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By Paige Smith, November 28, 2012 11:17 am

Design Entrepreneurs Pop-Up with Holiday Sale at Showroom NY 10% of proceeds will go to Supporting Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

Ten fashion design entrepreneurs will host the NY DESIGNERS CARE pop-up holiday sale at Showroom New York in December. 10% of proceeds will go to New York Cares to Support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts and their 24th Annual Coat Drive. Designers include: Sena, Vespertine, Cala Ossidiana, A.D.O, Kristi Vosbeck, Study NY, Accessoir, Kordal, Cuffe Parade, Jacki Easlick. The holiday sale will feature women’s ready-to-wear, eveningwear, bike/safety wear, handbags and swimwear.

All designers are Design Entrepreneur NYC alumnus and/or members of Showroom New York. They reside and/or produce in New York and are committed to growing their business and making an impact on the fashion community. http://www.designentrepreneursnyc.com/

Showroom New York is dedicated to help maintain New York’s position as a global fashion capital by supporting young designers who produce locally. Our mission is to encompass the GIDC’s Designer Development Program, offering local designers a viable platform from which to expand their business. http://www.gidc.org/

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By Sandra Holtzman, October 6, 2012 9:04 am

Last week I discussed the Design Entrepreneurs NYC program just completed at FIT. This week I want to pass on feedback from two participants: one of the designers selected for a prize and one of the designers who showcased her products at the event.  Like all our participants, they put blood, sweat, and many sleepless nights of their lives into this program.

First up is Katerina Lankova, Founder and Designer at Stee-letas. She showcased her products at the DENYC closing event and told us: “Through the DENYC I have been able to explore the business of fashion beyond my comfort zone and formulate a clear picture about bringing the product– STEE-LETAS®– to the marketplace.  Seeing other designer’s work, and hearing the unique stories behind their creative process, was both inspiring, motivating and humbling. Ultimately, the most important benefit of the program was the sense of shared endeavor, the priceless connections, and the lasting friendships that resulted from it.  I am grateful for the opportunity that DENYC represents; I am already integrating the skills, insights and training that I obtained into my design aesthetic and my business practice.”

Katerina Lankova
www.stee-letas.com

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Jessica Wade, Founder and Designer at Jes Wade, and one of the three winners of the presentations to the panelists, has this to say about her experience: “The opportunity to think about the past and present of Jes Wade during the intensive DENYC program was a gift.  Finishing the course with a presentation that was supported by esteemed fashion industry heavy weights was confirming and an even bigger gift.  It was a NYCEDC program that focused on every aspect of the fashion design business with a rigorous “mini MBA” boot camp style.  The professors and mentors from FIT and the industry were both challenging and supportive and the entire experience a huge asset in confirming the future of my business.  I highly recommend this intensive program to all highly motivated design entrepreneurs.”

Jessica wrote her business plan with the help of the DENYC program.  The prize is in two parts – one is time with consultant Ari Bloom who Jessica will work with to develop innovative relationships.  The second, time with Charles Klein, will help her to negotiate new relationships (in addition to the attorney she already has a relationship with).

Jessica Wade
www.jeswade.com

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Best of luck to the two featured designers above and to all the great designers who participated in the DENYC program!!!

If you are interested in participating in the 2013 class of Design Entrepreneurs NYC, please note that the application process will launch in early 2013. For updates, please visit http://designentrepreneursnyc.com/.

For those of you interested in participating in the business of design, NYC Fashion Fellows is now taking applications.  NYC Fashion Fellows

Sandra Holtzman teaches CEO 035: Licensing.
She is the author of Lies Startups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing.

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By Sandra Holtzman, September 29, 2012 10:25 am

Last Thursday evening, Sept. 20, was the culmination of Design Entrepreneurs NYC (DENYC) an intensive “mini-MBA” program providing 35 emerging NYC fashion designers with the business knowledge and skills they need to successfully grow their labels. The 35 designers were selected through a highly competitive application process and were put through a boot camp of workshops and lectures covering topics ranging from marketing to financial planning to operations.

A one of the instructors, a group comprised of FIT faculty and industry experts, including Jeanette Nostra of G-III Apparel, Gary Wassner of Hilldun Corp., and Andy Ward of GIDC, I  taught  some of these intensive classes. Over the summer, we worked closely with the designers to develop and formalize their business plans.  It was hard work for many of them since fashion is more right brain focused than most other professions. They struggled but every single one wrote, or updated, their business plan.  While they were running their company. And while many were preparing for Fashion Week, trunk shows, etc.

On Thursday, the closing event gave 15 of the graduating designers the opportunity to present their plans to a panel of industry executives representing companies including G-III, French Connection, LVMH, Macy’s, and Sears. The designers who didn’t present were given the opportunity to showcase their fashions at designated tables around the event  space.  The evening and program proved to be a huge success. And the designers are now enabled to take their companies to the next level.

Jeannette Nostra, President of G-III apparel group, as a sponsor, instructor, panelist and judge, was one of the most intimately involved with the program.  Her experience:

“The true value of the program was most evident to me during the final presentations. Every designer who attended the program, whether they were selected to present as a finalist of not,  was thrilled with how much they had learned,  the contacts they  made with other participants and industry executives they were able to meet with.  All the designers felt the DENYC program was of great value to them and that  is the most rewarding part!”

To me, the energy and determination of the designers was inspiring.  I can’t wait to say “I knew them when…”

If you are interested in participating in the 2013 class of Design Entrepreneurs NYC, please note that the application process will launch in early 2013. For updates, please visit http://designentrepreneursnyc.com/.

For those of you interested in participating in the business of design, NYC Fashion Fellows is now taking applications.  NYC Fashion Fellows

Sandra Holtzman teaches CEO 035: Licensing.
She is the author of Lies Startups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing.