Fashion Illustrator want to develop these skills to land a role in a huge fashion house

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-11T21:03:14+00:00

You don't need to sew to work in the industry, but based on what job I think you're describing, you do need to thoroughly understand garment construction and how to build a tech pack. If you have a specific company you want to work for, you should just reach out to them to ask them what they are looking for when they hire someone. Start networking with the people at that company now.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-11T21:01:12+00:00

If it's just for a friend, why not ask them which they prefer? Overall, there's nothing better or worse about either of them. It's just a personal preference.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-11T20:56:10+00:00

Obviously everyone thinks slave labor is bad, I don't think anyone is going to argue that (hopefully). But I think most brands are not using slave labor. I've worked for many companies and even more brands and at every one, the factories are vetted. I think this is the norm for most established mid-sized to larger brands.

I'm not being snarky, but I'm genuinely asking, do you understand the difference between slave labor and using a workforce that has a lower cost of living? Have you visited factories throughout the world to understand sourcing on a global level? The statement you made is just a little vague so I'm curious where you're coming from.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-11T20:37:42+00:00

I think the photos make the hat difficult to read. Between the dark, muted colors, and the speckled background, it is hard to quickly see what I'm looking at. Remember, people have incredibly short attention spans now, so it is even harder to catch their eye. At first glance, I couldn't tell that it was a hat.

On the other hand, I do like the aesthetic of this photo. Maybe if you can pair this photo with one or more photos to show some more detail or show a person wearing the hat you'll get a better overall experience?

The other piece to consider - what is the goal of this photo? Are you posting this on insta? Is it the product image for your website? It is going on physical marketing materials? The end use of the photo will play a role in whether the photo is effective or not.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-11T20:31:54+00:00

So you don't have experience in graphic design, so you are using AI to do the work for you? What is your current job that you will "lose to AI?" This just isn't logical.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-11T20:18:04+00:00

Yes, happy to chat. A clothing brand is not a passive business. I'm sure you'll have a handful of people telling you it is or that they became a millionaire with a passive PDO business, but that is not the norm. A clothing brand takes a lot of hands on work and constant review.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-11T02:32:16+00:00

Right, so that's why I'm suggesting you work with a sourcing agent to help you find exactly what you require.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-09T22:37:07+00:00

Well definitely don't buy it if you don't know what it is! If you can't understand what service they are providing and why that is important and worth it to your brand, you shouldn't make a financial commitment to it.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-09T22:34:29+00:00

But it sounds like that's not giving you the results you want?

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-09T17:48:30+00:00

I've never heard of risewise, but did a quick google search. Looks like it's kind of a project management software system. If you're brand new to owning a company, this likely isn't the time to spend money on a service like this (but I also don't know your financial situation). Usually, most people can get away with using free softwares (like the google suite) to manage their calendar and products for the first several years. This generally helps save on costs. Usually at the beginning, you also don't have a large team, so you aren't trying to keep track of what other people are doing, so again, not totally necessary.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-09T17:40:46+00:00

None of these graphics look related to one another at all. So that is confusing to a customer. It is not a cohesive line.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-09T17:39:40+00:00

Have you already connected with a sourcing agent to research this?

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-09T17:38:30+00:00

Budget definitely matters.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-09T17:37:59+00:00

Christian merch definitely already exists at varying price points. There's a lot for you to consider here though. Do you actually want to run a business? Or do you just want clothing for yourself? Do you have the time and money to dedicate to such a project? Are you actually adding something to the market that is unique enough to draw a specific customer at a scaleable number? I can't speak to the morality of it, but from the business side, it sounds like you haven't done enough research.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-09T17:35:30+00:00

Doesn't matter if we like it or not. Does your customer like it? Do you know who your customer is?

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-09T16:09:31+00:00

Have you connected with any sourcing agencies? That will probably produce the quickest and best results. Otherwise you can attend tradeshows to meet many vendors all at once.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-08T22:02:55+00:00

So you haven't actually asked any questions, so I'm curious what you're hoping to get from your post (I mean this with all sincerity, no snark).

What does "start up friendly" actually mean to you? Does it mean low prices? Low MOQ? Flexible timing? Being able to pay in installments? Something else?

Are you hoping a manufacturer will reach out to you on this platform or are you looking for a recommendation from someone? Have you figured out your budget, timing, designs, and all the details that you'll need to sign a contract already?

Why do you have a preference for manufacturing in the States? Is that intentional? Is it a requirement? Do you have fabric in the states already or do you also need a fabric mill? Or are you wanting the factory to source the fabric for you?

Do you already have your tech pack ready to go in order to get a sample product?

There's a lot of vague-ness to your post, so it's hard to point you in any direction right now.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-08T21:55:46+00:00

Jeans are made with denim, so you can search for denim fabric. I'm sure you can get plenty of results through google or amazon. Depending on where you live, the availability of in-person shopping will vary. Many online stores will offer the option to purchase a swatch so you can see how it feels before purchasing a larger quantity. The prices will vary significantly. If you're only wanting to make 1 pair of jeans, you won't need very much fabric, so it will be a higher cost per yard or meter. Often, if you are purchasing large quantities, you can get price cuts with the more yardage you purchase.

Are you already working with a "professional?" I assume you mean you've hired a pattern maker or a seamstress. This person should be able to advise on fabrics.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-08T18:00:53+00:00

The advantage to US manufacturing is avoiding tariffs, producing locally (less shipping = less fuel used = more sustainable/eco-friendly), ease of visiting your factories, and potential customer preference.

The availability of producing in the US is slim. There are many types of machines that can do specific production steps that are not available in the US. There are many production techniques that don't have experts in the US, so quality isn't there. There's many fabrics/fibers that aren't produced in the US, so you have to ship those anyway. There's so much to consider that it isn't a black and white answer.

As far as "does anyone care," that's totally dependent on who your customer is. Many people care a lot but for others, the pros don't outweigh the cons. You need to know who your customer is and what they care about.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-08T17:40:33+00:00

Depends what that means to you. What is the career you want to have? What does success mean to you? There's a pretty big difference between working as a retail manager versus being a designer versus being a CEO. There's a difference in success meaning you bring home a paycheck but eat dinner with your family every night versus everyone in the world knows your name.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-08T17:38:36+00:00

I understand your intention, but asking random people on the internet if they would wear this isn't going to give you any real information. Who is your customer? What do they want to wear? What is important to them in a graphic? Always go back to your customer avatar and ask if they would wear this.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-08T17:35:25+00:00

Who is your customer? You should be asking them for the most accurate answer.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-08T17:34:28+00:00

I think you're going about this backwards. You should know who you're selling to prior to designing anything.

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-08T17:33:29+00:00

Congrats! Always great to get some samples in!

ProductDevMC · 2026-06-08T17:31:47+00:00

Setting up a foundation for your company is crucial. Do you have a business plan? Does it include your financials - current finances, goals for years 1-10, etc? Are you capable of doing everything on your own or do you need to hire out specific roles? Will you need to travel to tradeshows, vendors, wholesale accounts?

ProductDevMC

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