Cant Sew - Cant Draw - Can I Still Start a Clothing Line? (2024)

By Team Digital Fashion Pro Fashion Design Sketches November 23, 2018

Cant Sew - Cant Draw - Can I Still Start a Clothing Line? (1)

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Can I Still Start a Clothing Line If I Can’t Sew or Draw?

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Many aspiring fashion designers are confronted by fashion industry myths that one should not start a clothing line or can’t start a clothing line if they can’t draw or sew. This myth could not be further from the truth. It is absolutely possible to start up a clothing line or fashion brand without these skills. If your passion is to have your own fashion label and these beliefs have been holding you back then today you can put those concerns to rest. Don’t get me wrong, these skills are great if you have them or want to learn them. However they are not gatekeepers as to if you can or can’t start your own line.

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I CAN’T SEW!

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Starting your own line requires passion, dedication, creativity and industry knowledge. The first three items mentioned are based on you. Industry knowledge can come from reading books like the Official Step by Step Guide to Starting a Clothing Line. Now let’s get to sewing. Knowing how to sew is great because you can make your own samples and you do not have to pay someone else to it. On one hand that can cut down on the time to develop a design. But over time, sewing your own samples may now take longer because you have so many other hats to wear as you are on the road to starting your own clothing line. Most industry designers outsource the sewing of samples. Nearly all clothing lines outsource production to professional sewers and clothing factories. With this being said, there are many fashion designers who do not sew at all. They outsource their clothing creation to professional seamstresses, sample makers and factories.

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It is highly possible as well that you do not need to know how to create your own clothing pattern either. As long as you have your garment measurements then you can have professionals make your designs without providing them with a pattern first. This is also a myth in the industry. Again – you do not need a pattern or need to know how to sew to get clothing made / start your own clothing line. Keyword: Outsource. Now this does not mean that you should not educate yourself on garment construction. Analyze the clothing in your closet and elsewhere for construction and details. Start paying attention to the smallest details that you maybe have never paid attention to. You may even want to deconstruct some garments to see the inner workings.

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I CAN’T DRAW!

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In order to outsource your sewing needs to other brings us to the next myth – Do you have to know how to draw to be a fashion designer or start a clothing line? Absolutely NO! The main goal of fashion design is to be able to present / communicate your clothing ideas in a professional manner so that others will be able to understand your vision. Notice this statement does not mention anything about using your drawing skills to achieve that. So how do you get around not being able to draw yet still have a way to present professional designs? The answer is fashion design software like Digital Fashion Pro. With Digital Fashion Pro you can design clothing and create professional digital fashion sketches even if you can’t draw at all. In fact, most clothing lines use fashion design software to create their designs. You can easily create your fashion sketches without ever touching a pencil. Most manufacturers also require designers to submit their designs in clean digital format over hand drawings. Now it is great if you can draw or want to learn how to draw – no problem because having a skill is having a skill. However in all practical sense, whether you can draw or not you still are going to have to present your designs in industry format which is digital cad.

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ANSWER: YES YOU CAN START A CLOTHING LINE IF YOU CAN’T DRAW OR SEW!

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Myths should not prevent you from going after your fashion goals. You an be successful in the fashion industry if you are using the right tools and resources. Knowing how to sew or how to draw play no part in whether you can start your own clothing line. There are many successful fashion designers and clothing lines that can’t sew or draw just like you.

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Article by Michael Harper – Co-Founder of StartingAClothingLine.com / Digital Fashion Pro

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Resources For Aspiring Fashion Designers and Beginners:

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Digital Fashion Pro to design your clothing line

Spec Book for creating garment measurements

Fashion Mogul Package for helping beginners launch their own line

How to get investors to help launch a clothing line

How to go about starting a clothing line from scratch

Fashion Design Process

New Designer Checklist

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Cant Sew - Cant Draw - Can I Still Start a Clothing Line? (2)

Team Digital Fashion Pro / About Author

Digital Fashion Pro is a fashion design software company powering fashion designers and clothing lines worldwide.

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Cant Sew - Cant Draw - Can I Still Start a Clothing Line? (2024)

FAQs

Can I be a clothing designer if I can't draw? ›

The question is: Do I need to know how to draw to start a clothing brand? The short direct answer is No, you can start and run a successful brand without knowing how to draw, but for your sake and in the end, for the brand – yes it would help a lot if you could visualize your ideas.

How do you start a clothing line if you can't draw? ›

The answer is fashion design software like Digital Fashion Pro. With Digital Fashion Pro you can design clothing and create professional digital fashion sketches even if you can't draw at all. In fact, most clothing lines use fashion design software to create their designs.

