The Fashion Startup

You want your fashion brand to feel premium, not basic, but you can't quite say what makes a garment look elevated. You think that means you don't have the eye for it. But actually, premium isn't a feeling, it's a set of specific design decisions, and nobody has shown you what they are yet. In this episode of The Fashion Startup, fashion designer and startup mentor Michelle Ramsay...

You think a bad factory ruined your samples. But actually, anything you don't specify, a factory fills in with the cheapest option. In this episode of The Fashion Startup, fashion designer and startup mentor Michelle Ramsay of The Fashion Expert® shows what starting a clothing brand without a tech pack really costs, with a founder's 20-piece collection and her own story from 20+ years in f...

If you're researching how to start a clothing brand, you've probably been told you need a tech pack without anyone explaining what one is. In this episode of The Fashion Startup, fashion designer and startup mentor Michelle Ramsay of The Fashion Expert® explains what a tech pack is, how it differs from a sketch, and what it gives your clothing brand. After 20+ years in fashion and more tha...

Thinking about running Facebook and Instagram ads when you start your clothing brand? Paid social can really help grow a fashion brand, but only when the foundations are already there. In this episode I'm joined by Naomi Davies, founder of fashion marketing agency NMD Marketing, for an honest conversation about what paid ads can and can't do for a new brand. We talk about why ads aren'...

How to Film a Month of Content for Your Clothing Brand in Two Hours If the thought of creating content for your fashion brand fills you with dread, or you've picked up your phone to film something and immediately put it back down, this episode is going to change how you think about the whole thing. I'm joined by Stacey Gribben, founder of Creative Canvas, a 24/7 self-serve content studio i...

Starting a Clothing Brand? Here's What You Actually Need to Know... Ready to start your fashion brand? ⁠Grab my free Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint to see the proven steps to get started Wondering when you actually need help starting a clothing brand? If you're stuck between researching alone and feeling ready to ask for support, this episode gives you the honest answer, and the real cost...

Ready to start your fashion brand? Grab my free Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint to see the proven steps to get started Three fashion founders. Same YouTube videos, same Google searches, same AI prompts, same advice. All three are about to do completely the wrong thing for their brand, and none of them know it yet. In this solo episode of The Fashion Startup, I break down why generic advice about ho...

If you've ever told yourself you can't start a clothing brand because you didn't go to fashion school, can't draw, or don't have any connections in the industry - this episode is going to reframe all of that for you. In this solo episode, Michelle Ramsay gets honest about why the "just believe in yourself" advice so many founders receive is not only unhelpful, it can...

Been sitting on your clothing brand idea for months, maybe years, without moving forward? In this final episode of Founder Prep School, I share exactly what I'd focus on right now if I wanted to launch a fashion brand. Been sitting on your fashion brand idea for months, maybe years, without moving forward? In this final episode of Founder Prep School, I share exactly what I'd focus on righ...

Thinking about starting a fashion brand but not sure if it's really the right move for you? In this episode, I ask you to pause and honestly consider whether this path is a good fit - because it's genuinely not right for everyone, and that's okay. What you'll learn: I walk through the real reasons people start fashion brands — from spotting a gap in the market to craving a more cre...

Thinking about starting a fashion brand? These are the mistakes I see first-time founders make again and again - and most of them are completely avoidable once you know what to look out for. After a decade working with clothing startups, I share the most common (and costly) mistakes first-time founders make - from underestimating how long it really takes to launch, to sending a factory a photo and...

Should your clothing brand launch with one hero product, or a full collection? It's one of the most common questions first-time founders ask me - and the generic "start small and build up" advice you'll find online doesn't work for every brand. I walk through how to figure out whether your fashion brand should launch with a single standout product or a small, curated collecti...

Have you been thinking about starting a clothing brand for months (or years) but still haven't taken the leap? In this episode of Founder Prep School, I share the three real reasons founders get stuck before they launch, and they're not the reasons you'd expect. After years of working with first-time clothing brand founders, I've found the biggest blockers aren't money or drawi...

