Wholesale Clothing and Fashion Blog

Admission to Fashion Design School - Your Fashion Portfolio is EVERYTHING

2005-11-28T09:31:00.000-08:00

For those of you looking to enter Fashion School, here is the most important advice we can give you: Lock yourself in your design room and perfect that portfolio NOW ! Like the most prestigious colleges, the top notch design schools are very selective and the competition among candidates is extreme. You absolutely must make yourself stand out from the masses. The easiest way to do this is by creating an authentic, unique and impressive portfolio. Normally schools require drawings of the designs, however we suggest developing a more comprehensive display of your creative abilities. If you your passion lies with clothing, DO NOT be afraid to include one or two pieces outside this medium. An artistic photograph or sculpture you've fathered might be more incisive and demonstrative of your fashion mind than the sum of all your sketching. This recommendation might not work for you, however our point is that your should stretch yourself and your portfolio to ensure that it screams your worth to its viewer. Otherwise, you'll run the risk of swimming in the murk with countless applicants that played it safe and were never heard.

Brad

Fashionable Wholesale Clothing

Designer Handbags Christmas Shopping Online: Authentic Label Purse Gift Giving

2005-11-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year again to start surfing the Net for the best authentic designer handbags and purses. Christmas is a perfect time to give the extra-special women in your life a gift with a special logo, label and price tag. Be careful not to fall prey to all the new websites popping up just-in-time for the Christmas rush. Make sure to make your purchase from a reputable ecommerce site you trust which responds to emails quickly.

Women of all ages enjoy receiving a new purse any time of the year, and Christmas is as good a time as any! So, if you are wondering what to give this Christmas to the women in your life, give a new authentic designer handbag or purse. The designers are creating some of the most fabulous styles you've ever seen. This year, you can select from a variety of bright colors, patterns, fabrications, prices and sizes. There are hand-held, shoulder strap and backpack styles. The inside is important, too. Are there extra pockets for a cell phone? Is the bag lined? There are a number of handbag characteristics you'll be thinking about in your search for the right handbag gift.

Please don't buy from the websites showing you the same designer handbag in every color under the sun. Designers don't manufacture those bags. They are made by factory owners in third-world countries who produce them fast and cheap. Then, they turn-around and unload them by the truck load to street vendors and jobbers in the USA. One of the hottest counterfeit styles this year is the Celine Boogie Bag. Another hot counterfeit is the Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag. Just be careful! Ask questions, and purchase from a website who replies to your questions and emails.

Some women like a big slouchy leather bag, and others like a small rigid constructed purse to carry. So, there are many questions you should answer before making the purchase. Because of the wide selection of purses available online and the same or more available styles of the way women dress, be certain to select a designer handbag you know she'll like and keep for a very long time.

It's important to select the right purse because you want her to smile when she opens your gift. However, you may be making a very big investment financially, too. Designer handbags are not a cheap item. Handbags have become the staple in most fashionable women's closets. So, the investment you make may as well be for something she'll adore for many years to come.

The most difficult part of giving a new purse for a gift is making the purchase decision based on what you think the receiver will like, and not buying something just because you would like it for yourself. Here's some information to use whenever selecting a purse as a gift. First, visualize the woman in her everyday clothing. Is she a jeans and T-shirt person? Does she wear a suit to work everyday? Does she dress conservatively or funky? If you can, look inside her closet. What are her favorite colors? What style shoe does she wear? What style of purse does she carry now? Is it a shoulder bag, a satchel, a tote or a backpack?

Shop around, and then visualize the woman carrying the bag you want to purchase. How does she look? If you start laughing, then it's time to keep looking. But, if you can actually see her carrying that bag, then grab it because online, what you see today may be gone tomorrow! Don't pass up the perfect gift. Online merchants do not stock pile inventory. They obtain enough stock to get them through each season and move the stock as quickly as possible. So, when you find the right item, buy it quickly. Most of the time online shoppers find the item they had been eyeing is regretfully sold. It's happened to me, and it can happen to you as well. Don't let it happen this Christmas!

Once you have a good idea of the color, size, style and price-point, you can purchase the purse of her dreams! Look for something stylish and yet something basic enough with a classic flare. Don't invest too much money in a fly-by-night fad. Funky styles are better selected by the woman herself. Most women buy the funky styles based on their mood or style of the moment. So, if you want to make a lasting impression, select a classic style in a basic color. My favorite recommendations include the basic colors in shades of brown or black leather or cloth bags by Ferragamo, Prada, Tods and Chanel. You can't go wrong with these Designers. Classic Ferragamo have enough style to sail into the next millinium. Yet, they are fashioned for everyday and transition easily into evening wear. You can't go wrong with a classic Ferragamo.

The Prada handbags are phenomenal and come in every size, shape, color and fabrication. Women of all sizes, ages, and styles adore the thought of owning an authentic Prada purse. The important thing to look for in a Prada is the triangle logo positioned on the exterior of the handbag. It can be strategically placed front center, back center or either side of the handbag. Just make sure the triangle logo is there! Fashion-conscious women of all ages want to see the Prada Logo, and they want everyone else to see them carrying it, too!

As stated earlier, be careful not to fall prey to a website selling fake or counterfeit handbags. I can't mention names of websites here because it's just not proper, but believe me, they are out there, and their prices are not cheap! The sites selling fakes keep their prices right up there comparable to the authentic bags. And, many of the bags look real in the photos and may not be when you receive them at home. I'm certainly not trying to instill fear about online shopping. My intention is to educate consumers so they learn to make the right choices. I own and operate an ecommerce website. I want people to feel safe and comfortable doing any type of shopping online.

Merry Christmas and happy handbag hunting! I find the best prices online and do almost all my shopping online nowadays. Don't be afraid to buy online, just be smart. Your email can be your best friend when you shop online. Write, ask questions, and make your purchase from someone who replies with the right answers. You'll be happy you did, and so will she.

About the Author

Anna Miller is the President of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. She has been buying and selling Designer Handbags and purses of all price ranges online for over ten years. She's been around the handbag block, and she's heard and seen it all! Anna operates an ecommerce site at http://www.efashionhouse.com/ Guaranteed authentic or your money back Designer Handbags and Accessories

China Wholesale Clothing - LOW prices, HIGH margins, HUGE profits!

2005-11-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

Sourcing your products from the China wholesale markets means margins you can't find elsewhere, margins which will skyrocket your profits and allow you to dominate your market.

China has been described as the world's factory.

It might well be re-named China Wholesale Inc.

The phenomenal economic growth in China, typified by the rise of Shanghai - now the world's biggest city, in the world's biggest country - will have an ever-increasing effect on world trade, and on the world of re-selling on the Internet.

China manufactures for the world, and anyone looking to source products just has to start their search in the China wholesale markets. And that means me, and probably you as well.

Many US re-sellers are still convinced that the way to a quick fortune is to go to China, find the guy who makes shoes for Gucci or handbags for Prada, and persuade him to run off an extra few hundred.

A less-reputable China wholesale manufacturer might do this, but the product will not bear the coveted label. You might manage to import the goods into the US, but no way can you sell them - legally - as brand-name products, even if they are made by the same manufacturer as the genuine product.

Beware the so-called "grey market". The Brand name companies are becoming ever-more aggressive in pursuing through the courts anyone infringing their copyright.

In most manufacturing sectors, China is a volume producer, which means that you will always be facing high minimum order quantities, typically thousands of units, which make it seem a no-go area for the solitary trader of modest means. But there is a solution to this problem, as you will see later.

China already has a good reputation for quality clothing, shoes, and basic commodities, but increasingly China wholesalers are turning to high-technology products.

The good news is that the China wholesale manufacturers and the agents are very clued-up on the US market, and very quick to respond to requests for sample products and price and delivery quotations. The really good news is that there is usually an unbelievably margin, so if you have the bankroll and the expertise you could really make a lot of money at this.

So what about a plan of action?

If the China wholesale market excites you, you really can't do without the services of a local China-based agent.

He is the guy who has personal contact with all the manufacturers and factory owners. He knows the China wholesale world intimately - he knows the best sources for all the products. He acts as the middleman and effectively as the purse-holder, and you will need such an expert to guide you through the minefield that is the Chinese-US tax issue.

He will ensure that the product gets shipped on time, and most importantly can check on the quality of the product before it is shipped.

These Chinese export agents are monitored and encouraged financially by their Government to promote China wholesale business overseas, so you should be able to find a reputable one without any problem.

The bottom line is - if you're serious about sourcing goods from China in volume, then you really can't do the business without a good China-based agent. You just have to invest the time to go over to China, ideally when one of the big trade fairs or conventions are taking place. (You can easily find this information on your favorite Search Engine).

Here you can meet with the agents, who can introduce you to the factory owners, who will invite you to the factory to see the product being made, and will probably give you an on-the-spot quotation.

You will find, as I did, that much business in China is still conducted on a personal-relationship basis, so if you don't make the personal contacts and establish and cultivate relationships in the China wholesale world, then you probably won't thrive in China.

If you simply haven't got the time or resources to establish personal contacts in China, then you could look for a good US based Chinese agent or broker - ideally one based in your own city or State.(Again, you can find one using the Search Engines). You may be lucky and find one who has good contacts in China, and he can guide you through much of the bureaucracy involved in importing from a China wholesaler.

Find out who he has represented before, and be sure to contact this person or business to check out your agent or broker.

There is an excellent resource on the internet with a lot of expertise in sourcing China wholesale products. This is the website at www.alibaba.com, which offers excellent advice, and can immediately supply details of Chinese manufacturers for your chosen product.

So there are 3 levels at which you can get involved with the China wholesale markets - the 3 paths to enlightenment and profit as we might call them.

At the bottom level,if you just want to get a feel for what is available, then spend some time on research at www.Alibaba.com - a great resource which can show you the incredible range of products available, and which can put you in contact with agents or manufacturers in the China wholesale business.

At a slightly more ambitious level, if you are committed to doing business long-term, then you could look for a reliable US-based Chinese agent or broker, who for a fee or commission will ease your way into the often-baffling world of importing goods from China.

And the serious marketers will jump in at the top level, and get themselves over to China, the sooner the better, in order to establish those long-term relationships with those active in the China wholesale world.

Relationships which will reap rich rewards for years to come.

If you aren't big enough or confident enough to face this on your own, then find a few other re-sellers in the same market - or related market - as yourself, and pool your time and resources. Whatever it takes, get into this lucrative market place - the potential profits are HUGE !

China and its manufacturers will have an enormous impact on the Internet re-selling world over the next 5 years.

It is already starting to happen, and the time to get involved is now.

The guy who sources the product at the lowest price is the guy who wins, particularly on the Internet.

And that lowest price will almost certainly be provided by a Chinese manufacturer.

If you're still not persuaded to check out the fabulous opportunities in the China wholesale markets, then you should certainly have a look at the best resource on the internet for sourcing products for reselling - just go to Sourcing

About the Author
Brendan Forde has 15 years experience in the IT industry. Now specialising in Internet start-up businesses. For your free ebook "Starting Your Internet Business Right" visit our Wholesale and Dropship Resources site at www.wholesale-dropship-researchproduct.com/

Fall Fashion 2005

2005-11-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

The overall theme of fashion for Fall 2005 is an air of drama. Black is back, coats are dramatic, and smart tailoring is going to be huge.

Black is back in a big way – well for most of us it never went away. The stores will be filled with delicious eveningwear particularly black lace, which is sexier than ever whether it’s girlie, 80’s retro, boho or red carpet elegant. This also works well with the next big trend which is Victorian. Full length skirts, high-necked ruffled blouses and puffed sleeves are the main features of this look. You can go for either prim or sexy. Accessorise with boots, hats and gloves for a total look.

Dresses are soft and feminine for Fall 2005. Velvet in sumptuous autumnal or jewel colours, while more boho-styled graphic prints will also be around for those of you who loved your hippy chic this summer and don’t want to give it up just yet.

Coats for this winter will be big and dramatic with big collars, possibly in fake fur. The big story however is going to be Houndstooth checks, the bigger and bolder the better.

In fact checks are big in all types of clothes this fall, including plaids and tartans which appear on everything from trousers and skirts to bags, shoes and hats.

Tailoring is back as one of the strongest features of Fall 2005 – in particular the pencil skirt which appears as part of a skirt suit. Skirts of all types are hot for Fall, straight, wide and swirly, and for the slimmest of figures only the ‘bubble’, a tulip shaped skirt which will exaggerate hips, so wear with caution!

National costumes have inspired lots of heavily decorated ethnic styles, in particular Russian styles, thick with embroidery and texture and topped off with a furry Russian-style hat, warm enough for the depths of a Moscow winter. Peru has also provided inspiration for embroidered clothes and bright knits.

There are many gorgeous accessories around this season to complete your outfit. Knee high boots, ideally with laced up details to go with the Victorian and ethnic looks, and platforms are making a comeback, usually with a narrow heel. If you prefer flats there will be lots of ballet pump styles. Metallics in shoes, bags and belts will also be popular. For daytime, bags can be as big as you like, either slouchy hobo styles or classic square types. For evening, bags should be tiny and decorated with tassels, jewels or embroidery.

