I hope to get it done before October, but definitely before Nov.

Selling wholesale/retail (pricing strategy, sales channels, distributors, customs fees, etc). Thx!

obviously, you could always attempt to explain the evolution and movement of "fads" and whats "in style".

- Does your brand depend on your first lines?
- How soon should you start selling merch via web?
- When or should you hire help?
- How important is advertising?
- RSS feeds?
- Newsletters via email?
- tangible magazines (catalogs)?
- How to go about paying models when your brand is still weak?

---

Im sure there is lots more

Legal issues confuse me.
Not sure if this is apparel specific but what you can and cannot do with stock, brushes and textures. Something along those lines would be helpful.

I would love some professional opinions on the competitiveness of the industry, particularly in regards to the fact that the number of "Apparel Designers" is growing at ridiculous daily rate (obviously it is a current design trend particularly because it works as an introductory platform to design, fueled by the music industry)

Great Idea, I'll def. be buying one when it comes out.

yes! this will become handy

Good ideas/questions so far.

The book is for designers/artists who work (or want to work) in the apparel industry, either for clients, for a larger company/brand or have their own brand.

Should I talk about design at all? Not a "how to design" but like tips and good practices?

I want to talk about marketing yourself as a designer/freelancer and then getting advice from apparel brands who have "been there done that" in terms of dealing with retail and how they got started.

The eBook will feature quite a few "case studies" so people can see how others did it.

the best way to approach an established brand with your ideas/designs

contract for dummies

jfinley said: Good ideas/questions so far.

The book is for designers/artists who work (or want to work) in the apparel industry, either for clients, for a larger company/brand or have their own brand.

Should I talk about design at all? Not a "how to design" but like tips and good practices?

I want to talk about marketing yourself as a designer/freelancer and then getting advice from apparel brands who have "been there done that" in terms of dealing with retail and how they got started.

The eBook will feature quite a few "case studies" so people can see how others did it.

sounds very usefull. cant wait for the release

Hi Jeff ! nice initiative!
It will be interesting as a designer to find from the clients what determine them to choose one or other designer.What are the factors? Only their works , the web page design ,the list of clients etc.

Hey Jeff, here are some things that I think could be helpful:

-An explanation or some insight into the differences between copyright infringement/ripping/parodies/tracing/etc.

-A Tutorial section talking about "distressing" an image for t-shirts. There are SO many different ways, it'd be nice to have a chapter on that and have the different designers talk about some of their methods.

-Spec work opinions/thoughts

Just my 2 cents.

emosamurai said: Hey Jeff, here are some things that I think could be helpful:

-An explanation or some insight into the differences between copyright infringement/ripping/parodies/tracing/etc.

-A Tutorial section talking about "distressing" an image for t-shirts. There are SO many different ways, it'd be nice to have a chapter on that and have the different designers talk about some of their methods.

-Spec work opinions/thoughts

Just my 2 cents.

+ an indonesian translation of that.

I think legalities and contracts are good to include, but I am not necessarily the best expert on that. Does anyone here know that might want to be included in the book?

Yeah, I would definitely say how to get your name out there, pitching your ideas to bands/companies, how much to charge, and things of that nature.

Definitely be picking one up. and the contracts thing would be great.

jfinley said: Good ideas/questions so far.

The book is for designers/artists who work (or want to work) in the apparel industry, either for clients, for a larger company/brand or have their own brand.

Should I talk about design at all? Not a "how to design" but like tips and good practices?

I want to talk about marketing yourself as a designer/freelancer and then getting advice from apparel brands who have "been there done that" in terms of dealing with retail and how they got started.

The eBook will feature quite a few "case studies" so people can see how others did it.

I think not to include about design would be foolish. Even if it's just the post you had on Gomediazine on what not to do. Even pointers about letting people know to get a pantone book or about getting samples done, could help. Some people may know, while others are new.
You should include printing on blanks to searching for companies for custom attire.

Hillman said:

jfinley said: I think legalities and contracts are good to include, but I am not necessarily the best expert on that. Does anyone here know that might want to be included in the book?

Im pretty knowledgeable in all areas of the industry, feel free to shoot me an email anytime.
hello@hillmanball.com

Sent you an email.

Thanks again everyone, keep posting ideas and I'll refer back to here while I'm writing. Now that I think about it, it might take longer than I expected, so maybe sometime in Nov or Dec for the launch. We'll see.

Nice dude! I may also have some insights with working for US clients, if you are a designer based outside the US. Forms and bank transfers, etc.

You may wanna include how to price your art. The standard rates, etc. Also selling exclusive rights, apparel rights, etc.

Personally, I want to see how to get your product/brand in the US market if you aren't based in the US.

maybe you can list some useful sites for newcomers like me
i'm new in this kind of industry

WinterArtwork said: the best way to approach an established brand with your ideas/designs

contract for dummies

Maybe something about how new illustrators can get started, who to approach and how to approach them

- I'd like to hear about brands that have a theme as oposed to brands that dont and they compare in the market.

