Ask Fashion Girl

Dear Krystle:

Lots of us have dreamed of having our very own clothing line -- and it can be done! Successful entrepreneurs all over the map have made a success in the"rag trade,"as the fashion industry is sometimes called. But the first step is doing your homework!

There are two parts to starting your own clothing line: there's the design of the clothing and then there's the business end, which encompasses pretty much everything else. If you've designed them, you need to figure out who is going to make the clothes, where you're going to obtain the materials, your costs (so that you can calculate pricing), where the clothes are going to be sold, etc. You'll probably need a source of start-up money. So the first thing you need to do is write a business plan, which is a blueprint for what you want your business to be. It includes financial, marketing, and production information. To find out exactly what to include in your plan, log on to www.sba.gov/starting/indexbusplans.html or www.dollardiva.com/bizplan/bizplan_tips.html.

If all this sounds a bit overwhelming, don't throw in the towel just yet! With FIDM's major in Apparel Manufacturing Management, you could get just the training you need to run your own clothing company. You'll get the skills to take your business concept to reality. In just two years at FIDM, you could be doing what you love: working with fashion!

I can see you now: a budding Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, or Donna Karan. It can happen if you train for it. Good luck!

Sincerely, Fashion Girl