Do you need to be good at drawing for fashion design? ›

The most important skill for a fashion designer or any artist is a natural talent. You want your art to be recognizable and distinguishable. Many fashion designers had careers as architects, graphic designers, or in other related fields before switching to fashion.

Can you go to fashion school without knowing how do you sew? ›

Q: Do I need to know how to sew and draft patterns? A: Not necessarily, but you should familiarize yourself with garment construction. It's a common misconception that you must know how to sew to be a fashion designer. This is actually where a lot of my frustration with fashion schools is rooted.

How to start fashion design with no experience? ›

Look for a fashion internship

The best place to start is with an internship. Even if you've studied something fashion-related, nothing beats real-world experience. You have to be totally okay with starting at the bottom. A fashion internship is guaranteed to round off your textbook knowledge and develop your skills.

Can I be a clothing designer without a degree? ›

If you have the talent and skills, you can earn a role as a fashion designer without having a college degree. To succeed as a fashion designer without earning a formal education, you need to independently acquire all of the skills you would typically learn in a classroom.

What should I major in if I want to start my own clothing line? ›

Since you want to start your own business, you should combine your studies with business, marketing or fashion merchandising [source: BLS]. Create a business plan From your education, you should be able to figure what your start-up costs will be and how to come up with the money.

How much money do you need to start a clothing line? ›

How much does it cost to start a clothing line? Like any business of any size, the startup costs will depend on how large you want the business to start out. A small clothing business will need about $500, a medium-sized line between $1,000 and $5,000, and a large line might need up to $50,000.

Is it hard starting a clothing line? ›

Starting a clothing line requires a lot of time and dedication, plus you need money to get it started and might not see a return on your initial investment for a while. With all of this in mind, take the time to consider whether this is really what you want.

How do I know if fashion design is for me? ›

5 signs that you should become a fashion designer
  1. You're a creative. Without creativity, there is no chance of design, but this is likely a skill you possess if you're reading this blog. ...
  2. Design is a big part of your life. ...
  3. You're constantly looking to improve things. ...
  4. You're good at expressing yourself. ...
  5. You're entrepreneurial.

How long does it take to learn fashion sketching? ›

It is possible to develop this skill within about two weeks if you practice regularly. The more experience in technical drawing and illustration you have already, the better, but as long as you keep practising, you will improve.

Is it very hard to become a fashion designer? ›

Becoming a fashion designer is not easy as it takes many years to complete the course and then a few years in the industry to find your feet. But it's not very difficult either. All you need is to choose and join a fashion design course and continue with it with determination. Rest will follow.

Can a beginner sew clothes? ›

Sewing a dress might seem like a big task, but even those just starting their sewing journey can accomplish it! Dresses are actually great beginner projects, as long as you choose a simple style and an easy-to-use fabric.

How many months does it take to learn how do you sew? ›

Learning to sew is a lifelong skill available to anyone willing to learn. It can take anywhere between 2 to 3 weeks to feel comfortable with the craft and progress from there. Patience is key, and the result of making something with your own hands is one of the most rewarding feelings.

How long does it take to learn to sew your own clothes? ›

With the time it takes to purchase your first sewing machine, learn how to set it up, thread it, sew a straight line, & hem you can and most definitely will be a pro at the basics in a week or less! I give it a week with daily practice.

What is the lowest salary for a fashion designer? ›

Fashion Designer salary in India ranges between ₹ 0.3 Lakhs to ₹ 7.2 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 3.5 Lakhs.

What should a beginner fashion designer do? ›

So, please scroll down and give this piece a read to know what it takes to be a successful fashion designer.
...
Here's what you should be prepared to deal with:
  • Sewing Skills. ...
  • Designing. ...
  • Deciding A Niche. ...
  • Customer Need Analysis By Identifying Gap In The Industry. ...
  • Fashion Merchandising.
Dec 22, 2022

Can you be a designer without being creative? ›

That assumption is totally incorrect. People with different talents and skills can excel on the same career path. Graphic design is no exception to this career stereotyping. For years, many people placed graphic design in the section of careers that are only for the artistic or creatives of the world.

Can I be a self taught fashion designer? ›

Contrary to popular belief however, it is perfectly possible to begin building a successful fashion career at home. It's simply a case of using your own time to build the skills, knowledge and confidence to go pro.

What fashion designers don't sew? ›

Diddy” Combs, Kimora Lee, Nicky Hilton, Rachel Bilson, Mark Ecko, Jay Z, Justine Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Russell Simmons, Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, Colin Heaney and we can't forget Damon John of Shark Tank. Some of the people listed above may have already had money or been famous when they started.