The detail of the season will be pom-poms on everything from scarves to shoes, and the hottest color for accessories will be purple, preferably with studs.

About the Author: Jacqui O’Brien admits to a passion for fashion and a love of bargains. Her website is http://www.shopping-villages.co.uk a guide to the discount and outlet stores in the UK.

2005-10-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Right now, Christian Dior sunglasses are the most sought after designer sunglasses on the market. As with everything that comes from Christian Dior, the workmanship in the design is flawless, and the line of sunglasses is no different. Even if you wear prescription glasses, with the interchangeable lenses, you can still wear the very fashionable Christian Dior sunglasses.

When you wear Christian Dior sunglasses, everyone will immediately recognize the classic styles that only belong to this designer. In both men’s and women’s designs, Christian Dior recognizes the need for including lenses for correcting vision problems in sunglasses. Therefore, it also includes sunglasses with interchangeable lenses in its line of products so that you can have your own prescription put into the lenses. No more clip-ons when you want to wear designer sunglasses.

Getting the right pair of sunglasses is a problem for people who have to wear eyeglasses to help them see. They cannot just choose a stylish pair of Christian Dior sunglasses and put them on. They need to have their prescription for their vision included in the lenses. This is what sunglasses with interchangeable lenses allow them to do. The prescription can be made into the frames and the lenses used by Christian Dior.

You might say that your optician doesn’t carry any of the Christian Dior sunglasses for you to choose the right frames. This is not a problem because you can order your Christian Dior sun glasses online. Choose the frames you want and send along your prescription with your order. With the advanced technology of sunglasses with interchangeable lenses, you can also have polarized lenses in the sunglasses to provide you with even more protection.

Just because you need to wear prescription glasses is no reason to think you cannot be as fashionable as your friends when wearing sunglasses. With the wide selection of Christian Dior sunglasses to choose from online, you will not only be able to get sunglasses with interchangeable lenses, but you will also be able to realize fantastic savings. The online dealers that sell Christian Dior can give you an outstanding discount in your next pair of sunglasses.

Christian Dior sunglasses can suit everyone, even those who need prescription lenses.

For a website totally devoted to Sunglasses visit Peter's Website Sunglasses Explained and find out about Sun glasses as well as Discount Sunglasses and more, including Gucci Sunglasses, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Rayban Sunglasses, Chanel Sunglasses, Oakley Sunglasses and more.

Your perfect handbag

2005-10-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

There are so many handbags on offer, how to select the one that would complement your figure and go with most of your outfits? See fashion expert tips.

What purse style would work best with your figure?

Never mind the current fashion: your handbag should first of all complement your figure. A tiny purse on a largish woman looks a bit silly. But even though large bags are in fashion now, don’t go overboard, otherwise the bag will distract attention from your person.

If you are slim and tall, go for a round or square shaped purse. If you are not very tall, a bottle shaped handbag would look best. And, of course, a not very large backpack works perfectly for any figure.

Most handbags have adjustable handles, so make use of them. Large bags should never hang at the level of your hips: if necessary shorten the handle, so the bag comes to your waist line. And if you wear a backpack, it should not hang down over your backside: adjust the handles so it is just above your waist. This looks better, doesn’t put as much pressure on your lower back, and forces you to keep a good posture.

What color should you choose?

These days handbags are very colorful. Of course, this means that you can no longer have just one bag that would go with any outfit you wear. However, if you wear a lot of blue, orange or green, a matching color purse would make your outfit complete. Fruit prints are currently ‘in’, with the most popular being cherries, peaches and apples.

As far as prints go, a plain, one-color handbag is more practical as it is easier to match with your clothes. However, if you wear a single-colored dress, adding a bright, multicolored handbag might be a good idea.

Also each season of the year favors different handbag colors. All greens are very popular in spring, while red and orange are often seen in autumn. Winter favorites are white and all shades of blue.

And, of course, black is still a classic, which goes with any outfit. Brown handbags, too, are still popular although they are not very practical: a brown bag would only work with brown or beige clothing.

What are most fashionable purse materials?

Leather is always a classic, and it works for any situation and with any outfit. However, other purse materials are fashionable now. Fabric bags can look very stylish, as well as a mix of fabric and leather. Straw bags are simple, and create a great look for the summer. Moreover, since straw looks very natural, it works well with a summer outfit of any color.

Tanya Turner is a fashion expert and a founder of http://www.allpurses.info/, where you can find fashion advice and tips about purses and handbags styles

Men's Fashion - Simple Style

2005-09-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

Many men and women do not have much idea about Mens Fashion. Very often the advice I have been approached on are what men can wear to appear professional or what men should wear so that they do not look outdated but overtly trendy.

I would greatly suggest understanding the basics of men’s fashion and put this knowledge into a permanent mens fashion style. There would not be anymore worry about following trends but perpetually looking stylish.

The basics of men’s fashion boil down to knowing what each piece of apparel is made up of. The fabrics used determine a lot on the quality of the apparel. Good fabrics allow the apparel to withstand wear and tear.

If any men’s clothing or accessories that wear out fast would naturally make it look old and badly cared. This does not reflect well of the men wearing it and easily put most men out of style just by looking shaggy.

The next important point we need to note are the details found in every apparel and accessories. Details can be subtle but it creates a very big impact in the eventual outlook of the styling.

So before we start playing with details, the knowledge of each detail’s responsibility and how it helps in holding up the item or even gives significance to it in style can assist us in choosing the best men’s clothing.

Learning how to coordinate is another tough thing for many men. It does not need to be if they just understand about the various concepts of coordination. Starting from differentiating the type skin complexion they belong to would be the most basic knowledge to acquire.

Then they just need to put on the right color clothing against their complexion that perks up their facial skin tone and brings the attention to their face.

After that, coordinating colors between the various men’s clothing is another method. There are various ways to match different and similar or same hues as well as the shades of hues to achieve the nicest blend of colors.

If they are adventurous, then there are more that they can create that puts two very contrasting colors and yet a harmonious fusion of such colors without looking weird or clownish.

Putting patterns against each other is another challenging task in mens fashion. It is through the play of patterns that can make many men look very trendy and stylish.

If not properly done, those clashing patterns would be a very trying and poorly executed attempt. It boils down in knowing the types of patterns and their scale before choosing how to put them together.

Men can go for two to four similar or different patterns coordination without even looking overdoing the matching. It is fundamental to keep the flow of patterns as natural as possible and create a relaxing look from the combination.

It is good to have an idea of how to put all these mens clothing and accessories together. From there we can develop a permanent styling and never have to worry about the next trend or whether it is unprofessional. At least all aspects of men’s fashion have been touched on. Therefore, if you are daring enough it is always possible to transform it into fashionable styling.

Mens Fashion Tips | Mens Fashion Advice | Guide on Mens Clothing

Fashionable Wholesale Clothing

Copyright 2005, http://www.mens-fashion-tips.com

FURRRRR….

2005-09-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

So how many of you have seen the latest fashion magazine covers doused with images of fur coats, sweaters, scarves and even hats? And how many of you are thinking “I absolutely MUST have one?” My guess would be, not many. Though this style looks absolutely fabulous on the runways and donning the red carpet, it is a bit impractical for the greater majority of us who spend the day in the office. Now, not to say this fad won’t be HUGE, it just might not be one of those “splurges” you should spend half this month’s salary on. If you’re itching to rock this chic trend, but don’t have the cajones to do so at work, the key is to make it simple and wearable. Trends are supposed to be fun, not taken too seriously. While a floor length fur coat is definitely not appropriate for the office, pairing your trusty winter trench with a fur scarf might be just enough to get noticed. Every fashion trend, no matter how unrealistic it may seem, can be translated into something wearable for everyone. Real fur might be out of the question considering the price tags are often upward of $2000, but just like every fad, there are many alternatives for you price-conscious divas. Meaning…Faux fur is the way to go---and unless you’ve grown up in Paris Hilton’s penthouse you probably won’t be able to tell the difference. It’s warm and cozy and it makes you feel like a million bucks, who cares if it didn’t cost you an arm & a leg. Stores like Bebe, Arden B, Nordstrom and even Bloomies will have more than enough fur for your liking. Look for fur-trimmed coats, sweaters, shoes and accessories. You definitely don’t need to overdo this glamour trend--simple chic all the way! Also another quick note, this trend should not be limited to evening galas and cocktail parties. As with most trends this season, dressing up is definitely the style. So, get ready for the rain and snow girls….winter’s almost here and it’s time to stock those closets!

Maleia Puma
Fashion Writer

Fashionable Clothing Wholesaler

The Shopping Splurge - Necessary Evil for a Fashion Diva

2005-09-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

Should we SPLURGE?

That is the unrequited question for womankind, isn’t it? This is quite possibly the “age old” question for the fashion savior-faire crowd of the world. The answer should come effortlessly; unfortunately we can't all afford to say yes to every expensive pair of heels that summons us or every pricey piece that catches our eye.

What exactly is it that causes us to lose all common sense and spend more than our bank accounts or maxed out credit cards will allow? Splurging is like a drug that picks you up out of that dark hole on a bad day. It can also serve as a reward system. “I just got a promotion, why can’t I buy those pair of Manolos I’ve been hopelessly drooling over at Neiman for the past 6 months?” Sometimes it's all about the label, sometimes it's all about the trend, sometimes it’s just the way it makes you feel. The important thing is that it's fun and it feels good to splurge…on occasion that is. This is where the savvy splurge comes in. A savvy splurge should be something that could be considered a “good investment.” It is these splurges that will last through the ever changing trends of the fashion world. But who is to say that the great pair of pink Ugg boots with the jewels on them or that super-cute hobo peasant skirt aren’t going to carry us through the 21st century? For all you girls out there who think every trendy piece of jewelry and every must have pair of shoes will in fact make a comeback in the year 2015, we might have a thing coming to us when those credit card companies decide to decrease our spending limits, or worse yet, suspend our cards!

So, the key to splurging is deliberation and occasion. If you’ve really thought it through and honestly, after you leave the store and come back a couple times, believe you absolutely HAVE to have that purse, go ahead and SPLURGE! Just make sure this process doesn’t tend to happen on a weekly or even monthly basis. And for those of you who don’t have the liberty of splurging on an $800 bag, stores like Forever 21, Styles for Less and even the local vintage shop or quick online clothing wholesaler come in handy for those ever-popular trends that might be over with a blink of an eye. So when you decide to take the plunge, make sure you are going to get the miles out of those pricey additions to your already fabulous wardrobe. Happy shopping!

Maleia Puma
Fashionable Wholesale Clothing

Fall Fashion Trends – Take your Denim Jacket to the Shrink this Season

2005-09-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

Fall and winter may have brought out long peacoats and trenches before, but not this year. One of the most sought-after pieces for the upcoming season will be the shrunken jacket, in a variety of styles. The difference between these new, tinier versions of your traditional autumn and winter favorites is their length; cuts are the same as traditional coats, but they hit slightly above the waist and often tie or button under the chest. The beauty of these new pieces is that they provide coverage in colder months without sacrificing sexiness or femininity.

The perfect jacket is one of the most important elements of your wardrobe, and with so many shapes and fabrics available this fall, it would be a crime to choose just one. The ever-present denim jacket is back with a new vengeance. Instead of the washes of last season or bulkiness of years before, this season’s denim jacket is soft, body-conscious and far more feminine than the traditional denim jacket. Corduroy and leather are back again, cropped and ready to be worn over anything from your favorite dress to distressed jeans.

A new take on an old favorite is safe, but take advantage on the amazing new fabrics and styles the end of the year has to offer. Brocade is big this season and some of the most sought-after new jackets are made of the rich, detailed design. Many of these brocaded, boudoir-style jackets are trimmed in rich velvet or lace piping and can be paired with tweed trousers of you favorite jeans. Many of these new jackets are cut at the hip but some are reaching even higher—cropped just below the chest (H & M). Made in rich, new fabrics like tweed and velvet, these jackets have mixed a traditionally matronly fabric with a cut and cling that makes it youthful and sexy. Even faux fur and metallic finishes are adorning the newest trend (Allen B. by Allen Schwartz).

Getting short isn’t the only new addition to a cold weather favorite. Sleeves are getting revamped this season, retro-style. Traditional coat fabrics like houndstooth are being used in a new way. Bell sleeves (think bellbottom sleeves, cut below the elbow) mix cropped length with a traditional fabric and throwback to 70s style (Banana Republic). You’ll also see a mini version of the military jacket this season; a cropped, girlie take on the long, heavy style, adorned with brass buttons and zippers (Bebe).

The beauty of these new jackets is the versatility they bring to your own style: mix them with denim, dresses, skirts and trousers. Since there isn’t one specific style or fabric that will reign this fall, all styles and sizes can take advantage of a new take on an old favorite.

Brenna Cleeland
Name Brand Wholesale Clothing

Helmut Lang - A Fashion Forward Life

2005-09-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Helmut Lang’s innovative fashions have gained attention and praise for nearly twenty years, but the man behind the fashion empire lives in near obscurity. Before turning to fashion design, Lang went to a local academy and was trained to become a businessman in his native Vienna. His growing interest in European fashion led to the opening of his first studio in 1977. Throughout the mid-eighties, Lang became a celebrated designer with his first ready-to-wear collections in Switzerland.

