Book Description
The national retail apparel business has grown to a $172 billion per year industry, and the employment rate for designers is expected to outpace that of all other occupations through the year 2008. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide is a must-have for the thousands of talented designers who want to see their dream of creating an independent fashion line become a reality.

Mary Gehlhar, author, industry authority, and consultant to hundreds of designers (including newcomers Alicia Bell, Keanan Duffty, and Milly), gives readers behind-the-scenes advice and essential business information on creating and sustaining a successful career as an independent designer. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide provides the necessary tools to get a fashion line or label up and moving on the right track, including: •Start-up costs and financing •Legal issues •Business plans •Public relations and sales •Marketing and manufacturing •Distribution-trade, trunk, and runway shows

This book also provides case studies from independent designers at different stages of their careers, including tough letdowns and exciting successes. Young designers weigh-in on topics important to them when they were starting out, while several top name designers offer personal perspectives on a single question, providing a window to their world and a variety of answers.

Designers are bursting with creativity but often fall flat going into business as an independent. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide provides designers with the one thing design school didn’t-intelligent and successful business practices.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

wish I would have bought it sooner...
I wish I had bought this book before I started my company.
I learned allot of things the hard way and if I had, had this book I may have been a little more successful a little sooner.

I highly recommend this book to anyone starting out in the ''business" or even have been in business for a while. A great read!

Good resource
If you are looking for a detailed book on how to start a fashion business, this is NOT it. It's a good start though, the author offers a good general overview of the business in an interesting, readable style. I recommend thisto those who are just thinking of starting a fashion business, on your "idea stage" or if you just want extra information about the industry. You won't be wasting your money.

what a relief
My business partner and I have been struggling with the hardships of being a growing apparel line in the fashion industry. So far this book has addressed and solved almost every problem, every second guessed thought, even every mistake we have made. Thank goodness a book as informational as this has hit the market. This survival guide has taught me so much from both the design and business aspect that I could have never learned in school.

This book is a must have to start your own fashion line
It tells you step by step what to do and what not to do, it even gives you places to go so you can get started and gives you that extra push you need to make it

Everything you need to know and more
This book is the most concise source of information on how to mindfully start one's own clothing line. Detailed and clear, it outlines everything one needs to know from inseption and development through financials, incorporation, press, factory relations, shows and beyond. It is, by far, the most complete resource for any aspiring designer. ... Read more

Book Description
For anyone who loves fashion, this is a dream book: a vast collection of original sketches by 50 of the world's most celebrated fashion designers. Style maven Laird Borrelli has brought together 250 stunning sketches, designs, and concepts by a galaxy of prominent designers from every international fashion capital. Top names like Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld join hot up-and-comers such as Roksanda Ilincic and Yoshikazu Yamagata in a magnificent and unprecedented gallery of distinctive signature illustration styles, unique creative thought processes, and work in a huge variety of media. Lively text introduces each designer, and an utterly invaluable reference section in back provides contact details for each designer's label. Fashion illustration has never looked so good. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

the gold standard
i teach from this book and it is instrumental in creating enormous breakthroughs in students' sketching abilities.you will never tire of this book.loads of information.a must.

Fab Fashion
I have a lot of worthless books on fashion illustration, however, this one is not one of those. It is worth the money and then some. She is clearly a good teacher, the illustrations are great and the videos are a bonus. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE IT!!!
My teacher recommmended that I get this book and I absoulutely love it. Karen Hagen is a great illustrator and gives a variety of ideas of different mediums to use and how to coordinate them all together. This book is also great for those who don't quite know how to draw. There are step by step instructions and the illustrations are great!

Fab!!! Well worth the money!
This book is worth every penny- it is clear and concise and shows you the basics of fashion illustration. ... Read more

Book Description
From the classrooms of top fashion schools to the studios of talented designers, this book takes kids on an inspiring tour of the dynamic world of fashion design. Replete with colorful photographs and facts about the history and the future of fashion, it even shows readers how to get started now. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

this book sucks
i don't know what these other people are talking about, but i bought this book thinking it would be great for my little sister who is an aspiring fashion designer, and i thought it would be a good book due to these other reviews, but i was very very disappointed. this book sucks.

Covers topic well
I bought this for my niece, but read it first. This book covers a lot of material and is written for pre-teens and teens. The people it lists as current designers is out-dated, but other than that, it is a good resource.

Good Basic
This is really a book for a beginner to read and determine if that is the path that they might be interested in.