Which famous fashion designer never studied fashion design? ›

Jean Paul Gaultier

Gaultier never received formal training as a designer. Instead, similar to Lagerfeld, he started sending sketches to famous couture stylists to gain recognition and opportunity. French Italian fashion designer Pierre Cardin was impressed by Gaultier's talent and hired him as an assistant in 1970.

Do clothing lines make money? ›

On average, a clothing brand can make profits of anywhere between $23,751 and $140,935, depending on its expenses, marketing efforts, company size, product types, location, and target customers. A clothing line owner can also make over $51,000 per year.

Can you start a clothing business with no money? ›

Choose a business model

Dropshipping clothes is great if you're starting out with no money. Find a dropshipping clothing supplier, use their imagery on your store, and pay for inventory once it sells. You're responsible solely for marketing.

Are clothing lines successful? ›

A clothing brand isn't a very profitable business. Most people think you'll make a kajillion dollars and be well on your way to overnight stardom. But the reality is that the profit margins on clothing are notoriously low. According to industry analysts, you're looking at 4-13% profit margins.

What clothing line makes the most money? ›

Most valuable fashion brands
Brand2020 Brand Value $
1Nike$36.8 b
2Louis Vuitton$32.3 b
3Hermes$18.3 b
4Gucci$18.2 b
96 more rows

Can I sell clothes from home? ›

If you'd rather sell clothes to people down the block and avoid dealing with shipping, try listing locally through sites and apps such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor and VarageSale. Note that these sites don't operate like consignment stores. You post your own listings and work directly with the buyer.

What personality type is a fashion designer? ›

The average Fashion Designer tends to be an optimist who works with energy and enthusiasm. Their passion can be infectious, and their excellent social skills likely make them a naturally persuasive person.

What should you not say to a designer? ›

20 things you should never say to a graphic designer – But probably do
  • Don't say: “We haven't finished writing the copy, but can you design a draft?” ...
  • Don't say: “Can I get you to do something really quick?” ...
  • Don't say: “Can you put it in a format that we can edit?” ...
  • Don't say: “Can you do lots of different versions?

What are 4 main types of fashion designers? ›

  • 3.1 Haute Couture Designers.
  • 3.2 Mass Market Designers.
  • 3.3 Sportswear Designers.
  • 3.4 Apparel Designers.
  • 3.5 Fashion Accessory Designers.
  • 3.6 Kidswear Designers.
  • 3.7 Swimwear Designers.
  • 3.8 Footwear Designers.
Jan 6, 2023

Can I learn fashion designing in 3 months? ›

JD Institute of Fashion Technology centres in Bangalore, Cochin and Goa offer a three-month Diploma in Fashion Styling which is designed for individuals who are interested in making a career as a fashion stylist or as an image consultant.

Can I become a fashion designer in 6 months? ›

There are a variety of fashion design courses one can pursue at undergraduate, postgraduate, certificate, and diploma levels. The duration of the course may range from anywhere between 4 months to 4 years.

How do fashion sketches make money? ›

Fashion illustrators can also work in editorial illustration, fashion, beauty packaging, offer live sketching, and sell their work creations online. Fashion illustrators can work freelance, in a fashion boutique, in a magazine, or at a design studio.

Who is No 1 fashion designer in the world? ›

1. Coco Chanel. Born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, “Coco” was an exquisite French fashion designer and founder of the well-known CHANEL brand. Her modernist thinking, practical design, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important and influential figure in 20th-century fashion.

Do fashion designers get paid well? ›

Factors affecting Fashion Designers Salary in India

Fashion designing salaries vary based on your role. For instance, an apparel designer will earn an annual income between Rs. 1,50,000 to Rs. 8,50,000.

Can you make a living as a fashion designer? ›

Most fashion designers make a living by either working as employees for larger entities in the fashion industry or by starting their own fashion businesses. Here, we'll touch on both types of career paths—and the education, networking, and business smarts required to pursue them successfully.

What is the hardest clothing to sew? ›

Sheers. In sharp contrast to leather, sheer fabrics like chiffon, georgette, voile, organdy, and organza are tricky to work with because they're so soft and delicate. They tend to fray and can easily be ripped with rough handling.

What is the easiest clothing to make? ›

If clothing is where you want to start, skirts are great beginner sewing projects. But don't start with zippers, facings and a slim fit.

Is it cheaper to sew or buy? ›

Sewing your own clothes can be cheaper if you really want it to be, but it often isn't. So, we priced several Seamwork patterns with their ready-to-wear counterparts to compare costs. However, before we look at the numbers, it's important to acknowledge that “cheaper” can't stop at a garment's final price tag.

