Outerwear Start-up

[FNG]

So...today Zac & I went to the Mall of America to go jacket & shoe shopping. After we got home, I was sitting on the couch in my hawaiian pajama pants just like I do every Saturday morning/afternoon. Then I started to get some what I consider to be good ideas on how to make a better jacket. Rather than just submit my ideas to North Face, I've got visions of getting rich off them. Anybody have any info on how I might go about starting an outerwear company?

[skinnyskier]

Buy a sewing machine and some fabric?

[FNG]

My ideas are slightly more complicated than wool socks sewn to a t-shirt.

[Raps]

My sister is a fashion designer and has her own company in NYC....and trust me it takes a lot more than a good idea on how to make a jacket better. Not to kill the dream but there are tons of people out there going to school for years to learn how to design all types of clothing. You need a lot of connections, funding and oh the list goes on. But hey if it's a solid idea and that is what you want then go for it...start researching about the guys who started co.'s like north face, patagonia, arc teryx and see what kinda background/ideas they had when they started. It's always good to have someone to model your career or goals after. Someone who managed to live the dream you want to etc...it gives you fuel for your fire.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

well, then since you're not going to making them yourself...that leaves one option...Outsource your production to a 3rd party. Pretty common across all industries.

form your proprietorship or LLC or corporation or whatever is best for you (a lawyer can help you with the paperwork), get to work on your designs, then start researching production houses that can manufacture for you, then start getting bids from them to see how much it will cost. Then write a business plan incorporating those costs, how your going to sell and market, who's your competition and how are you different, what your price points will be and how you came up with them, how your going to grow, do you plan on conquering the world or growing things to a point and selling everything to your competition for a huge profit, etc etc present to a bank or VC and get your loan or capital then you're off and running....

[montanabum]

GO to a company that is already in existance and get on your knees..
I f that doesnt work shake your magic 8 ball, it will tell you.

[fez]

you should try getting ahold of Sully from couldveil. that guy went from being a skid bartender at the Calico in JH to starting his own company. I never knew him well, just met a couple times (friend of a friend) so i cant really introduce you, but i bet he would talk to you about what it takes/took to get their company off the ground.

[cj001f]

but i bet he would talk to you about what it takes/took to get their company off the ground.

A rich family and some investors?

[fez]

yeah that didnt hurt any.

[dipstik]

read up on stories like these:

"Hello,

My name is Scott Jones and am founder of Beyond Fleece Clothing. As a junior at the University of Oregon in 1996, I could not afford a fleece jacket of my own. With the help of the Craft Center on campus, I was able to produce a 'usable' fleece jacket. This was the beginning.

With positive comments from friends I continued to work with patterns, sewing techniques, and distributors.The first two years of Beyond were frustrating and time consuming. As school took most of my time during the day, I would awaken at 5:00 in the morning to complete a three hour session of sewing before my first class, along with another session well into the night.

After graduation, in 1998, and Beyond's first version of the website going live, www.beyondfleece.com, I began to sew full time. As a coach for the University of Oregon's Rowing program, I would once again rise at 5:00 a.m. but this time to be on the water by 6:00. Only after this beautiful experience would I settle into a full day of sewing.

With locals coming to Beyond's shop in the industrial part of town, and hundreds of orders coming off the web site I was a busy man. Custom sizes and options were standard from the beginning. Each garment was made specifically for the person who ordered it. It was wonderful to see my customer's face when they saw the finished product, or to recieve an e-mail from a very satisfied customer from as far away as the east coast.

Eugene, Oregon is a wet and cold place from October through May. Once a week, with a large back pack, 20-40 garments, and a bike, I would set out for the 5 mile journey to the embroiderers, and back. An interesting experience with semi-trucks on my left and right.

With the satisfaction of customers and the positive attitudes of friends, I knew it was all worth it. Sahale, my greatest critic, would take advantage of any opportunity to make the Beyond product better. Sahale, Svein Berg, Russ Lombard and I worked closely together and redesigned pattern after pattern, and option after option. By 2000, customer after customer told us that our hard work on fit, design, and options had paid off. We had an amazing line of clothing.

This year to date we have increased sales over 1000 percent, have redesigned out patterns for an even better custom fit (especially for women), added many new awesome options, and will be offering custom made Soft Shells, and custom made synthetic down by next fall. On top of all of this, we have been recognized by the industry as a leader in innovation, quality and value.

We invite you to take a look at what we have to offer. We are sure you will be pleased with the outcome.

Enjoy,
Scott Jones"

beyondfleece.com

[FNG]

Thanks guys. After reading the article in Powder about the founder of Fate and Dipstick's story, I'm feeling a little better about the possibilities. Shoe, that was exactly the stuff I was looking for.