MYBOOK
I THINK I WANT TO BE A FASHION DESIGNER IS A GREAT BOOK TO READ SO THAT I CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT DESIGNING.I CANT WAIT TO READ IT AGAIN. I LEARNED TO NEVER GIVE UP ON AN IDEA.YOU WILL NEVER KNOW IF YOU WILL MAKE IT OR NOT IF YOU DON'T TRY.I LEARNED MANNEQUINS ARE FOR CLOTHING THAT I DESIGN.IF THERE IS A MISTAKE ON THE DRESS, IT IS A PRACTICE DRESS.IF I MAKE IT RIGHT THE NEXT TIME, IT IS A DRESS THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN FOR MANY MANY TIMES.

Really nice book!
This is a really nice book.Lots of glossy color photos of star designers add to the enjoyment of reading this book.It's great for little or big girls interested in fashion.I especially liked the story of the little girl who made up a new kind of mitten.She's been very successful with her efforts.It shows that not everyone has to go to design school to be a success in the field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

One of the BEST!!
I don't think that I can say anymore than whats alreasy been said about how ABSOLUTELY GREAT this book is.

It really is a great resource to own. It has everything from layout (which one is the best and which ones aren't), to resume, to interview information. It also encourages you to think out of the box a bit by showing you what everyone wlse os doing.

Once agian excellent resource for up-an-coming fashion designers/students and even those who have left and are returning to the fashion industry.

Excellent
A great book for more advanced Designers, show you different presentations of portfolio...Great but I wish that the pictures were in colors not in B&W.

~Did What I Needed It To Do~
I purchased this book to help me with my portfolio layout for acceptance to the Fashion Institute of Technology.Although I needed to follow FITs guidelines, I feel that I gained a lot of great knowledge and excellent ideas and inspiration by referencing this book before submitting my portfolio to FIT.I am proud to say that I was accepted and will now be referencing the book to put together my portfolio for interviews in the industry.

Take your designs to the next level
For someone who loves to sew and is looking on how to bring their designs to the next level, then this is the book for you. It chocked full of great tidbits and even provides several portfolio options for the novice beginner. For great inspiration, it features sketches from up and coming designers and the established guard before they were on the map. Great reference book for hard core design fashionistas!!

Excellent resource for creating professional presentations
This is an excellent book for anyone in the field of fashion or textiledesign who needs to make presentations to clients. Plenty of information onhow to organize your thought processes as well as give your presentationsimpact. I would most certainly recommend this book to someone just startingout in the fashion industry. Even seasoned professionals could gain somenew information on becoming more creative in their presentation of theirproduct lines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Fabulous for Students
This book is fantastic simply for the amount of information it contains, both about designers and info about the particular decade of fashion. Just buy it, especially if u r a student on a limited budget.

THE book of 20th Century fashion
This is the book on fashion - if you only want to buy one book about fashion in the twentieth century, this is the one to buy. Even if you have many books already, buy this anyway. The pictures are fantastic - a great mix of the classics (Dovima and the Elephants is of course included) and some you may not have seen before - and the prose is great, not too flowery but still capturing the art and drama that is fashion. Organised chronologically by decade, this book includes not just an overview of each era, but also informative sections on most of the major designers, including some of the oft-forgotten pioneers such as Lanvin, Fortuny, McCardell and Capucci. There are also articles on various aspects of the fashion industry, from how the clothes are made the idols of each era, costumes in the movies and many more. A beautiful book to look at as well as one of the most informative non-scholarly, this is a fantastic book for any fashionista, whether a total devotee or someone just new to the charms of fashion.he

If you only buy one, buy this one
One reviewer said if you have "Couture" dont buy this.Remember Couture is 20 years out-of-date and mostly black and white.This is the book for every fashion student who wants to know each decade's celebrities, looks, designers, etc.It is the whole course in a nutshell (well rather a big heavy nutshell) but still, if you only buy one, buy this one.

Text Book Worthy
"Fashion" by Seeling is the best book out on the market today when it comes to a survey of 20th century fashion.It is full of fabulous photographs, great historical data, and lists a plethora of designers including more current ones that "Couture" does not.This book is being used as the course textbook for the class "The Great Designers" at Marymount University in Arlington, VA.Thank you to Seeling for providing us with such a great "jumping off" point for our class discussions!