In 1986, after the first success in Austria, he began showing women's clothes in Paris, followed by the 1987 venture: designing a men's collection. Lang oscillated between Vienna and Paris, designing in his atelier in Vienna and consulting with his agent in Paris. Ready-to-wear gave way to his couture line, popularizing his works throughout Europe even further. Gaining momentum and a devout following in the high-fashion world, the Helmut Lang name soon became synonymous with the avant guard, cutting edge design of the late nineteen eighties.

Today, Lang is considered one of the pace-makers of high fashion couture. Lang has been labeled a deconstructionist, a futurist, and a minimalist, always attributed with fashion trends that would be adopted by the fashion community. Lang’s first trademark creations used uncommon materials in cuts that were stark and clean with a near clinical coolness. His designs since have always remained casual with a certain air of harsh sterility. Prints are a rare find in Lang’s seasonal collections: his brand of minimalism creates a bizarre beauty in the cool, Brave New World look of mass production.

Lang’s sleek, urbane sensibility is especially present in his signature suits, bringing a certain androgyny to his collections: having little variation between his men’s and women’s pieces. Aside from his futurist take on the traditional suit, Lang gained wide popularity through his dresses. Lang’s dresses embody a certain sort of controlled chaos—slashed, asymmetrical or gathered yet still recognizably exclusive, high fashion couture. While tried-and-true Lang pieces have seen little change in fifteen years, the Helmut Lang label has experimented with more ornate feminine looks and accessories.

Lang’s fall/winter 2005 collection include a black, white, gray and metallic color scheme adorning signature jackets, skirts, suits and original dresses. Lang’s newly developed attention to fashion accessory detail will not disappoint this season. Fringe, horsehair, feathers, and metallic leather with an overlying S&M style cover handbags, earrings, pumps and belts while Lang’s fringed boots and hobo bags put a new spin on the fashion world’s most prevalent trend.

The Helmut Lang label has six stores worldwide throughout Europe and the United States, so while the namesake designer may be a rare find, his new couture fashions are always accessible to high fashion fans.

Brenna Cleeland - Freelance Fashion Editor
Wholesale Blank Apparel

Boho Chic, Boho Style – Fashion Trend or Fad ?

2005-09-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

Chances are you’re on one side of the fence: you love the Boho style that ruled 2005 or are sick of wearing fashions that make you feel like a newly-eighteen Olsen. The good news is everyone will love what fall and winter fashion has to offer. Fans of the look that made Sienna Miller a fashion icon will definitely love the over-the-top detail that will continue from Boho Chic into fall. Others that never felt comfortable in heavy jewelry, metal-adorned belts and shoes and flowy, diaphanous skirts, the new crop of fashion offers a different approach to rich detail that may make you feel more pulled together than looking like a gypsy.

Bold accessories will remain a staple in every fashion-forward woman’s wardrobe. Sorry Boho Chic haters, belts and boots look like they have staying power along with pendants, over-sized earrings, long chains and drop earrings. They may be staying on the shelves, but stones, feathers and shells that decorated the ears of spring and summer’s hottest fashionistas will be replaced by rhinestone-encrusted chandeliers and delicate drops. The long necklaces paired with the over-stated earrings will morph slightly from heavy, multi-layered, multi-stone piece to a simpler, chic, one-strand accessory. While the length and materials remain the same (gold still the winner), the detail will shift from Boho’s accessories to fall and winter’s fabrics.

Ultra-rich fabrics like lace and brocade are the hottest additions to fall and winter lines. Back-again-black along with gray and purple are the most popular for jaw-dropping dresses, frilly tops and tweed trousers that will line racks and closets everywhere in upcoming months. The feminine, flowy look will still be desirable, but it will be achieved with blouson skirts and culottes instead of sheer, floor-length numbers. If you’re concerned newer more regal fabrics like velvet, lace and tweed will still look make you look more thirties than twenties, you can still look eclectic-chic by matching new pieces with your favorite over-stated Boho belts and jewelry. If you’re still worried about shifting from fun and flirty to dark and serious, mix fabrics to achieve an even more eclectic look: there are NO rules this season about mixing tweeds and velvet or brocades with lace. More than anything, have fun mixing your existing styles with a totally new style to find your personal fit—fall and winter will bring plenty of opportunity to get away with experimenting.

Brenna Cleeland
Stylish Blank Clothing

Back to Black

2005-09-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

One trend that will never go out of style…yep you guessed it, the o-so-simple-yet-classy B-L-A-C-K.

In industries around the world, high fashion, euro-fashion, action sports/surfer chic, etc. the past year has been all about color, from the overly-saturated HOT pink to orange to yellow and even bright greens. BUT, for all you girls who love those classic black pants or simple black cocktail dress, this Fall is YOUR season! And for those who love to play up the girly side, the trend is heading towards more feminine and attention-getting pieces. Cocktail-length dresses in velvet or chiffon, soft and touchable “flowy” knits, sexy suits- pant or skirt, and even a plain black tee with a little colorful jewelry for flair are going to be saturating the streets. It’ll be nice to enjoy being comfortable, yet chic, in the most flattering color for all body types.

Key pieces for the season are “the little black dress,” which I’m sure all of you own at least one; black velvet or chiffon; and the classic black trench adorned with bows, rosettes & beading.

If you are lacking any of these essentials and are about to rush to the store, I suggest you start from the top down. By that I mean, head down to the nearest uspacel mall and torture yourself by strolling through all the major label retail stores.

Versace
Prada
Marc Jacobs
Gucci
Christian Dior
Dolce & Gabanna

However, if you’ve already broke the bank on clothes this year……you can usually find these items for less at BCBG, bebe, overstock.com and of course Nordies (That’s Nordstroms for you non-valley girl types).

So prepare your wardrobe girls, black is back with a vengeance!

Maleia Puma

Roberto Cavalli: The Fashion King

2005-09-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

Roberto Cavalli was born on November 15th, 1940 in Italy. He came from a modest family with strong artistic talents and traditions. His grandfather had been an impressionist painter, his mother a tailor .

Cavalli began his career as a young student. Himself and his friend invented, experimented and designed. His first revolutionary creation was a process of printing on light-weight leather.

His print house was a cross between a craftsman's workshop and an artist's studio. He was able to accomplish this because of his detailed fabric research and his continuous experimenting with different technologies.

Eventually Cavalli patented the process of printing on leather. Over the next ten years he created what’s known as “patchwork” or “patch quilt” a result of sewing together odd pieces of leather together. During the 1970’s Roberto Cavalli gained international recognition, This was the true beginning of his career.

In 1972 Roberto Cavalli showed his first collection in the historic White Room of Palazzo Pitti in Florence which led to a real scandal. On the catwalk his models were wearing patchwork on denim. Denim was a fabric that was highly disregarded by the straight-laced.

A scorpio true to heart, Cavalli simply refused to bow to the dictatorship of the prevailing fashion. Rather he chose to run as an outsider defending his creativity all the way.

In the early 1990s Roberto Cavalli with the assistance of his wife Eva Duringer, relaunched his challenge to the fashion system. He took his catwalk extravaganza to MilanoCollezioni.

Over the years he has expanded and as well as his Womenswear collection, new lines have been launched: Menswear, Just Cavalli a line for youngsters, Underwear, Class which is a knitwear collection, Freedom his casual line, Eyewear, Timewear, Angels for children 4-14) and Homewear.

An inspiration to the international jet-set, Roberto Cavalli is eclectic, social and ironic by nature, as a designer he sets himself apart through his natural vivaciousness and extreme cordiality, as well as his proverbial hospitality.

He loves to surround himself with friends to celebrate not only his successes but even the smallest occasion: He is known for his brilliant career and as equally as well for his spectacular parties

Roberto Cavalli is a mainstay among the famous international designers. He continues to enjoy and have a blast each and every day. He stated recently “I’ve been running after success my whole life. It took me 35 years but I finally caught it and I’m happy now.”

In today’s world everyone knows his name! His fashions are known for their raucous elegance, ridiculous embellishment, and shameless sexiness. Cavalli feels that too many designers were designing into the mold of sellable.

Roberto Cavalli never fell into that trap, he consistently and continuously designed outside the box. Cavalli says “Every day I go to work to create what I think of as a form of art, but art that only comes to life when it is worn by a woman at her strongest moment, when she is feeling free, in love with her life and her self.”

We an expect to see Cavalli’s designs continue to hit the catwalk. Visit Robert Cavalli’s Official Fashion Site http://www.robertocavalli.it/ Moda Italia http://www.modaitalia.net/robertocavalli/indexen.shtml

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Guide to the Lateset Fashion Labels

2005-09-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

From the runway to the impulse-buy section at the grocery store, people today are always looking for the newest, latest fashions. Sporting fancy labels attests to one’s worldview, cultural roots and place in society.

A' Gaci - Agaci.Too, the parent company for Twigland Fashions, was founded in 1971 in a downtown shop in San Antonio, Texas. Twigland Fashion is now one of the world’s fastest growing fashion chains for juniors. The label keeps up with the constantly changing world of fashion while adhering to one 32-year standing goal- to make women look and feel sexy and glamorous. Consultants help women to achieve just that with Twigland Fashions. The market is trendy clothes for plus-size young women.

A Gift from the Gods originated in the hip East End of London. They design trendy, unique, graffiti-style t-shirts and accessories in the Goth fashion. This label could outfit the entire cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in hip, Goth-style accessories. Favorite color schemes are black and silver with red This label enjoys pairing unlikely clothing combos for the most unique styles, for example a rain parka and combat boots.

Absolu created “Stephy”, doeskin stretch trousers, in 1991. This label stands apart from the rest with its telling trait of combining leather with other materials, such as warp and weft or stitch. The label continues to experience massive sales growth and has a diverse customer-base. Absolu stylists begin with the finest leathers as a foundation, then build on that with fashionable shapes and colors to create hit trends. Absolu is currently expanding geographically due to a large international market. The designs are becoming a must-have in women’s fashion collections. Absolu has stores in Switzerland and Paris to date.

Art Point provides what fashion experts are calling a fresh look at ornaments of various cultures through the prism of today's reality. By using cultural aspects as inspiration for accessories and ornaments, their fashion becomes more than just a trend, but rather a cultural icon. Their line of accessories includes jewelry and handbags. In addition to accessories and ornaments, Art Point also designs clothing including t-shirts and silk scarves.

Their market is growing into new avenues such as interior projects as well as promotional projects, exhibitions and performances. Art Point began business in 1993.

Aquscutum is a classic British brand name. The business was born in London in 1851. The name Aquascutum comes from the Latin words for watershield. The name is fitting to this company whose main lines include showerproof woollen rainwear made from the highes quality cloth for raincoats. This label provided trenchcoats for British soldiers in both world wars. The royal family even commissioned the company to tailor royal garments. Today the products have been adapted to civilian-wear, and the company is highly reputable in the world of fashion.

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher who offers advice on brand label jeans, with brands such as seven jeans, guess jeans, hudson jeans and dnco jeans.

Gianni Versace - A Fashion Success Story

2005-09-03T04:08:00.000-07:00

Gianni Versace was born in 1946 in Reggio, Calabria, in Southern Italy. Versace received his love of fashion and first lessons on dress-making from his mother.

Initially Versace trained as an architect, but soon he followed his mother into the fashion business. Versace worked for a number of top Italian fashion houses, but in 1978 with the help of his brother Santo he launched his own label.

Versace was a great fashion pioneer who combined the worlds of high style and pop culture. He was a charismatic and accomplished designer of clothing and theater costumes.

Versace appreciated a range of historic attire which he incorporated into his designs and he was greatly influenced by Andy Warhol and modern abstract art.

Wowzer! Best describes the fashions designed by Gianni Versace. He was notorious for designing garments that would shock and startle our senses. Versace saw his designing as an art form. He initiated clothing that was visually excessive and provocative- fashions that confronted accepted codes of taste, beauty and sexuality.

Fashion became entertainment, to be watched and admired - not simply worn. For Versace nothing was too extravagant too crazy or too risque. Yet no matter how extravagant or provocative Versace's clothes were always strikingly well designed garments designed to flatter the body.

Versace was the designer of choice for many of the rich and famous: pop stars such as Elton John, and Madonna; film stars such as Will Smith, and Elizabeth Hurley and even royalty - Princess Diana.

The wealthy were drawn to his clothes like magnets, and that enhanced his reputation. However, Vercasse did not design simply for the wealthy his clothes were very much available to the average person.

In 1985 he launched the Istante label in 1985; and after years as Gianni's muse, his sister Donatella became his co-designer and launched the Versace diffusion range, Versus, in 1989.

These labels featured clothes within the budgets of many consumers; not only were they priced lower than the custom-made clothes, but they were also aimed at younger markets. In 1988 Versace received the Cutty Sark Award as "the most innovative and creative designer in the world"; and in 1993 the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded him the American fashion Oscar.

On July 15, 1997 Versace was shot to death outside his South Beach home in Miami, Florida by a crazed gunman name Andrew Cunanan. Since his untimely death in 1997 the Versace fashion house continues to grow under the creative leadership of his sister Donatella and the business acumen of his brother Santo. Donatella’s daughter Allegra inherited 50% of the company last summer when she turned 18. However, Donatella is still very much in charge.

