your knowledge and skills don't match the capabilities required to excel in...

Most of us live in a highly connected world that reaches out and reflects the lives of others and ourselves. With tweets and likes, posts and messaging all day long they flood our inboxes and streams. Occasionally they catch our attention through humour or horror or simple human kindness.

So today is my chance to share a post with a human face. I was contacted through LinkedIn by Mehram Saleem from Lahore in Pakistan. He works for  Asmara International Limited, a global fashion company with offices in 8 countries, as a Technical Manager responsible for the areas of quality, cutting, stitching, sampling, shading, auditing, and pattern fitting.

He's trying to find a job in Europe to improve his career opportunities and I promised to share his connection and do what I could to help him on his path.

It's difficult to know where to start really. How do you help someone the other side of the world to get to another continent?

I want to offer not only Mehram...

From time to time we invite students and new entrants in the fashion industry to offer their perspective on learning, personal development and how to succeed in getting a foothold in the fashion industry. 

Here's a recent post by one such person Fernanda Ondarza Dovali who gives us her views on The fashion Student Hub and more.

My Perspective as a Student of Fashion

Have you ever doubted your own ability to succeed or make the right decision – not knowing where to look for help?

I have.

My name is Fernanda and I'm a former Fashion Design BA student and a current Fashion Communication BA student at the Conde Nast College of Fashion & Design. As a reference tool, The Fashion Studnet Hub will be a system I will use and wish I had known of before. Everything from how to make a portfolio for an application to which career pathway to choose – I can clearly identify with.

A Global Reach for Fashion Students

The Fashion Student Hub is an online educational system,...

Sometimes it's nice to write about a topic that pops up because it's so fascinating and off the usual list of things we cover. This post is one such post. It's about pleating. And even if this isn't an area you get involved in I think you'll find it really interesting. There are two useful videos in the post toward the end so make sure you watch these too.

I came across a Facebook post recently that mentioned a company in the UK that does pleating. So I had to check them out. Ciment Pleating has been established since 1925 which makes them the oldest pleating firm in the UK. They have built up a reputation as the number 1 pleaters in the country and regularly export to Europe and the rest of the world. They supply pleating services for fashion designers, interior designers, home dressmakers, fashion colleges, film companies, advertising, theatrical costumiers, and milliners.

Why Use Pleating

Designers use pleats in their designs for both practical reasons, for...

Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi spins through a dizzying array of inspirations. He takes it from surprisingly varied places, anywhere from '50s pinups to a fleeting glimpse of a woman on the street who makes him shout "Stop the cab!"

This short video will give you ideas for capturing your own inspirations.

As you watch the video take a note paper and jot down anything that you find useful.

Reflection Questions

Here are a few questions to reflect on to make the most of the clip and what Isaac has to say. 

1. What are the sources of inspiration he mentions?
2. How does he find these sources inspire him?
3. How could this apply to you?
4. What is the key message you have taken from this designer's experience?

Never Run Out Of Ideas for Your Designs

One of the key steps in the design process is research. So it makes sense that if a designer masters the art of research then they will always be able to draw upon a rich mixture of valuable material to help inspire...