Good Review
Excellent photographic journey of 20th century style -- not only clothing, but hair and make-up as well.Very similar to COUTURE: THE GREAT DESIGNERS by Caroline Milbank and includes many of the same photos and drawings. FASHION is about 200 pages longer than COUTURE, however, and thereforeincludes more information, plus is somewhat less costly.If you alreadyhave COUTURE, you already have FASHION -- no need to buy both unless it'san area of detailed research. ... Read more

Amazon.com
From accordion pleats--"fine, narrow, regular pleating created by sewing or pressing minute DARTS into the fabric of dresses and skirts"--to the Wonderbra--"see BRASSIERE"--and beyond, this dictionary is a reference book for the fashion-forward crowd. In hundreds of concise and informative entries, the universe of fashion from the mid-18th century through the late 1990s is fully documented. More than 300 illustrations (many of them color) offer readers the opportunity to look at designs that are better seen than described: designer Jeanne Lanvin's sketches, the bodystocking, Elsa Peretti's heart-shaped pendants, a 1920s permanent wave, a Fortuny dress. In all, this is a solid reference for readers interested in the history of fashion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Fashion vs style!
I like this dictionary it helps me a lot...i thought it was going to be a larger book like the one i saw on a t.v. show called Made, but this is a good source--thank you!

good, quick reference
A handy book when you need to know the difference between jacquard and damask, for example, though I wish there were more pictures for visual reference. Succinct definitions and coverage of major fashion and design terms. All in all, a good addition to anyone's collection of fashion reference books.

My first book about fashion
I recently became interested in fashion, and I think that this was a goodbook to start me off with.It was fairly informative, but not verydetailed.Also, there weren't many pictures of the variousdesigns/designers that were mentioned.I think this is a good book forbeginners, but perhaps not enough detail for someone with former knowledgeof the fashion world. I LOVE the Body Map illustration on page 38 (didanyone actually WEAR that?!?) ... Read more

Book Description
Both students of fashion design and professionals in the field will find valuable inspiration in this profusely illustrated idea book. More than 1,200 detailed illustrations provide the building blocks for designing imaginative and original clothing. The opening section serves as a photo-illustrated catalog of basic shapes for:

*Sleeves * Necklines * Hems * Pockets * Ties and Fastenings * Collars * Cuffs *Waistbands *Embellishments (lace, appliquque, etc.)

The book's second and main section combines photos and fashion illustrations to present unique and original design ideas for all of the above-noted clothing parts. Sixteen original designs per page are sketched in a grid format, according to intended use: casual, formal, special occasion, and essential. The drawings are cross-referenced according to suggested fabrics for construction. A gatefold flap inside the book presents an outline human figure to guide designers in mixing and matching garment parts. The book's final section, titled "Taking It Further," shows how to find additional inspiration from outside sources, for instance from architectural details, or the graphic designs of the 1960s Op Art movement, or the dress designs of the 1930s. Readers will also find inventive ideas for using specialty fabrics, including silk, organza, and suede. Color photos and illustrations on every page. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Images from Sample

Book Description
Images from Sample ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Secret Treasure
I accidentally discovered this book in my college's library and just had to have my own copy! I bought the paperback version and it's a lot more comfortable and manageable than the hardcover (which has various page widths that are hard to turn and looks chopped up), and costs much less too! Some of the designers featured are very bizarre and unpractical but still very inspirational!

The book not only features clothing from international designers from all sorts of various places (including Asia, South America, etc) but it also features jewelry, shoes, accessories, and ...spear designs. Definitely a must have.

decoration
It presents recent collections from interesting designers from all over the world. It serves as a good introduction to some of them, so afterwards you can get to know each one's collection better. Good reviews, very nice images. And apart from that, a very nice book to use as a decoration for your office. : )

A look into the world of modern fashion design
This book is absolutely fabulous, there's no other way to say it. Whether you're looking for a gift for someone who simply loves fashion, or are someone who loves fabric and the art of fabric manipulation (which is generaly called clothing), this tome is an excellent resource for information on up-and-coming fashion and designers. As a textiles & apparel major I find this book to be a great source of inspiration, but the layout, the wealth of large beautiful photos, and the artistic design of the book itself would make it a great coffee table book. The book is also a great bargain on Amazon, I have seen it for sale in several stores for upwards of $90. If I could give it more than five stars I would! ... Read more

Book Description
Made in Britain explores the phenomenon of British fashion; its history, its style, and its inspired reinventions. Design historian Catherine McDermott identifies key elements of British style including British tailoring, past and present; outdoors clothing and the revival of traditional labels; British fabrics; dressing for social events; and rebellion and subversion in British street style. The book explores the work of contemporary British designers including Timothy Everest, Alexander McQueen, and Vivienne Westwood along with accessory designers and the new generation of Brits leading the fashion world such as Luella Bartley and Fake London. It also looks at the current reinvention of classic design houses such as Burberry and Aquascutum, and the 19th-century tradition from which they have grown. ... Read more

Book Description
Is dressing a home the same as dressing a body? Dressing the Home attempts to answer that question, looking inside the homes of more than twenty of today’s hottest fashion designers and revealing them to be incredibly talented interior designers as well. The designers include Christian Louboutin, Catherine Malandrino, Patrick Cox, Betsey Johnson, and Diane von Furstenberg, as well as Dolce & Gabbana, who wrote the foreword.