The days of the wet-look, shocking pink PVC and as much flash and flesh as a catwalk can take are long gone. The new Versace is growing up. "I'm not blind," says Donatella. "I know that most women don't look like models.

We had to start addressing other parts of a woman's life. The fashion business is a very different place from when Gianni started the label.” Donatella's mind is very much on the continued success of Versace.

With Donatella at the helm, and Santo and Allegra at her side, they continue to grow and develop the Versace Product Lines with fabulous designs unveiled for the 2005 Spring Season. The proof is in the Versace spring fashion line - Have a look for yourself!

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/fashion/fashionshows/05/spring/runway/versace/
http://www.milanfashionshows.com/spring2005/versace/photos.htm
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/S2005RTW/review/VERSACE

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Petite Women In Search Of Petite Size Jeans

2005-09-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

A jean crisis is certainly something to worry about, especially for petite size women. It is hard for women to find the right womens clothes, now add your smaller structured women to the mix and it is almost impossible to find certain things, especially the right jean with the proper boot cut.

501s are totally the wrong shape for the petite size women. Bootcut jeans with heels can have some great appeal, but is not for everyone. Try wearing a medium stack-heeled boot. Otherwise, casual style shoes also look good with bootcuts, depending on the occasion. But remember the jeans need to hover around the ankle or a bit longer for that sophisticated and stylish look.

With petite size clothing it is imperative to make a decision on the shoes before you buy the jeans, and wear the right shoes when you're trying them on. Now this doesn't necessarily mean making a decision on a new pair of shoes before buying those petite size jeans. It only means the decision of the shoes you currently own. The major reason this decision is to be made prior to the petite size jean selection, is that the heel determines how the jean will fall or lay to the ground.

Another thing is that petite size jeans aren't pre-shrunk when you buy them, unless you are looking at the stretch denim, so you need to allow for a bit of shrinkage. So put your best guessing cap on and take a guess of the shrinkage. This will allow you to be a bit more loose on the length, and don't forget that most clothing stores these days do alterations, what a blessing for all the petite size women. Also a friendly reminder for you and the alterations person is to make sure they add that stitching on the bottom.

Today many jean manufactures are understanding the needs of womens clothes. Levi's now has a slim-fit bootcut called a 525, Diesel also has some stylish and well fitting jeans for petite sizes. Many petite people are now wearing diesel jeans, so it appears they're putting together shorter lengths. Otherwise, you can't go wrong checking out the Gap for smaller sizes and today the internet has some great clothing stores that specialize in petite size clothing. Their prices are competitive, their styles have great flare and many of the online stores give you free shipping.

Bowe Packer is the webmaster and content provider for http://www.clothes-4u.com. His website: http://www.clothes-4u.com is dedicated to providing free fashion advice and tips for women. Offering excellent tips and strategies for women to look good in the areas of Casual, Petite Size, Plus Size clothing, as well as dress, athletic and casual shoes. You can reach him at: bowe@clothes-4u.com

Couture Fashion

2005-09-01T19:35:00.000-07:00

Haute Couture is a French phrase for high fashion. Couture means dressmaking, sewing, or needlework and haute means elegant or high, so the two combined imply excellent artistry with the fashioning of garments. The purchase of an haute couture model garment is at the top level of hand customised fashion design and clothing construction made by a couture design house. A model haute couture garment is made specifically for the wearer's measurements and body stance. The made to measure exclusive clothes are virtually made by hand, carefully interlined, stay taped and fitted to perfection for each client.

www.ebridals.com is a a site which have the wide range of wedding gowns, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses exclusively designed by couture designer Andy anand which are hand-made and hand-beaded which have the feelings of ‘’today’’ yet they are classic. It is fair to say that the dresses are usually of very high quality, so many people are happy to pay a price that they feel reflects the image and standard.

The final toile of a design idea is an accurate interpretation of the line or cut right down to the button placement or hemline that the designer is seeking. Once satisfied the designer instructs his staff to make up the garment in the selected and exclusive materials. One seamstress or tailor will work on the garment from start to finish. The cutting and finishing is done in one room and the workroom manageress is responsible for everything produced in that room. When a customer decides to order a Haute Couture garment she needs to first make an appointment with the design house prior to any visit to Paris. Model garments from collections are sometimes out of the country being presented elsewhere. Some couture houses provide video of the collection to the serious purchasers.

Couture Fashion is a language of signs, symbols and iconography that non-verbally communicate meanings about individuals and groups. Fashion in all its forms from a tattooed and pierced navel, to the newest hairstyle, is the best form of iconography we have to express individual identity. It enables us to make ourselves understood with rapid comprehension by the onlooker.

Celebrity fashions for Women on a Budget

2005-08-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

It’s never ending Jessica Simpson totes a Vuitton bag, Courtney Cox is seen in Instyle wearing a beautiful Prada dress, Hilary Swank heads down the runway wearing Calvin Klein. If that’s not enough Paris Hilton arrives on the scene with Chanel sunglasses while Jennifer Lopez is seen with Fendi.

Whether it’s Versace, Chanel, Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Calvin Klein, Prada or Fendi, how the heck is the average woman going to be able to stay in style like the stars.

Let’s face it. Although we dream about owning that beautiful Vuitton handbag or that Prada dress. For most of us that’s about as far as it goes. Most of these items start in the mid hundreds of dollars and easily climb to a value of over $5000, for just one piece.

For the stars there is no worry about saving to buy those designer items. For them price is no object as they freely dole it out for what ever their heart desires. But it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out most of us will never own these items. So what do we do? Well that’s easy.

You and I buy items that look a lot like the designer items. Many call these knock offs and that they are but please realize there are licensed copies and then there are copies that infringe on copyrights. We do not condone any company that infringes on copyrights. We do however encourage you to shop for items that made similar to the items we see the stars wearing. It’s the only way we an look like a million bucks on our shoe string budgets. However, the savy online shopper can find real designer items for a fraction of the costs while only paying a dollar or two for shipping.

So....as you flip through this months Vogue or Instyle you are going to see some wonderful fashions that you are just going to have to have for the fall. Don’t worry within the next few weeks similar styles will be arriving at a boutique or Walmart near year. You can look as good as the stars for a fraction of the cost.

After all are your friends of co-workers going to notice your purse isn’t quite the same shape or fabric. Are they going to notice that the dress has a slightly different cut neck or length. I think not. You’ll be close enough for most to think you’ve suddenly got designer taste.

What are you waiting for? It’s going to be a hot fashion season and you are going to be a fashion goddess this season with some savvy shopping.

Sher from Estate Jewelry International have been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

Buying Wholesale Clothing - A Harsh Reality for Startup Businesses

2005-08-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

In my line of business, I often receive emails and phone calls from people who are just starting their online retail businesses and searching for wholesalers who can give them competitive prices on the latest merchandise from the most popular brand names. While it’s understandable that one would want to sell the latest merchandise from the highest quality, most popular brand names, it’s often an unrealistic goal unless you have a substantial amount of capital to invest in your business.

This is not to say that every prospective entrepreneur with the dream of establishing an online retail business should just throw in the towel – quite the contrary. Prospective online retailers need to understand the reality of the consumer goods industry, the abilities that they have based on their capital investment, and then design their business plan accordingly. In my next article, I’ll discuss some excellent options for prospective entrepreneurs with limited capital.

Popular Brands Work Hard to Protect Their Reputation

But first, let’s look at how some of the most successful companies in the consumer goods market operate their distribution channels. Companies with highly popular brand names have worked hard to establish these brands. Understandably, in order to protect the reputation of their brand names, they often establish strict controls in their distribution channel to ensure that their name is not compromised by association with a sub-standard retailer.

Authorized Retailers Only

Some clothing distributors do no require you to be an authorized reseller, however most directly control their distribution channel and only sell their products to authorized retailers who have met their application requirements. Their requirements for authorized retailers often include:

1. A substantial minimum sales volume

2. A physical presence, not just an online storefront

3. An established history of retail sales and an exemplary credit rating

4. Strong recommendations from other vendors with whom a business has dealt

No Distribution to Any Private Retailers

Some brands don’t allow private retailers to resell their products at all. Companies who operate in this manner may own their own retail shops and online retail websites. This is rare, but there are still some companies who operate like this, not allowing any independent retailer – large or small – to carry their products.

Strict Requirements of Wholesalers

Many brands don’t directly control their distribution channels, opting to allow wholesalers to handle distribution to retailers. However, even if they don’t directly control distribution, they still may establish policies that their wholesalers must follow. These policies may be very similar to the policies often employed by brands that directly control distribution, employing one or more of the following requirements:

1. A substantial minimum sales volume

2. A physical presence, not just an online storefront

3. An established history of retail sales and an exemplary credit rating

4. Strong recommendations from other vendors with whom a business has dealt

Do Your Research. Call the Manufacturer.

Companies who operate their distribution channels with any of these levels of control will most likely not allow small volume wholesale purchases, eliminating distribution to start-ups with limited capital. The best advice that I can give to a prospective retailer is to pick up the phone and do your research directly with the source. Call the company’s sales or public relations department and inquire about their distribution policies before putting forth a lot of effort searching for their products through wholesalers. You’ll potentially save yourself hours of wasted time. Not to mention, if you happen to meet the requirements for establishing a direct relationship with the manufacturer, there is no better place to obtain your products.

In my next article, I’ll look at options that are available for the majority of prospective online retailers, those who don’t have an endless source of investment capital that would allow them to meet the reseller requirements of any manufacturer. For those businesses, the newest merchandise from the most popular brands may not be an option. However, that doesn’t mean that the dream of owning an online retail store is out of reach. Until then, do your research by calling manufacturers to inquire about their distribution policies, and, as always, good luck in all of your business ventures!

About the Author: Kirk A Larson has worked for over 15 years in business as a writer, personnel manager, and most recently for the last 4 years as a successful entrepreneur. To learn more about Wholesalers, visit The Wholesale Suppliers Registry at http://www.wholesale-suppliers.net

Buying Wholesale Clothing - A Harsh Reality for Startup Businesses Part 2

2005-08-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

In my last article, “The Reality of Buying Wholesale,” we looked at some of the controls that the largest companies in the consumer goods market place on their distribution channels. As we learned, some of these companies make it impossible for the small, start-up online retailer to obtain their merchandise.

However, this is no reason to give up on your dream of being a retailer. Less capital to invest just requires a little more creativity. Many established retailers have built their businesses by starting out small and then adding more products as they grew. In this article, we’ll look at some creative options available for those who don’t meet the requirements to be an authorized retailer with some of the most popular brand names.

Where do businesses find merchandise?

I’m sure some of you are thinking right now about the many eBay sellers or independent online retailers who sell popular brand names. If they are products that are only sold direct to authorized retailers, or through wholesalers bound by strict manufacturer’s requirements, then these sellers are obtaining their products in one of three ways:

1. They are an authorized retailer who met the manufacturer’s requirements
2. They are selling used merchandise
3. They purchased their merchandise through liquidation or closeout

Sell Used Goods

If you’re looking to make money selling on eBay, selling used merchandise is a very viable idea. Many sellers, including several of my personal friends, have built successful eBay businesses selling used clothing, electronics, musical instruments, and toys, just to name a few. They locate their merchandise through estate sales, garage sales, classified ads, thrift stores, consignment shops, and sometimes even through eBay itself. Then they clean up the merchandise if need be, and list it for sale in an attractive and exciting way. I know several people who substantially subsidize their existing incomes by doing this, and I even know a couple who do nothing but sell on eBay.

Closeouts and Liquidations

Closeouts and liquidations are also a very viable source of merchandise for both eBay and an online retail store. With a good closeout or liquidation source, you purchase reasonable lots of overstocked or discontinued merchandise. You’ll be purchasing last year’s models, but there is a large market out there for this merchandise. Most people don’t have to have the latest style or model, especially when there is a large savings involved by purchasing last year’s products. Many sources of liquidations and closeouts are available by searching online and calling around to do your research.

Consider Lesser Known Brands

Another option is to look at other brands that may not be among the most popular. Not every consumer has to have the most popular, most expensive brand. In fact, most people don’t buy the top brands all of the time, making this market very large. This is an excellent option for someone who wants to establish a retail store selling brand new, recent model merchandise. Once you establish yourself as a respected retailer in this market, your reputation will make applying to resell other products that much easier.

Keep an Open Mind

When you’re deciding on a business venture, it’s very important that you don’t go in with blinders on. Be willing to consider multiple types of products before deciding on the items that you want to sell. For instance, clothing, consumer electronics, and DVDs are very popular items, and not just among consumers but also among sellers. If you choose a very popular market, the requirements for resale may not only be more difficult, but it may also be more difficult to compete with the mass of sellers in the market.

Creativity is King

Creativity is king in the business world. To be successful, you must locate a niche where you can provide a benefit that makes your business stand out. When I talk of creativity, I don’t necessarily mean originality, either. There is a difference. It’s difficult to be original in the business world, as so much has been done already. Originality doesn’t always win either. If you’re too above and beyond the norm, people may not relate to your approach, and thus turn away.