Starting a clothing brand but not sure where to actually begin? In this first episode of the Founder Prep School series, I break down the one step almost every first-time fashion founder skips, and why it's the difference between a brand that lasts and one that falls apart at the first hurdle. You'll hear why planning and laying strong foundations matters more than jumping straight into design, an...

From first idea to first collection: the real story behind building a children's fashion brand from scratch If you've ever thought about starting a clothing brand but had no idea where to begin - or felt that creeping doubt of "who do I think I am to do this?" - this episode is going to feel very familiar. Michelle is joined by Sabrina Campbell, founder of Solly Little, a childre...

The secret nobody tells you when starting a clothing brand If you're dreaming about launching a fashion brand but feel like you keep going in circles - or you've already started and something just isn't clicking - this episode is going to make a lot of things fall into place. In this solo episode, Michelle breaks down the three approaches most fashion startup founders take, why two of...

In this episode of The Fashion Startup, I’m joined by Gal Golander, founder and CEO of Noosh, to talk about what it really takes to start a fashion brand from scratch and build a product-led business in a competitive market. We cover product development, manufacturing, direct-to-consumer marketing, hiring, and the realities of growing a fashion startup. Ready to start your fashion brand? Grab my f...

Ready to start your fashion brand? Grab my free Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint to see the proven steps to get started. Have you ever thought, “Someone really needs to fix this” about a product, garment or accessory that just doesn’t work the way you need it to? In this episode, I’m talking about the founders who take that thought and actually do something with it. These are the innovators who crea...

Ready to start your fashion brand? Grab my free ⁠⁠Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint⁠⁠ to see the proven steps to get started. In this episode of The Fashion Startup , I’m joined by Barbara Chowaniec , founder of Fosho Petite , a Dublin-based womenswear brand creating timeless, perfectly proportioned pieces for women 145–155 cm tall. Barbara shares the real side of starting a fashion brand from scratc...

Ready to start your fashion brand? Grab my free ⁠Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint⁠ to see the proven steps to get started. September is the perfect reset for fashion entrepreneurs. In this episode, I explore why this month feels like a fresh start in the fashion industry and how first-time founders can harness the momentum. From overcoming self-doubt to setting clear, realistic goals, I’ll walk you...

In this episode of the fashion startup I’m joined by empowerment lifecoach Raquel Braganza to talk all things mindset and what's holding you back as a fashion founder. We cover so much inspiring content such as the inner critical voice, saying yes to your dreams, waiting for that "right" time to start and overcoming fear to embrace something new. Raquel also has a special gift for yo...

In this episode of the fashion startup I’m joined by branding experts Scott and Shona Watson from creative agency The Ideas Club. A Glasgow based agency helping bring creative ideas to life. The duo share some gold on choosing a brand name, how a brand identity is more than just. logo and some of the startup mistakes to avoid. You can find out more about The Ideas Club here: ⁠⁠⁠ WEBSITE⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠I⁠NS...

In this episode of the fashion startup I’m joined by retail and whoesale expert Therese Oertenblad of Small Business Collaborative who works with purpose-led, product-based business owners who want to grow their wholesale and create consistent income. Therese shares her wisdom and advice for fashion startups who want to explore the world of wholesale and we chat about how to get started and what i...

In this episode of the fashion startup I’m joined by founders of Sorsa menswear Sarah Jane and John who share what it’s been like for them creating their debut collection. Having just recently launched, the duo share their struggles in the beginning, the key to unlocking those, navigating the design and manufacture process and their top tips for first time founders. You can find out more about Sor...

In this episode of The Fashion Startup I’m joined by founder Loredana Buta who has recently launched the luxury resortwear collection Lore Buta. Loredana shares her unique approach to her brand and business model, overcoming imposter syndrome as a new founder, being transparent with your collection and tips to minimising the overwhelm of starting a clothing line. You can find out more about Lore B...