The end of my 2010 spring seminar marathon – for the time being! Just finished a few weeks of intensive seminars, from MAGIC International in Vegas (four seminars), Globaltex LA, San Francisco workshop and finally the FBI LA Textile Week series (15) closing with a one day workshop. To top it all off a FBI fashion show tomorrow evening at LA Market featuring the new lines of 7 FBI members.
Below is the blog written by Jill Mazur for the FBI blog who is an apparel business and technology consultant. I thought it would be a good addition to my own blog.
Industry Experts – Why it’s Important
Wow! It’s been a busy, busy week and it’s only Wednesday (as I write this). FBI is in the middle of a week full of seminars and networking events for Textile Week and, if that wasn’t enough, we’re doing a fashion show with the California Market Center in conjunction with the Focus Apparel and Accessory show on Saturday, March 20 at 4:30 p.m. in the CMC penthouse.
I walked the Textile show twice, once on Monday and then again on Tuesday. One of my clients is looking to source some fabrics and trims and I was happy to help her out. I know, I’m a sucker for fabrics…last GlobalTex show I was blabbering on about Modal© and how soft and drapey it is. Now I’ll blabber on about Tencel© and how wonderfully absorbent it is. I had the good fortune to chat with textile industry expert Walter Meck of Fessler, U. S. A. He took the time to show me some of the latest fabrications and discussed some of the different properties of the fibers they’re using. I’m a huge fan of their products, especially after having visited their facilities in Orwigsburg, PA. You know how some people like to know where their food comes from? I like to know where my clothes come from - watching fibers spin into yarns, yarns knit into fabrics and fabrics turned into garments truly makes me smile.
I’ve had the opportunity to sit through some of the seminars this week and had a great time meeting some new FBI members at the networking event Monday evening. Our series of seminars during Textile Week are free for members and everyone is welcome to attend. I’m looking forward to attending Frances Harder and Dana Fried’s Apparel Business Workshop on Thursday, March 18th. I know a lot about the business of fashion, but I’m always eager to learn more and I know I’ll pick up a ton of useful information tomorrow. This workshop is not a part of the Textile Week seminars, so there is a fee, but it’s one of the best investments you’ll ever make if you want to be successful in the apparel industry.
Speaking of being successful in the apparel industry, I came in at the tail end of Staci Riordan’s “Legal Strategies for a Profitable Fashion Business” seminar yesterday and was reminded of a number of important things. The detail that stuck with me was how important it is for businesses to build a great team of industry experts to rely upon. If you’re dealing with a copyright infringement on one of your designs or international trademark issues with your apparel brand, seek the counsel of an apparel industry lawyer. If you need capital for your business, find a factor who deals specifically with the apparel industry and understands your retail environment. Want to know more about how to make your apparel business profitable? Talk to the experts. I wanted to know more about fabrics, so I went to one of my experts.
The FBI has so many resources available for products, services and consulting, it never ceases to amaze me. Membership starts at $250 per year and with the membership, you get one hour of free consulting with one of our experts along with a whole host of benefits including free seminars, discounts on many services, great networking opportunities and the chance to participate in our fashion shows at a greatly discounted rate. Hey, if I wasn’t already a member, I’d have joined a long time ago. Just because I’m considered an industry expert doesn’t mean I won’t jump at the chance to learn from another industry expert. How do you think we become experts in the first place?
Jill Mazur is an independent apparel business and technology expert working with Fashion Business, Incorporated. Email: jill@fashionbizinc.org
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