Creativity could be as simple as borrowing an idea from another market and applying it to a market where it hasn’t been used. People had long delivered flowers, and people had long delivered groceries, but no one had ever delivered pizzas until Domino’s started doing it. Now everyone down to the smallest corner pizza joint delivers pizza because it works.

That’s an example on a grand scale of where a simple idea grew into a giant success. Not all of us will be as fortunate as Domino’s, but millions of business owners have succeeded using the same principles. They located a niche where they could provide a benefit that made them stand out, if even ever so slightly from their competitors. This advantage gave them market share, and now they live comfortably from the proceeds of their creativity.

Put Forth the Time and You Will Reap the Benefits

Creating a business requires a great deal of time and research. You’ll need to research products and find some that are attainable at a price that will make you a profit. Then, you’ll need to research the market and determine an approach that will set you apart. At the same time, remember to keep an open mind and consider several markets, ideas, and approaches before you decide on the best fit. You have a lot of work ahead of you, but no one ever said that good things come easy. And I can tell you that when you do your research and do it right, the benefits are more than worth the effort.

In my next article, I’ll be discussing the reasons the Internet has made business ownership much more attainable within the last five years. Until then, put on your thinking hats and find yourself an idea worth that’s worth the effort. And, as always, good luck in all of your business ventures!

About the Author: Kirk A Larson has worked for over 15 years in business as a writer, personnel manager, and most recently for the last 4 years as a successful entrepreneur. To learn more about Wholesalers, visit The Wholesale Suppliers Registry at http://www.wholesale-suppliers.net

Finding Vintage Clothing

2005-08-26T03:16:00.000-07:00

Why Vintage?

Why would anyone want to wear vintage clothing? First of all, it's fun! When you wear vintage, you stand out from the crowd. The chances of someone else wearing the same exact outfit to that special event are slim to none. More and more high school girls are shopping vintage for dances and proms because it guarantees originality. Yasmine, a vintage clothing collector from Los Angeles, says, "I wear vintage so I can add a little something authentically retro to my clothing and not look the same as everyone else, which is difficult in style-conscious L.A.."

Vintage clothing is also nostalgic. Remember the good old days when there were party lines and soda shops? Me neither, but wearing vintage gives a girl the chance to experience a small part of history. In today's ambiguous world, it feels nice to pull on a crinoline and full feminine skirt once in a while. Let's face it: grown-up girls like to play dress up, too!

For the thrifty, the prices on vintage items should be incentive enough. Local thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales are excellent sources of old clothing at unbelievable prices. Broke? Go volunteer to help clean out grandma's attic! I've gotten several vintage pieces handed down to me since I began collecting about two years ago.

Online Shopping

The internet has made it easy for vintage clothing enthusiasts to comparison shop and buy items that may not be available in their area. Type "vintage clothing" into any search engine and you'll get hundreds of results. There are a few things you should know before purchasing vintage wear online, however.

Carol, owner of Dandelion Vintage, a fun and inexpensive online Vintage Clothing shop based in New Jersey, recommends that first-time buyers be aware of what it means to buy and wear vintage clothing. "It's not like something new and fresh from Macy's, it's going to feel different and smell differently (there is no "new" clothing smell) and the items do need to be treated a little more carefully," she said, adding that customers should always ask questions up front about the garments, especially if they are unsure of the size or condition. When shopping vintage online, she says, be sure to read the site's terms of sales, ordering procedure, and return policy before ordering.

There are many different styles and eras to choose from. Items from the late 19th century on up through the 1980's are available. Whatever your style, you're sure to find something to suit you. Carol suggests customers buy what they like and avoid following trends, which is excellent advice when it comes to collecting of any type.

Making it Work

Vintage clothing can be teamed up with modern apparel or mixed and matched with other vintage pieces. Back in L.A. Yasmine says, "I find that wearing head to toe vintage is just not practical in day to day life, but by adding a few pieces I can create a look that is uniquely my own. I often buy high-end designer shoes and team them with a $1.00 vintage dress and a Gap cardigan. The look is pulled together and definitely mine."
There you have it: vintage clothes are fun, affordable, and enable the wearer to create and maintain an original look. So what are you waiting for? Go shopping!

Excellent vintage pieces at affordable prices can be found at http://www.dandelion-vintage.com

About The Author

A homemaker and homeschooling mother of four who enjoys collecting and wearing vintage clothing.

myrandamorgan@yahoo.com

Custom T-shirts - Put Your Logo on Cotton

2005-08-24T03:02:00.000-07:00

An effective way to gain company recognition is to order custom t-shirts with your company name, logo, phone number, and other important information on them. You can use customized apparel to outfit your employees as well as to contribute a sense of professionalism and reliability to your company. In addition to outfitting your company with the custom apparel, you can market your brand by distributing the custom designed clothing to your customers and potential clients.

Ordering custom t-shirts is easy: you can contact a local printer to make them, or you can design and order them online. There are several websites that have t-shirt design interfaces in which you can design and order your t-shirts entirely online. The one down side is that you end up using their basic t-shirts instead of quality blank clothing. Whatever type of company you choose, however, you will want to make sure that the process they use is screen-printing rather than heat transferring because the prints will last longer and look more professional.

Because printing prices can vary drastically, you should get quotes from several different companies before ordering. The benefits of ordering online include convenience, not having to pay taxes on the goods, and in some cases, complimentary shipping. The benefits of using a local screenprinter include being able to see the goods before you purchase them, and perhaps, speaking directly with the artist. A downside to ordering locally includes having to go to the local screenprinter to place your order and then picking the items up yourself. If you order online, however, you will have the items shipped directly to you. An online screenprinter that we find very reputable for printing company apparel and custom t-shirts is DesignAShirt.com. Check the yellow pages for local printers.

Whether you are ordering locally or online, the entire process from ordering to receiving your apparel should take around 2 weeks. If you need the apparel faster, you can opt for other production and/or shipping methods for additional fees. Some companies can get the goods to you from the time of ordering in as early as three business days.

Ordering your own company t-shirts is not the only way to advertise on apparel. Inquire about sponsoring community events that are coming up in your area. These events may have their own custom t-shirts in addition to other promotional materials that you could have your company logo printed onto if you are helping sponsor it. Such events include fundraisers, sporting events, and school functions. Check your local papers and community newsletters for more information about such community events and sponsorship opportunities.

Kelli Fassbender is a writer and designer for Custom-t-shirts.info. This article is provided courtesy of custom-t-shirts.info and can be reprinted as long as the author and company information is included. Custom-t-shirts.info offers advice for printing, sizing, and pricing custom t-shirts. For more information about custom t-shirts visit: http://www.custom-t-shirts.info.

Finding Stylish Maternity Clothes for Your Clothing Botique

2005-08-23T02:46:00.000-07:00

Here is a sampling of the best maternity shops online. You’ll undoubtedly find one or several that match your budget and style! Remember to feel good it helps to look good, so why not indulge in a maternity outfit or two?

BabyStyle http://www.babystyle.com
In this store you’ll find maternity fashions at reasonable prices, with free shipping on large orders! Babystyle also offers a selection of what they call ‘transition’ maternity wear… clothes you can wear after the baby comes but before you are ready to fit back into your pre-pregnancy clothing!

Motherhood http://www.motherhood.com
This is another great maternity stop for moms looking for well-priced maternity clothes for all seasons. Motherhood contains a comprehensive selection of maternity wear and nursing items for moms young and old alike.

Bella Blu http://www.bellablumaternity.com
Designer maternity fashions for the fashion conscious mother. If you are looking for something hip and stylish, check here first!

Mom’s Maternity http://www.momsmaternity.com
This store features maternity clothes, lingerie and more for tall, petite and plus sized women.

A Pea in the Pod http://www.apeainthepod.com
Slightly more expensive maternity clothes and accessories. Considered one of the more popular maternity outlets.

Mimi Maternity http://www.mimmaternity.com
Fashionable maternity clothing for hip mothers everywhere.

Maternity Mall http://www.maternitymall.com
Features maternity fashions from a variety of top label and designer maternity fashion providers.

Don’t forget many traditional retailers also offer a wide selection of exceptional maternity wear and clothing. The stores listed below carry traditional and maternity clothes for fashion and budget conscious moms. Here are some other places you should consider when shopping for maternity wear:

Target – http://www.target.com

Old Navy - http://www.oldnavy.com

Gap – http://www.gap.com

If you are really looking to save dollars, you should consider buying second hand maternity wear online. E-bay is one of the world’s largest online auction houses, and here you’ll find literally thousands of choices when it comes to maternity wear. Most sellers will post pictures of the assorted clothing they have for sale, and very often you will find designer maternity items at a fraction of the cost a retailer would sell them for.

What to Buy? Are you wondering what your maternity wardrobe should contain? Though women have varying preferences and styles, there are a few items that every woman should have in her maternity wear closet. Among these include:

- Jeans
- Pair of black or khaki slacks
- One skirt or dress
- Variety of Maternity T’s and Tops
- Maternity Bra

You may or may not have to buy maternity underwear. While some women find the support in these comforting, others find that traditional bikini underwear purchased a size or two larger than normal work just as well, and are less expensive and come in more colors and styles.
You will find that your breasts are growing throughout your pregnancy. A good maternity bra is recommended. You should buy a bra that allows a little room for expansion however, as your breasts will likely inflate even more when they fill with milk close to delivery.

Remember that as a pregnant woman you deserve to look and feel your best. Don’ t hesitate for a moment to pamper yourself and purchase a few items that will not only help you look great, but will help you feel great during your pregnancy.

Article by Beverley Brooke

Visit http://www.pregnancy-weight-loss.com/maternity-clothes.html for more on maternity clothes

Fashion Marketing

2005-08-22T02:30:00.000-07:00

In a nutshell, fashion marketing is a profession that takes the latest trends and designs in clothing and communicates them to a target market in such a way that the consumer is not only aware of the product, but wants to and ultimately does buy the product. A target market is a sector of the consumer market to which a company wishes to sell (i.e. market) its clothing. To fully know what fashion marketing is, it is important to understand that marketing does not stop at ads in magazines or commercials on TV. The world of marketing is just as dynamic as the world of fashion. Marketing clothing includes elements such as determining which stores the apparel should be sold in, what price the clothing should be sold for—all the way to how the in-store displays should look. Fashion marketers often are as savvy about business as they are about fashion and popular culture.

Fashion marketers are creative. At the core, the profession is about connecting with the image—the lifestyle—the consumer wants. For example, in the fashion industry, comfort, style, material, color, symmetry, and usability are just the beginning of a list of elements designers must consider when developing a line of clothing. Fashion marketers take the task a step further by determining the best way to promote the characteristics of the clothing to the consumer and to which group of consumers to promote it to. What a 65 year-old female is looking for from a piece of formal eveningwear is completely different from what a 21 year-old male wants from casual everyday wear. Consequently, fashion marketers must stay abreast with the latest fashions as well as know what styles will be successful for a variety of occasions, age groups and demographics.

Fashion marketers play an essential role within the fashion industry because they are the link between designers and the public. The success of a line of clothing does not rest solely on its design. Often, successful marketing is just as crucial, if not more so, to the line as the actual clothing itself. This is because marketing is the tool through which the designer identifies with the public, and the public identifies with the designer. Without this exchange, it would be difficult to establish the consumer base required to have a successful line of clothing.
Ultimately, fashion marketing is a fun profession—changing and reinventing itself just as often as the clothes it promotes. It integrates the artistic nature of fashion with the creative aspects of business—making for a highly rewarding career to the ambitious and innovative.

Amie Pronowski writes about style topics such as fashion marketing.

Selling Your Private Label Clothing Line to Action Sports Retailers

2005-08-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

So everyone thought you were crazy when you announced 6 months ago that you were quitting your “real job” in hopes of chasing the Private Label dream. Your house is a disaster, blank tank tops and line sheets everywhere, your living room has been transformed into a makeshift production lab. You’ve bled and sweat, investing every last of ounce of time, effort and inevitably…your life savings. At last…you’re first sample line is complete and your line sheets are nothing short of spectacular. Congratulations! But wait…better take a deep breath as the real

work has only begun. What next?

Lucky for you, Leisure Trends estimates that in 2004 surf and skate retailers sold $4.87 billion in goods. With those figures continuing to increase in 2005 you only need a sliver of the pie. Most importantly you need to place yourself in front of and meet the right people.

Industry Trade Shows: Inundated with retail purchasers in attendance, emerging brands often use trade show appearances to better establish their lines with key accounts from specialty shops such as Huntington Surf & Sport to larger chains including Tilly’s. From sourcing wholesale clothing to meeting buyers, these events are your opportunity to get your name out there and begin taking orders.

1. ASR – As a full service tradeshow, Action Sports Retailer (ASR) provides a venue for buyers and manufactures to meet, sell, buy, exchange ideas, market, and network. With 3 events each year, ASR gathers approximately 7000 buyers and decision makers. Visit www.asrbiz.com for more info.

2. Surf Expo- Produced twice annually, Surf Expo is the longest running trade show for manufacturers and retailers in the boardsports and resortwear industries (28 years). Visit www.surfexpo.com for more details.