Author Marie Bariller precedes each interview with a brief biographical note summarizing the designer’s career and signature style on the runway. Through Guillaume de Laubier’s photographs and the designers’ own words, the tone and décor of each home is revealed.

Perfect for both the fashion and interior design enthusiast, Dressing the Home shows that the talents behind the world’s most fashion-forward clothing and accessories have also created some of the world’s most lavish and intriguing interiors. ... Read more

Book Description
More than 150 fashion designers are featured from around the world

Current fashion is a complex phenomenon. In a constant state of constant flux, contemporary fashion combines a mix of the different cultural aspects that inform the modern individual. Atlas of Fashion Designers is born out of this proposition, and features a compilation of the most important fashion designers and their work in the past five years, selected from a multi-disciplinary perspective that display the heterogeneous mix of today's fashion world.

Featured designers all have one trait in common: they were singled out, not only for the quality of their work, but also because they illustrate different perspectives in their approach to fashion. This book includes designers with a wide array of visions, from classical haute couture to those who experiment with developing fields such as anthropology, new textiles, high technology, architecture, art, or recycling. From Ricardo Tiscci, Nicholas Ghesquiere to Sybilla, to artists who are primarily concerned with pure fashion such as Lucy Orta, or to those investigators who concern themselves with innovation in the fields of textile research and technology, such as Issey Miyake or Hussein Chalayan.

Atlas of Fashion Designers is a very relevant and useful reference in a hybrid society, which is composed of ever increasing heterogeneous elements. By offering a synthetic, fluid and diverse approach to the subject, the "Atlas" draws a map of the complex world of fashion at present time, and looks forward to what it may be tomorrow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This book is worth every cent!
I am so glad I bought this book.I do patternmaking for a living and this book answers questions I have had for a long time and never seen answered anywhere else.It contains standardbody measurements for men's sizes from 34 and up for short, regular and tall.Most patternmaking books only deal in drafting misses patterns.This gives the measurements for mens pants, shirt, and jackets.It was worth every cent!I would recommend it for the experienced patternmaker as well as a beginner.A reference book you will want to keep forever.

i recommend
This book has good illustrations and flats, it studies the garments and shows how to go from beginning to end;it shows how to alter and change the designs to your own desire; i have used it and it helped me out creating my senior thesis at parsons school of design; recommended to all of those who want to learn patternmaking or study fashion design ... Read more

Book Description
The 20th Century saw the effective end of haute couture, the rise of prtporter and, finally, the triumph of street fashion. Bonnie English unravels the complexities and contradictions behind these changes to chart the history of modern fashion. What caused the demise of haute couture in the 20th century? What does the "democratisation" of fashion actually mean? Which key designers bridged the gap between "couture," with its associations of elite class and taste, and "street style," a product of tribalism and of popular culture and protest? If fashion imitates art and art imitates life, does life imitate fashion--do we wear the clothes or do the clothes wear us? Setting fashion within its social, cultural and artistic context, this book presents an engaging history of the interplay between commerce and culture, technology and aesthetics, popular culture and pastiche, and fashion and anti-fashion. ... Read more

Book Description
Fashion illustration is an essential tool every would-be designer must master, and in this practical and enlightening book for artists of any ability, instructor Bethan Morris covers all aspects of the art form.

Beginning with “Inspiration,” the chapters in Fashion Illustrator are chock-full of vibrant illustrations and professional advice on subjects like sketching figures, understanding body proportion, and the different range of media available (drawing, collage, digital), presented along with useful case studies, practical exercises, even tips for putting together a professional-looking portfolio. Morris also includes profiles of influential fashion illustrators, who offer valuable insight into the industry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Unimpressive -don't waste your time
I found it to be unimpressive and uninspiring.I didnt learn anything.Dont waste your time.In place of this I would recommend fashion design drawing course : principles, practice, and techniques : the ultimate guide for the aspiring fashion artist / Caroline Tatham, Julian Seaman, orStylishly drawn : contemporary fashion illustration / Laird Borrelli.

If you would like to learn how to draw fashion apparel on models I recommend
either:

Draw Fashion Models! (Discover Drawing Series) (Paperback)
by Lee Hammond

or

Fashion Sketchbook (Spiral-bound)
by Bina Abling

Hope this helps some.I am still looking for a book to show me how to bring my illustrations to life via Adobe Illustrator.

won`t teach you anything
This book tries to be about everything but it`s about nothing. Each part of the book is 5 pages long and only the part about illustrators is 50% of the book. Each illustrator answers same 8 questions and there is 1 of his drawing attached. Boring. For me waste of money. ... Read more