TIME TO PRODUCE (2016/2017)
The least glamorous, but possibly the most important aspect of bringing a fashion product or collection to market is production and manufacturing. For most designers and small fashion brands, finding sources of (small quantities) production is the most challenging element to get right. Too often, designers find themselves with orders to fulfil, but not the right company to produce them. Especially small amounts. While there are endless options for production, both domestic and international, finding quality suppliers can be difficult. Although producers have become more open to working with young designers, your orders (in small, unpredictable quantities) may tend to get pushed to the back of the order queue, meaning that your deliveries may be later than bigger brands, which can negatively impact sell-through rates and vendor relationships.
On behalf of Forza Fashion House I launched two projects together with FASHIONCLASH and Emir Durut of slowFASHIONfast.com (Banja Luka/ Bosnia).
1. KNOWLEDGE
I organised a private view presentation of Slow Fashion Production for max 20 (international) designers. During this presentation Emir elaborated more on how to work with a garment producer and what is important, the possiblities of producing small quantities, his amazing company and his philosophy of slow fashion production in general.
2. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Three upcoming local designers who struggled with the production (proces) of their garments got the chance to visit the SlowFashionFast company and followed a four day intensive production programme learning everything they needed to know. This enabled the production of their collections, and they - and also other international designers - are still producing their designs at SlowFashionFast.