3. Magic – Considered perhaps the most influential business event in the fashion industry, Magic connects a global audience twice per year and attracts over 95,000 attendees including over 3,000 manufacturers. For show information visit www.magiconline.com

Now, hopefully you’ve come up with a unique approach and can afford booth space.

Happy selling!

J-rod

BlankStyle.com
Fashionable Clothing Wholesaler

Private Lable Advice - Blank Apparel Sourcing

2005-08-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Do you have an idea for a private clothing label that will make millions? Does the idea involve a need for trendy fashionable tees and tanks that you will then alter and style into sellable product? You know what you want to do with the blank shirts, but the challenge lies in finding…or making…blank apparel that is “cool” enough to meet your standards. There are two solutions.

Solution 1: Lease an empty warehouse. Import fabrics. Purchase cutting machines and sewing machines. Hire staff to design the blanks, cut the fabric, and sew the garments. Hire staff to manage your other staff. Waa-la…blank garments.

Solution 2: Do a little research on the internet, possibly talk to a few people who have faced your challenge with their own business, and then purchase your ready-to-alter trendy blank apparel from a company who has done all the work of ‘Solution 1’ for you.

There are a number of companies that exist solely for the purpose of providing blank apparel to those ‘in need’. Depending upon what your line looks like there are blank suppliers that supply simple economically priced to highly fashionable slightly more expensive garments. You can even find companies that provide the garment and the private label services (i.e. screen printing, relabeling, embroidery, etc.) as needed.

The simple solution is this: Minimize your overhead expenses by outsourcing, spend your time doing what you are good at, and turn heads with your fresh new designs!

Luke

Ebay Gold

2005-08-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

Written by Guest Author Greg Hayes.

Internet auctions are relatively new having been around since the mid 1990's. There are several Internet auctions including Yahoo Auctions and UBid. But of course the undisputed king of Internet auctions is Ebay. Ebay has over 100 million registered users making it one of the top 10 most visited websites in the world.

I discovered Ebay way back in 1998. At first, I was strictly a buyer. I was amazed at the thousands of items that could be found on Ebay. Just about anything you can imagine can be found on Ebay. And there were more incredible bargains to be found than at any other ecommerce website or brick and mortar store I had ever visited. After about six months or so of buying, I began selling items on Ebay. I had an extensive collection of unbuilt as well as built plastic model cars. I began placing the models on Ebay with starting bids of $5.00 and no reserve. To my surprise, people started jumping all over these model kits. Some of them sold for as high as $70.00. It was at this time that I realized the enormous money making potential of Ebay. The key to being a successful seller on Ebay is selling items that people want. There are a number of ebooks on Internet auctions that tell of the importance of a great headline and a killer ad for your auction. While this is true, it is also important to remember that the best ad in the world will never sell an item that no one wants. The items that do well on Ebay are unique or interesting items. Antiques, pottery, collectables and high-end apparel are just a few of the items that will bring high bids on Ebay. If you can easily find the item at Wal-Mart, chances are it will not do well on Ebay.

There are a number of wholesalers around the country that you can buy merchandise from to sell on Ebay. But before you buy, do your homework. It's very tempting to buy a bunch of electronic widgets that sell for $2.00 a piece. You might think you can buy 20 of the $2.00 widgets and then sell them for $12.00 a piece on Ebay and make a killing. Unfortunately, you discover that no one is bidding on your widgets despite the fact that you have started the bidding at a mere $6.00. In fact, there are very few people that are even viewing your auctions. The end result is you are now stuck with 20 widgets that no one wants. The first mistake here was not doing a search of widgets on Ebay to find out if they're hot or not. The second mistake was trying to sell an electronic item. Yes, I know there is a huge market for electronic gadgets. That's the problem; the market is too huge. It is already saturated. How many times a day are you bombarded with offers for the latest and greatest cell phone or digital camera? If you try to sell in this market on Ebay, you're encroaching on Best Buy's turf, which means you'll be smashed like a bug. On the other hand, how many offers do you receive for NASCAR collectibles or Gucci shoes? Or how about die cast models? These are the hot items on Ebay. These are in demand items and more importantly you can sell these items without competing against Wal-Mart and Best Buy.

If you're new to Ebay, the first thing you need to do is to build positive feedback. Feedback is vital to your success on Ebay. Potential buyers will read your feedback in order to determine if you're an honest seller. If you have high numbers of negative feedback, many buyers will look elsewhere. Take a look at some of the Ebay Power Sellers feedback. Many of them have feedback in the thousands with a rating of over 99% positive. It's no secret how these Power Sellers became successful on Ebay. They take care of their customers. This means they'll have plenty of repeat business.

When you first sign up with Ebay, you'll have zero feedback. Most buyers will shy away from an Ebay newbie with zero or very low feedback. Start building your feedback rating by selling personal items from around the house that you no longer want. This is a good way to get the feel of using Ebay and to build positive feedback. You should invest in a good digital camera. Good clear pictures are an important selling feature on Ebay. Remember to describe your items accurately and honestly. Do not try to trick or deceive buyers in any way. You can't afford receiving negative feedback this early in the game.

I came across a perfect example of a deceptive seller on Ebay a while back. The seller had sold a pair of slightly used shocks for a 2003 Chevy pickup. He used Ebay's Buy-It-Now feature to sell the shocks for just one cent. Wow! What an incredible deal! But wait a minute. The unwary buyer forgot to read the entire auction. The shipping charges were a whopping 60 bucks! The result was a pissed off buyer and negative feedback for the seller. This was an obvious attempt on the part of the seller to make money on the shipping costs. He was banking on the fact that the buyer would not read the entire auction and would simply assume the shipping charges would be reasonable. Do not use deception in your auctions or try to make money on shipping costs. If you treat your customers the way you expect to be treated you will never go wrong and you'll be well on your way to building a reputation as an honest top-notch seller.

If you happen to get a few non-paying bidders, resist the temptation to leave negative feedback for these individuals. Leaving negative feedback will only result in possible retaliation by the non-paying bidder and negative feedback for you. Once again, you do not want any negative feedback this early in the game. Buying items off of Ebay is another great way to build positive feedback. When you win an auction, pay for the item promptly. The result will be positive feedback for you. Most buyers will not care whether your feedback came as a result of buying or selling as long as it's positive.

After you've built a feedback rating of least 25, you'll be ready to start purchasing wholesale merchandise to sell on Ebay. Remember what I said about doing your homework before buying merchandise. If you have your eye on a particular item you think might sell on Ebay, first do a search of that item on Ebay to find out what people are bidding if anything on the item. If it looks hot, at least 7 or 8 bids, then it's probably a good bet. If it doesn't appear to be getting many bids, you should steer clear. You can also do an advanced search for auctions that have already ended. It's a great way to find out the final bid price for a particular item. A few extra minutes of research can save you from a giant headache down the road.

About The Author

Are You Tired of the scams and the get-rich-quick schemes? Greg Hayes is founding editor of http://www.mammothprofits.com/. Mammothprofits is the website devoted to helping others filter out the scams and become successful in a home based business.

Slimming Fashion Tip

2005-08-17T16:27:00.000-07:00

“Slim and trim”, a trend on the thoughts of many these days. Expensive gyms, edgy diets, and revolutionary pills all play a part in pop-culture’s quest to be of model stature. An element often overlooked is the attire with which you adorn your body. Its important to remember that clothing with a more fitted cut can make you look slimmer.

Many people will select oversized clothing in an effort to hide figure flaws. Unfortunately, the extra material has the opposite effect by emphasizing those more fleshy areas. This does not mean that spandex tees, tanks, and pants are the clothing of choice!

What you wear…and it does not have to be expensive...has the potential to enhance or diminish the appearance of your figure. Keep your eyes open for those vendors offering stylish clothing that has potential to call attention to all the right areas, while de-emphasizing the others. Try something more fitted…not clingy…you may like results!

Petite Size Clothing - Easier to find online

2005-08-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

We all know the expression: "If the shoe fits wear it." But for petites, the motto is more likely to go something like this: "If the petite size fits, buy it." Meaning clothing petite size has been hard to find in clothing stores and their needs are even more complicated than the ordinary run-of-the-mill sizes. However, more and more clothing companies have come to realize lately that catering to niche clothing demands, whether in terms of sizing or in any other way, can be very lucrative and offer something many women are looking for in petite clothing.

The advent of the Internet has made it all the more possible for retail clothing stores and clothing wholesalers to carry those hard to find petite sizes for women. This is a win-win situation for the petite size women and clothing companies. This will be of interest to an ever increasing section of the population, but reach them wherever they are so that the operation becomes convenient for the consumer and cost effective for the online store.

This may sound complicated, but what it basically means is that women of smaller stature, who are looking for petite clothing, no matter what their style needs are, can now begin to take an interest in the latest fashions by visiting some great online clothing stores that cater to women whos needs are for clothes petite size. This is very heartening news for ladies who wear womens petite size and who love the idea of looking good because now it is a mouse click away!

Bowe Packer is the webmaster and content provider for http://www.clothes-4u.com. His website: http://www.clothes-4u.com is dedicated to providing free fashion advice and tips for women. Offering excellent tips and strategies for women to look good in the areas of Casual, Petite Size, Plus Size clothing, as well as dress, athletic and casual shoes. You can reach him at: bowe@clothes-4u.com

Wholesale Designer Handbags – Learn How to become a part of the Hottest Selling Online Industries.

2005-08-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

It is said, to be successful in selling, you must be passionate about what you sell. This is easy if you love designer handbags and fashion. Fashion is a huge industry. Wholesale designer handbags and fashion is also quickly becoming a very large and profitable industry. But as good as it sounds, there are many things to know before you jump in and become a designer handbag wholesaler.

The most important issue you must understand is the manufacturing and distribution channels of the top designers. The production of designer handbags is almost a top-secret event. With the heavy competition between the designers to offer the latest and hottest trends for the up coming season, handbag manufacturers keep quite about their production runs, the quantity they will produce and orders must be placed two or three seasons in advance just to get any product. What does this mean to you, the wholesaler? It means that you cannot call up GUCCI or Hermes and ask for a couple hundred bags and expect to not get laughed at (in Italian of French of course). It also means that the top designer handbag manufacturers only supply their product to large retailers, small boutiques and maybe a website with an exclusive contract.

So where do all the handbags that you see for sale online come from? Well, that is the key to getting into the wholesale designer handbag business. Most of the bags come from intentional or unintentional overstock by the small to medium size boutiques oversees. They will sell off their surplus of last season’s handbags to distributors who will then sell them to wholesalers. It is your goal to find these distributors.

To find reputable, honest dealers who distribute authentic merchandise is tricky. There are a couple of things to consider.

**Most dealers that sell designers from Italy, France and England are not found in the US. It only makes sense. They need to have a close relationship with the boutiques, and very rarely the manufacturers themselves, that supply them with their overstock. So become familiar with what country the handbags you want to sell were originally produced.

**Learn the language. You will need to learn a little Italian or French. Just enough to understand colors, styles and shapes of the handbags when you are given an inventory list. It would also be good to know enough to at least say hello and what your intentions are when initially contacting the dealer. Learning the language is also extremely helpful when conducting searches on the internet. Don’t limit your search to pages here in the US, search google and yahoo in Italian and French as well.

**Contact as many dealers as possible. This will help to validate which ones are honest and have an interest in a business relationship. Once you have received the inventory/price list from several dealers, cross reverence them. Are the prices similar? Are the quantities on hand reasonable? This is important to gage if the dealer is selling authentic merchandise. If he has 600 of a particular bag, chances are they are not real. It is not reasonable, given the means in which he most likely purchases his stock and the production methods of the manufacturing, that he would have so many of one style.

**Understand all terms of sale prior to placing an order. It is not uncommon that the dealer will want a deposit on your order. You will usually commit 30% up front and pay the remainder when the items have shipped. Many dealers will only accept bank transfers. This is where becoming a designer handbag wholesaler takes a great deal of faith. A bank transfer offers no protection from the dealer taking your money and never shipping product. If he was dishonest and took the funds, but shipped nothing, you could have very little recourse. Unlike a money order or credit card purchase, there is no 3rd party protection. At the least, make sure you have the dealers phone number, complete business address and email address.

Of course, like with all start-up business, there are many, many more things to consider. But to make your search for the right distributor easier, we highly recommend going to Modal Imports. Unlike the many lists and directories that claim to offer true sources for authentic designer handbags, ModaImports.com has used, or contacted, all of the sources on their Supplier Database. We have also found authentic handbags on auction sites such as Overstock Auctions.

If you have a passion for fashion and are looking to start your own lucrative business, wholesale authentic designer handbags is a great business opportunity.

Deanna Key is the author of many articles and resources concerning desinger handbags. She has worked as an importer/exporter of designer fashions for over 5 years, and has imported over $25 million worth of designer goods. Read more helpful articles and get discounts on designer handbags at http://www.handbag-spot.com./

Wholesale Seven Jeans - Profitable Wholesale Apparel

2005-08-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Seven Jeans for All Mankind

Once thought extinct, the expensive designer blue jean again walks the Earth as proud as ever. In the last few years, high-end high dollar blue jeans have appeared on the legs of women and men all over the world. From New York to Tokyo people are paying hundreds of dollars for the most desirable brand names. It’s a phenomena that could benefit many clothing retailers and worth taking a look at.