What is the easiest fabric to learn to sew? ›

Linen is your answer. It presses easily and has sides that stick together, so there's less pinning to do. This fabric is excellent for making warm weather clothes. Strong and absorbent with properties that make it very breathable, linen is a fan-favorite fabric that's also great for beginners.

Do you have to be good at math to sew? ›

Fractions can be confusing for some people, so it's important to understand them before you start sewing. Geometry is also essential when it comes to sewing because patterns aren't always step-by-step instructions.

What is the first thing to learn in sewing? ›

The very first thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with sewing terminology. Follow our website, our blog, social media and other sewing enthusiasts to get a good understanding of sewing vocabulary.

Can anyone learn to make clothes? ›

It's true that anyone can learn, but it's definitely not the right hobby for everyone. So before you heap loads of guilt on yourself for not being able to sew, let me share a few things you should know before you learn to sew. Sewing does not make you a better mom.

Is it worth learning to sew? ›

Sewing lets you express yourself through your creations. From selecting the pattern and fabric to putting the finishing touches, every aspect of this activity allows you to be creative while designing your own clothing. It also gives you something to be proud of as your creations can make you stand out from the rest.

Can you teach yourself to sew online? ›

Yes, you absolutely can learn to sew online, and there are different ways sewing lessons are offered. Here are some comparisons of the options and things to look for to help you make an informed decision. Based on your sewing goals and how you prefer to learn you want to choose an option that is best for you.

What can I do if I can't draw? ›

Here are 5 ways to start drawing if you think you can't:
  1. Find a picture that makes you smile.
  2. Grab a pencil.
  3. Learn the secret to drawing.
  4. Focus on progress over perfection.
  5. Let your imagination dance.

How do you become an artist if you can't draw? ›

10 Ways to Create Art Without Technical Skill
  1. of 10. Stop Comparing Yourself. ...
  2. of 10. Try Abstract Painting. ...
  3. of 10. Do a Still Life. ...
  4. of 10. Limit Your Palette. ...
  5. of 10. Go the Self-Portrait Route. ...
  6. of 10. Draw a Cartoon. ...
  7. of 10. Explore Mixed Media. ...
  8. of 10. Take a Class.
Feb 21, 2018

How to start a fashion line with no money? ›

How to start an online clothing store with no money
  1. Conduct market research.
  2. Choose on demand products.
  3. Define target audience and invest in customer experience.
  4. Outline business plan.
  5. Try dropshipping.
  6. Find a clothing manufacturer.
  7. Make use of open source software.
  8. Start writing blog.
Nov 29, 2022

Why do some people cant draw? ›

Four possible sources of drawing inaccuracies were described: misperception of the object, inability to make good representational decisions, deficient motor skills, and misperception of the drawing. In four studies the degree to which the latter three sources contributed to drawing inaccuracies was assessed.

How do I stop being lazy and draw? ›

Give Yourself A Routine To Create

To eliminate the excuse of not having time to work on your art, you need to make time. Prioritize your time in a way that makes it possible to work on your craft even just a little bit. It could be on your lunch break or you could set aside a day to spend time by yourself.

Why is starting to draw so hard? ›

Drawing is hard to learn because we aren't used to looking at the world in individual parts instead of a whole. To draw, we need to see objects, people, and landscapes as smaller shapes. Learning to draw is also hard because our hands are moving in new ways. We need to build up our muscle memory.

Why do artists fail? ›

Artists fail because the lifestyle is lonely, insecure, and the hours are long. Artists also fail because they're dreamers and think that good art sells itself. Artists fail because they don't know how to market their work and run a small business.

Why can't I draw even though I practice? ›

Reason 1 – You Need More Practice

They simply need more practice to get better. Drawing is a skill and like with any other skill, you can't expect to get better without practicing it. So many people think that drawing is just something that some people can do and others can't. This simply is not true.

What is the hardest thing for an artist to draw? ›

Generically, The hands are the most difficult body part to draw. A good way to draw better hands is to reference your hand, or look up reference images of hands.

Can you design if you can't draw? ›

Graphic Designers do not need to draw but instead need to create appealing designs using assets such as images, typography, illustrations. In contrast, an Illustrator will focus on drawing to communicate a message.

Can someone with no artistic ability learn to draw? ›

Anyone can learn to draw at any age. Drawing is a skill that takes time to master, but the principles are easily understood. With practice and patience, anyone can learn to draw well. Inevitably, talent rises to the top and some people will be more gifted than others.

Can you be too old to start drawing? ›

Is there an age when it's too late? Adults can learn to draw if they have enough time, practice on a daily basis, and have plenty of patience. There are countless videos, courses, and books, that teach the basics of drawing. Anyone can become a better artist and improve their level of skill with the right work ethic.

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