DESIGNER SCHOOL: HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE FASHION BUSINESS
By Libby Calaway
THESE young designers can wield scissors like swords and sew dresses to make a baby socialite swoon.
They could be the industry’s superstars of tomorrow, if they can master the most elusive skill of all: making money.
You can buy their creations in Orchard Street’s Forward, which passes for an ordinary hipster boutique.
But this quirky, brick-walled shop is really a “fashion incubator” where young design talents learn how to succeed in business.
Chosen from more than 100 hopefuls, they pay $4,200 each for the privilege of participating in the six-month program, founded and subsidized by the Lower East Side Business Improvement District.
Working in the shop two days a week, they learn everything from bookkeeping to creating business plans.
“They’re already talented designers with creative minds, but they might not yet be competent in running a business,” says Andrew Flamm, executive director of the Lower East Side BID.
“We don’t expect them to be accountants, but we do expect them to learn to take care of their finances.”
Ultimately, the BID hopes grads will open their own shops in Lower East Side, where fourth-generation mom and pop hardware stores sit beside start-up boutiques.
“Fashion is an industry that’s of growing importance down here,” says Flamm. “It’s one of the key strengths we have going for us.”
Megan Pritchard and Rebecca Min Lee design one-of-a-kind jewelry using vintage baubles and high-end ribbons, which they sell for $80 to $400 at Forward. (They get to keep a portion of the profits.)
“It’s good to be with other people in your same situation, who are young designers,” says Pritchard. “We learn from each other.”
Jemima Biscombe had researched opening her own store before joining Forward’s second “class.”
“It was just going to be too expensive,” she says. “I knew I couldn’t support myself financially if I went into this alone, without support of a backer.”
Also, “I wanted to be able to have others assess my merchandise and get feedback on it before going out alone.”
Now she relies on the support of fellow Forward newbies, who were chosen by local style authorities and fashion editors. They started work this month.
One of the first things Biscombe did at Forward was make a 20 percent price cut on her items, which include tank tops with leather sleeveletts and hooded smock dresses sold under the label Jackman.
“I had priced them higher,” she says. “But I learned that because of the neighborhood, they needed to be less expensive.”
FORWARD, 72 Orchard St., between. Broome & Grand streets; (646) 264-3233
Courtesy of NY Post