The popularity of designer jeans is of course, driven by celebrity. Carefully ripped and faded jeans are seen on many of Hollywood’s young stars. A number of celebrities have launched or soon will launch their own lines, rock star Bono being among the most recent to get in the designer jean game. The new craze differs somewhat from its relative in the 1970s, however. Old famous name designers like Jordache and Calvin Klein with his notorious ads are missing from the new jean scene. Today’s beautiful people are getting their ‘hand-destroyed’ jeans from newer and hipper companies such as Seven for All Mankind, True Religion, or Innovo.

The brand names of the new jean craze can be an adventure for the novice. For example, Seven for All Mankind should not be confused with Seven 7 Jeans. Seven 7 is a different but also highly desirable brand name. The two companies have had a live and let live attitude up until recently when they became involved in litigation over their names.

The name problems and law suits shouldn’t distract you from just how many pairs of Seven for All Mankind jeans sell every year. The Vernon, CA manufacturer claims on their website that they took in 13 million dollars in their first full year of operation. It’s only been growth since then. The company has a retail presence in 35 countries including the U.S., Japan, and all over Europe. Their blue jeans retail in nearly all the big name stores and fashionable boutiques. Seven for All Mankind jeans are found for as much as $300 at high-end retail stores and as little as $75 at discount web sites. An average price for the jeans would be about $150. These are numbers that should open the eyes of any retailer.

Countless pairs are sold everyday on eBay for somewhat less. A quick sample of the auction site showed many pairs going for around $70 with some getting a good deal more. Like many items sold on eBay, authenticity is a major issue but real pairs of Seven for All Mankind jeans can easily sell for over $100. However on Overstock Auctions , you can find them selling individually for around $49 and in bulk for much less.

When you consider the high price point and tremendous demand the possible impact of designer jeans on a clothing retailer is obvious. If the costs can be kept low the opportunity for an excellent profit is considerable. Small retailers looking to take advantage of the new demand can purchase Seven for All Mankind jeans in wholesale lots of manageable size. Searching the web will turn up any number of suppliers. For example, a major internet wholesale auction site sold cases of the jeans containing 36 pairs for $1,900 a case or $52 a pair. Another wholesaler was selling the same size case for only $1,300 a case or $38 a pair. Of course the retailer must also factor in shipping costs that vary depending on distance. A 50 lbs case is a good number to work with and shipping should add about one dollar to the cost of each pair.

The small retailer should be aware that the prices vary a great deal depending on the style. Seven offers its customers many choices of cut and stitching and the retailer should make sure to be informed about these before getting in the business of selling them. A good place to start is Seven for All Mankind’s web site http://sevenforallmankind.com/. The site is flashy but easily navigated and informative. It will certainly help the perspective retailer familiarize themselves with the styles available and get a feel for the company’s image.

It is of course impossible to say how long expensive blue jeans will remain in fad but for now the money is there and the clothing retailer should consider what designer denim can do for them.

Art Mickelwraith is the author of the Wholesale Buyer's Guide at TopTenWholesale.com. He can be reached at artmicklewraith@gmail.com.

Use Ebay for CHEAP Advertising & Link Development

2005-08-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for traffic to your e-commerce clothing store, you should look no further than Ebay. The reason for this is Ebay is an online auction site that has a huge following and millions of hits on a daily basis. Because of this, if you have your clothing being auctioned off on Ebay, your storefront can be linked to the auction which increases your site's visibility. Here are a couple benefits Ebay auctions can provide:

1. You'll Have More Links

It is affordable to auction things off on Ebay and the price could come out of your advertising budget. Regardless of how you pay for it, you will have temporary web space where you can provide all the links you want to your website, photos, descriptions of products, or anything you like. These links will accomplish two things. The first thing they will accomplish is they will help you get higher rankings with the big search engines so other people will click on your site, increasing your traffic and ultimately sales. The second thing these links will accomplish is they take the visitor who is currently shopping and interested in your product right to the description, giving them the option to buy. Regardless of whether or not anyone buys your products online, you will have links to your site which will prove successful in driving traffic. You can re-list your Ebay auctions as often as you like and have as many auctions going at the same time, as well. This is a great way to sell products primarily, and secondarily a great way to promote your website.

2. Guaranteed Targeted Traffic

Most people work hard and long hours trying to develop links and joint ventures to their site to get better rankings. However, with Ebay you don’t have to ask permission or link back, you just pay a small fee and there you go. You have another link to your website, you have a website that is as popular as they get, targeted traffic interested in your products and services, and all for a very small fee. Actually, the small fee you pay to get your link and product on Ebay is probably less than the amount of money you lose trying to develop joint ventures. So, consider Ebay and other auction sites when trying to get more links to your website, not to mention selling products.

And above all, Ebay is easy. You can learn how to use the interface in no time at all and before you know it not only will you sell some of your products and services online, you will generate so many targeted leads for such a low cost you will wonder what took you so long to try it.

Michael Turner reveals step-by-step how you can increase search engine traffic in his free 7 part mini-series. Grab it now at http://www.powertraffictactics.com/

When is Wholesale Really Wholesale?

2005-08-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

By Guest Author - Johnny Burke

You’ve finally found the wholesale source for the high demand widget that is selling like hotcakes on the Internet. Thoughts of watching the money pouring in and celebrating the new found success selling widgets has you so excited that you can’t wait to buy 5 widgets at wholesale and double the investment.

After a lot of effort to market your widgets, you haven’t sold any. Then, much to your surprise, you find others selling the same widget at a much lower price and doing a great business. You can blame the wholesaler for your lack of success or you can face the truth about wholesaling and volume purchasing.

So, after an unsuccessful attempt to sell widgets, you decide to do the research to find out why you couldn’t compete. The first eye opener is that you can find the widget at a number of places selling for less then your wholesale cost.
Lets look at the reasons for this.

The retailer can buy in bulk and receive quantity pricing. In many cases this also qualifies the retailer for manufacturers wholesale rebates, so it now seems that the word wholesale is a relative term. Small businesses get first level wholesale pricing. Large businesses (with great buying power) get 2nd and 3rd level wholesale pricing plus incentives. As an example, the small business may pay a price of $10 each buying wholesale widgets in quantities of 1-10. The large business may pay $5 each for the same widget in quantities of 500-1000.

Is there any recourse for the small business? Yes, The simple answer is Market Research.
OK, how can market research help me with wholesale buying? The problem that needs addressing is buying widgets at to high of a price to be competitive. Plus, there are hundreds of places that sell widgets for a lot less then you can. If the demand, competition and average selling price of widgets can be determined, then you can make an informed decision about the selling potential of the widget.

That is the simplified version of the answer, but touches on the main points of market research.
You can do the research manually but by far the best bet is to use one of the existing market research tools available on the Internet. A moderate investment is required up front but the information compiled and presented is essential to profitable marketing. These links may help you find that vital info you're looking for to position your business in the correct marketplace:

www.clickz.com

http://www.researchinfo.com/ - free market research.

A clear understanding how wholesale works in an open market along with good research can multiply your chances of successfully operating a small business. This applies to online storefronts, auction sellers, or anyone doing business from home.

About The Author

Johnny Burke is a successful online seller and webmaster for E-MarketingAmerica http://www.gtsystem.net/e-commerceamerica/ offering resources and information for the online marketer.

Wholesale Secrets Revealed: The Holy Grail Of Wholesale!

2005-07-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

By Rober C. Potter - Guest Author

Like the legendary search for the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper, the same "holy crusade" goes on today by veteran and newly anointed business owners for the perfect wholesale, surplus, and drop-shipping resource. They believe that divine intervention will lead them to suppliers that can defeat the economic laws of "supply and demand."
There are more than a few people who try to build an enterprise based on the weak premise that they will able to "score" in demand retail items for their new business, or auction, at either below wholesale prices, or "pennies on the wholesale dollar."

Trying to ride the wave of popular retail products brings out the greed monster in all of us. Pursuing the "deal of the century" has lead some aspiring business owners to risk their startup capital on fraudulent deals and offers. In this article I want to discuss three of the more sought after sources of product supply, and the "Pros & Cons" of each. I also want to shed a little light on some of the misconceptions people might have about buying “products for resale.” The reality is that not every product will be available through wholesale, surplus, and drop-shipping venues.

Wholesalers: Typically, one of the better places to purchase products for your new found venture. Many wholesalers will require a minimum purchase price that can range anywhere from 100 to 1000 dollars. A true wholesaler is usually one step away from the original source of the product. For instance, a manufacturer produces blue widgets and wants to get their product into the marketplace. They will then employ a sales representative to get the product into the market, or they will assign a wholesale distributor the exclusive rights to carry and sell their product line. Some companies are import wholesalers. While they do not necessarily manufacture a product, they will import products from manufacturers in the United States, and from countries like China. A great example of such an importer/wholesaler is the Bnfusa.com:
Bnfusa.com http://www.bnfusa.com/ There are a few ways to find wholesale products. Just about every product that is in the distribution chain will usually have a dedicated trade association, organization, or trade publication attached to it. You can find such trade information with the help of the following directory information:

National Association Of Wholesale Distributor http://www.naw.org/Content/NavigationMenu/About_NAW/
Associations/About_Associations.htm

The above website address will lead your toward associations, ranging from Advertising to Woodworking. You should be able to solicit them for wholesalers within a particular industry. If you want to purchase their membership list (separate from the association listings), you will have to get in touch with them to check their current prices. Other good sources are:

Encyclopedia Of Associations By: The Gale Group
The Encyclopedia Of Associations lists over 100,000 different nonprofit American organizations. If you cannot find what you are looking for from the National Association Of Wholesale Distributors in terms of trade associations, then this is the directory for you. However, you will have to go to your library to find this research gem. You can usually find it in the reference section of any large University, or Public Library.

Publist.com http://www.publist.com/

In addition to trade associations, trade magazines are another good source. Publist.com allows you to: "Search our database of over 150,000 magazines, journals, newsletters, & other periodicals. Find FREE in-depth information on familiar and hard-to-find publications from around the world, representing thousands of topics." Tradepub.com http://www.tradepub.com/
Tradepub.com allows you to subscribe to trade periodicals from their web site for FREE! No hidden trial offers to qualify.

Surplus & Salvage Merchandise:
Another sought after source of supply is retail surplus, closeout, overstock, liquidated, and salvage merchandise. Surplus dealers, and brokers, purchase shelf-pulled, returned, overstock, closeout, liquidated, and salvage merchandise from manufacturers, retail stores, reclamation centers, bankruptcy sales, and just about any business who has slow moving or salvage merchandise.
Surplus dealers buy these obsolete items in large quantities, and then resell them to just about anyone who wants them for their Ebay Auction, Flea Market, Dollar Store, or Retail Store outlet. One of the largest trade associations for the surplus industry is the International Marketing Association Of Surplus Dealers: http://www.surplus.net. You can find dealers throughout the United States.
Other sources of finding Surplus, Salvage, Closeout, and Liquidated merchandise include the following: Closeoutcentral.com, Liquidation.com, CWSMarketing.com, Commoditysurplus.com, and National Retail Equipment Liquidators (Nrel.com).
PROS AND CONS OF THE SURPLUS & SALVAGE SUPPLIERS:
The "Pros" of the Surplus & Salvage merchandise is that they can offer you a variety of products at below wholesale prices. However you "market your merchandise," you should be able to find a product, or price, that will fit into any business advertising model. In most cases, you do not need a "Certificate Of Resale" to buy products from Surplus & Salvage Dealers and brokers.
The downside is that you have to do some investigative work. Some dealers will want you to buy merchandise in quantity (a pallet minimum, truckload preferred) and you have to visit the company you are buying from to make sure that the product is, as advertised. Also, more than a few S&S dealers want payment in the form of wire transfer which can be very risky. Also, dealers and brokers will sometimes misrepresent the quality of the merchandise they are are selling. Before you consider doing any business with a surplus dealer, or broker, you must read "The Ten Tenets Of The Retail Surplus And Salvage Business." It can be found here:

http://productsforresale.com/articles/index.html

Drop-Shipping: Supposedly the perfect business model. No inventory, no trips to the post office or UPS. You just set up shop, take the order, pass it along to the wholesale drop-shipping company and they send it out for you. Some drop-ship distributors will even send you ad copy and pictures to help you advertise their products. They can even put your return address on the package! A lot of Retail Catalog companies use drop-shippers as their means of supply.

PROS AND CONS OF DROP-SHIPPING:
There is one obvious advantage to drop-shipping. It is basically a "product less" venture. No need to tie up your money in inventory. Drop-Shipping can fit into any business model, or advertising method you happen to use. However, if you are an Ebay Auction seller you might want to rethink that position.
Finding a drop-shipping company that can deliver on a consistent basis can be tough. Drop-Shipping companies have been known to run out of merchandise. If they happen to run out of the product you are auctioning, asking buyers to wait on their product because it is "backordered," does not inspire confidence. Your negative feedback rating can pile up real quick. The other problem is expense. Some drop-shippers require a sign-up, or "entry fee" before you even start marketing their products. You might also have to pay for support materials, such as pictures and advertisement brochures for the product you choose to sell.
In addition, when you sell a product from a drop-shipping distributor there are processing fees that have to be paid, in order to get the product out the door and in the hands of your customer. That price can range anywhere from 5.00 to 10.00 dollars and up depending on the item. After Ebay and drop-shipping fees, you can wind up loosing money, or at best, breaking even. Bottom-line, drop-shipping and auction selling don't mix. The best bet for any auction venture is to "own what you sell."