- And how the bast way to keep a brand fresh, new and able to keep interest over the years.

Will this be something hard copy you can buy or more like an eBook?
This sounds like a really good idea. How much might copies sell for?

Definitley the financial side of things and where your work stands copyright wise.

Also explain how GBI keeps getting work.

I really think this is a great idea and I like all of the questions people have posted but I don't know wether it would be more beneficial if the book was in two halves:

-One designated for the creative side of the apparale industry including features such as tutorials, common practises, trends resources and generally everything to do with creating the products.

-And another designated for the business side of the apparel industry including things such as invoices & paperwork, tips from experienced and successful clothing company owners(refering to the people you mentioned above), methods for entering into cut & sew/manufacturing in foreign countries, legal stances with copyrights/trademarks etc, marketing, branding, how to register as a business and gain guidance from it.

Just an idea but sounds great!

I think that an insight into the individual Style Cultures and Shopping trends would be an interesting chapter. For example here in Europe we are used to spending more for our clothes, often brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch have realized this and have upped their prices considerably to profit from this. If I sell a T for a low price over here I come across as a budget brand and will struggle to be taken seriously by European boutiques, but then this will seriously affect my business with US clients.

I always wonder how a company can release the same logo tweaked in 100 different ways and color schemes yet they still sell out $80 tees? - Ya I'm talking to you BBC / Ice Cream :l

Local Advancers said: I always wonder how a company can release the same logo tweaked in 100 different ways and color schemes yet they still sell out $80 tees? - Ya I'm talking to you BBC / Ice Cream :l

Because they have a strong brand Identity, with a celebrity owner, with a huge following, willing to pay bucks to be part of that community.

The ideas keep flowing, good stuff! Although with so many good ideas, it's going to be tough to include them all in this one book.

Releasing it in parts or updating it with new info would probably be the way to go.

See, I don't know much about the non-US market or running a successful clothing line (that's why I'm interviewing those that are). I know how to be a successful designer and how to run a design firm.

If anyone feels they have some valuable insight that needs to be in this book, feel free to shoot me an email to jeff@gomedia.us - you will be credited in the book of course.

GALLERIA-T said: I think that an insight into the individual Style Cultures and Shopping trends would be an interesting chapter. For example here in Europe we are used to spending more for our clothes, often brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch have realized this and have upped their prices considerably to profit from this. If I sell a T for a low price over here I come across as a budget brand and will struggle to be taken seriously by European boutiques, but then this will seriously affect my business with US clients.

this was exactly what i emailed you about Jeff :)

also the backlash in setting up higher prices that Eric swiftly mentioned with u.s clients, which i am very afraid of, how to deal with that issue, i think me and Eric have alot of input on that perspective

What's apparel?

The more I think about this I think there are multiple books here. What would you guys prefer?

1. A definitive reference guide to the apparel industry
2. A concise and proven path to industry domination.

The first would be more of a reference guide with information on contracts, legal info, tips and best practices but no real guided direction.

The second would cut to the chase and direct the reader to proven actionable steps to go from unknown amateur to big time designer with a successful apparel line.

I'm more interested in writing #2 - using my own experience as well as case studies from some bigger names.

I don't think I could write the "definitive guide" anyway - that seems to be more suited for a community driven wiki. Which in and of itself is a worthwhile project worth pursuing and I'll assist anyone who wants to start it.

I think I would prefer the second option and find more use in a book such as that. Breaking into new markets and gaining bigger name clients seems to be the most elusive thing to me in this industry.

bump and thank you for making another video tutorial, I am really enjoying the Andrew Jackson one.

Anyone can call themselves a designer and I don't care how they learned or where they got a copy of photoshop if what they make good stuff then welcome abroad, we can all be winners.

The biggest benefit to the largest amount of people I think would be a focus on client education and design best practices. So more about establishing and maintaining trust with clients, how to communicate expectations, and red flags to look for on both the client and designer side.

There are a lot of things that can go south working with or as freelancers and none of them leave anyone happy and wanting to come back.

Right now I am burned out on tee shirts and would like to get into some other types of art gigs, illustration, album art, character design, just something different. Any tips one making the jump.

-Licensing artwork info I would like to start doing rentals vs full out selling rights.
-Go media stories please, how did you get to where you are now and did it almost not happen, just curious.

I posted a thread here recently that got only a few responses and faded rather quickly. The top was how important is it to have your given birth name as a domain (instead of a pseudonym for instance), or rather to make into a brand. Of course it's part of a greater branding subject but I think that's definitely something that I'd like to see addressed.

- How to treat clients well tips
- Screenprinting konwledge for artist
- and Nowadays some big name artists starts their own clothing,you may consider to talk about it a little.

My biggest issue is HOW to actually wear half of the American Apparel range...