EVERYTHING CAN BE HAD FOR A PRICE-BUT THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING!
Now that we have reviewed the "big three" let me put them into perspective. There are products that can be obtained through a few of featured supply chains, and then there are products that will never make it to the surplus, wholesale, or drop-shipping market. Example: To get Louis Vuitton handbags through a surplus dealer is almost impossible. Surplus dealers that are promoting LV Handbags are misleading you.

Same is true for people who are selling designer handbags on Ebay in mass quantities. The likely scenario is that they are Chinese knockoffs. Over 80 percent of popular retail products here in the United States are copied in the People's Republic Of China. Those products include Nike, Reebok, Puma, Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Calloway (Big Bertha) golf clubs, and just about any product that enjoys popular merchandising status. There is no plan by the Chinese government to stop "knockoff" activity because it is a thriving industry that provides employment for the masses. Despite the pleas from American companies to "cease & desist," there is a tepid response from Chinese officials to do address the issue. When raids are conducted, they are "ceremonial" public relations stunts to appear as if they are actually taking action against the counterfeiters.

Another indicator of authenticity is price. You will not find any authentic Louis Vuitton handbags for 30, or even 100 dollars. Most are 500.00 and up. To illustrate this point even further, just think about the popular celebrities of today who are clothes and handbag aficionados. Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, all sport around town with "Louies" that can fetch up to 10,000 dollars for an exclusive style of handbag. Do you think you will ever have access to these items in the wholesale, surplus, or drop-shipping market? Forget it! You might not even get these in some upscale boutiques! There are people so well connected that they buy up "hot items" like LV Handbags before they even hit the stores. They know who wants these items, and they will purchase whatever is available just so they can have an exclusive for their celebrity clients. Don't get me wrong. It's not that you can't get "designer duds" or handbags at wholesale prices. You will not get high end clothes and accessories that are featured in the latest issue of Vogue, Cosmo, as a "product for resale," in any wholesale environment, unless you spend thousands for the right to distribute such a product.

Even if some of these items made their way beyond the connected channels of purchasing, exclusive clothing and handbag items like Louis Vuitton will have limited distribution in "hand picked' boutiques, and well connected purchasing agents. In addition, there are people in the fashion industry, as well as other branded industries that would rather have their merchandise burned, or buried before it would reach the wholesale, surplus, or drop-shipping market! For more information on designer clothing, and to learn about designer "fakes," please refer to the following websites:

http://fashion.about.com/cs/tipsadvice/a/fakingit.htm
http://www.handbag.com/fashion/howtolookgood/spottingfakes/
http://www.fakediesel.com/

For a healthy does of honesty, and an eye opening perspective concerning the realities of purchasing designer clothes for resale, the Clothing Broker will definitely explode some popular myths about obtaining such items:

The Clothing Broker http://theclothingbroker.com/

THERE IS GOLD UP IN THEM THERE HILLS!
Now lets address the Surplus & Salvage Industry. When people first encounter some of the offers from Surplus dealers, or brokers, they tend to suffer from what I call the "I just found Gold" syndrome. A feverish excitement permeates their brain cells, and reduces them to a quivering pile of jelly, leaving their reasoning skills inoperable! A few thousand dollars later, and after coming to the conclusion that their "Golden Opportunity" turned out to be bars of lead, elation, then turns to anger. It is a cliche, and I hate using it, but it is more than appropriate when it comes to surplus and salvage products. "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is!" Some Surplus dealers will hone in one at least one of seven deadly sins--greed! As with wholesale, you will never get certain products for "pennies" on the dollar. One type of surplus product category that has some people loosing their minds is surplus and salvage electronics.
The problem with electronics is that they have a low profit margin even when they are brand new. Finding surplus dealers with working, undamaged, electronic products can be a daunting task. Most salvage electronics can be in pretty rough shape. See Techliquidators.com: http://techliquidators.com

What you are getting from most Surplus Dealers, or companies who specialize in electronic salvage is someone's customer returns, i.e., "junk!" Unless you are a electronics technician, or recycler, then I would stay away from "salvage" electronics. Even product that is not damaged, and still in the box or retail blister pack, can have a pretty high surplus price. If you find that someone is offering you a electronics item, be it a DVD Player, or Xbox, for eight dollars a unit, then "buyer beware."

For a further explanation of the surplus industry, and how you can avoid "purchasing pitfalls," I would suggest that you read the: "The Ten Tenets Of The Surplus and Salvage Business" found here: The Ten Tenets Of The Surplus & Salvage Business

http://www.productsforresale.com/articles/index.html

GETTING DROPPED BY DROP-SHIPPING!
My last critique, and word of caution is about drop-shipping. You might have access to information about drop-shipping companies that would prove me wrong. I will not argue with anyone who is dealing with a dropshipping company who is serving them well. However, I will tell you that dropshipping is a risk. I really can't recommend any type of guide, or information that would lead you to a reliable source of drop-shipping companies.
Unlike surplus and wholesale, where you physically own and control the product, that option has been taken out of your hands. You are entrusting a company to ship products directly to your customers. If you get involved with a company who cannot deliver, or who is back ordered, you can find yourself with some very irate customers. Sign up fees, shipping fees, and expenses for support materials can really affect the bottom line. And, most drop-shipping companies like to send out product in volume. If you are selling just a few items per week, or per month, it might not be worth if for a drop-shipping company to deal with you. Large retail catalog companies use drop-shipping or "fulfillment" houses, but these companies cater to large scale operations.
The bottom line is this. When it comes to finding product supply for your business it pays to do your homework. Visit the company facility when you can. Never wire any money into a company account. Use a credit card, or Escrow service to protect yourself should your supplier not deliver, or send you defective merchandise.

Understand that you will not be able to get the latest and greatest technology or fashions at surplus and below wholesale prices. If you follow all of these rules, and you use common sense as your "crusade" you just might be able to find your own "Holy Grail," of wholesale product supply!

Robert C. Potter is a wholesale and retail surplus products specialist. He is the author of “The Ultimate Guide To Products For Resale!” Over 300 Wholesale & Surplus Supply Sources For Ebay Auction Sellers, E-Commerce Websites, Flea Market Vendors, and Retail Store Owners! You can find his 160 page ebook at: http://www.productsforresale.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Key to Starting a Private Label

2005-07-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to start your own clothing company? Its not as difficult as you think. What do you absolutely need?

1. A decent logo
2. Creative concepts and graphics - Design Talent
3. A unique, blank apparel supplier
4. A decent screen printer
5. A Line Sheet to show potential buyers
6. Sales and promotional talent.

Which do you think is most important? Its obviously design talent you say? Are you Joking? You must be joking. Have you stepped out of the house recently? Have you seen Von Dutch clothing? Crayon weilding Chimpanzes produce better designs. Furthermore, I imagine the monkeys are more sanitary, but I digress.

#6 is clearly the most important element. You can create an entire line of fashion forward, beautiful clothing but if you can't pitch it - no one will ever see it (excluding your mom of course). So, unless you want a closet full of your fantastic designs, ask yourself the following two questions:

Can I sell?

In other words......can I hit the pavement with my line sheet and walk into every boutique clothing store I can find? Then will I harass the hell out of retail clothing store buyers so that they'll try to squeeze 5 minutes of time in for me at Magic 06' (Clothing Convention) ?

Will I be able to make a professional presentation to a Nordstroms buyer?

Can I promote?

Do I have and creative viral or gureilla marketing ideas to get this label kickstarted?

If the answer to both of these questions is No - you better get some help. Namely, find someone passionate for fashion who also happens to be ridiculously outgoing, great on the phone and aggressive as hell. Lastly, (and superficially) it would help if your sales rep is hot.

I know, how horrible.....so sorry, buy I didn't say anything about this being an equal opportunity blog :)

That being said, let me welcome you the shallow end of the pool..... i.e. the fashion world.

Good luck with your label!

Bradley J

www.blankstyle.com

Fashionable Blank Apparel at Wholesale Prices

Wholesale Apparel Directories

2005-07-19T23:28:00.000-07:00

All successful enterprise in the wholesale industry have one common talent: Research Ability.

The willingness to conduct hours of painstaking online research is a must if you want to ensure your business is getting the most value from its sourcing. By value, I am NOT referring to the lowest price. Of course we all dream of finding that "holy grail" supplier that offers your ideal items all at one dollar piece pricing (don't we all miss those days).

But alas, these unique items; these fashionable products that speak to the identity of your business are very difficult to find. In a small effort to assist you with this endeavor; I've listed a few solid wholesale clothing directories. The following websites are excellent resources for boutique owners, private labels, eBay power sellers, etc.

1. Wholesale Central -

http://www.wholesalecentral.com

Over 200 Apparel Wholesalers Listed in this Huge Wholesale Directory.
Qualified Merchandise Resellers can qualify for a free membership to access there site.

2. Apparel Search -

http://www.apparelsearch.com/Apparel_Search_2.htm

Apparel Search is the largest & fastest growing online guide to the Apparel Industry.
Free acccess to their entire director.

3. Wholesale Gopher -

http://www.wholesaleroom.com/Apparel/index.html

Wholesale Gopher lists a ton of wholesale apparel distributors in their apparel category.

There, now you can now spend a few days searching for your newest supplier - good luck.

Bradley J

www.blankstyle.com

Fashionable Blank Apparel at Wholesale Prices

Who are your Sources?

2005-06-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

Who are your suppliers? Where do you find your most profitable items? Do you find deals on ebay and simply market them more effiencently? Are you a swap meet deal junkie? Do you buy overstock? Are you on the phone with China everyday regarding that next shipment? Seriously....what's your story? There are a million ways to source your product line and we want to hear about all of them.

Wholesale Clothing Blog

The 'Skirt With No Name' Challenges Linguists - and the Fashion Elite

2005-06-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

Tiered, Flouncy, Bouncy, or Boho? The 'Skirt With No Name' has become a linguistic wonder since, unlike most mass-merchandized products with apparent global appeal - it has no name.

San Diego, Calif. (PRWEB) August 5, 2005 - The 'Skirt With No Name' has become a linguistic wonder since, unlike most mass-merchandized products with apparent global appeal - it has no name, or rather none generally accepted by the consumers, who have come up with a plethora of names to describe it.

"It's as if Motorola has introduced a new model of its popular 'Moto' phones or Toyota a new Lexus sedan only to have the consumer ignore the names bestowed upon them by their respective marketers and insist upon using their own particular favorite," said Paul J J Payack, President and the WordMan for the Global Language Monitor.

Preliminary analysis using the Global Language Monitor’s (www.LanguageMonitor.com) proprietary Predictive Quantities Indicator (PQI), have come up with the top names used to describe the apparel. Using this analysis, 'tiered' seems to have settled in as the most popular description followed by 'peasant', 'gypsy,' and 'flouncy'. The PQI tracks specified words and phrases in the global print and electronic media and on the Internet. The words and phrases are tracked in relation to their frequency, contextual usage and appearance.

Apparently the skirt is selling well around the globe. It has been suggested that the skirt originated in Mexico, was inspired by the burgeoning Bollywood studios, is a throwback to California '60s Hippie Culture, or the sudden 'coolness' of all things Gypsy.

"There has been a global groundswell of demand for The Nameless Skirt, after having been by-passed on the runways of Milan, Paris and New York," said Millie Lorenzo Payack, Director and Fashion Correspondent of The Global Language Monitor, "And the fact that the 'tiered skirt' comes in such an unusually large number of variations that might be worn to work, dinner or dancing seems to account for the wide variation of names accorded the product".

The complete list of names, and commentary, associated with the skirt follow.

1. Tiered - Though it's not always tiered only adds to the confusion surrounding the name.

2. Peasant (sometimes Pioneer) - Throwback to California '60s Hippie Culture.

3. Gypsy - A tribute to the current popularity of All Things Gypsy.

4. Flouncy - A favourite of teenage girls who favour the short, circle cut.
(From 'flounce' meaning fringe, frill, trim, edging, and furbelow.)

5. Boho - The 'Oh so cool' description (from Bohemian).

6. Crinkled - Actually meaning 'crinkle' as in 'wrinkle'.

7. Voile - Many 'high-end' shops favor the French mystique.

8. Gauze - A thin or transparent fabric with a loose, open weave.

9. Bollywood - As in 'Hollywood,' the Mumbai-based film industry in India.

10. Indian - As in Bollywood, though some associate with a Native American influence.

For more information, go to http://www.LanguageMonitor.com or call 1.925.367.7557.

About the Global Language Monitor
California-based Global Language Monitor analyzes and catalogues the latest trends in word usage and word choices, and their impact on the various aspects of culture. A worldwide assemblage of linguists, professional wordsmiths and bibliophiles, supports the GLM to help monitor the latest trends in the evolution (and demise) of language, word usage and word choices. End of Press Report.