Finding Inspiration
2013/04/23 6:00 AM
How do you get inspired when deciding to create a new collection? When I had my handbag line I always found the most inspiration in books about vintage handbags – not that I made many vintage inspired bags, but the I was always drawn to the vintage shapes and somehow my mind twisted them into a modern version! Don't ask me how – it just seems to happen. Was always one of those, "if I move this here, make this bigger, reshape the strap" it will be cool kinda thing……:O)
I also found inspiration in Museums, art books, fabrics, and trend reports. I tried NOT to go into very many stores and look at actual bags as I found it confusing and would often feel like I needed to do what the haute couture designers were doing – which was so not my brand…… as a young designer at the time, I often was influenced in lieu of being inspired!
This image above of a 2013 Alexander McQueen Runway dress is something I derive tons of inspiration from as I find the floral trend exciting. I love the mix with the sheer and the plaid. The feminine played against the stark masculine plaid. I would have made a plaid bag and mixed it with lace, flowers, leather, or perhaps floral buttons……..
How do you find inspiration to keep things fresh and exciting for yourself and your customers?
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Grace Wieber says: Poetry is my favorite avenue for inspiration
I find inspiration from art and textiles from around the world. India has amazing textiles and is one of my favorite countries to research for inspiration.
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Pitch holiday gift guides
The time is approaching to pitch holiday gift guides over the next 6-8 weeks.
I know, I know, it’s only June, but Holiday Gift Guide submissions are starting now…….so get on it sister, as it will end in July.
This can be a great way to get into magazines that might be more challenging for you in the “everyday” editorial world.
Gift guides often put in items that appeal to their audience, but might not have a good place in the monthly magazines.
Magazines try to appeal to a broad audience with the holiday gift guides, so I would suggest being bold about your choices. Here is what you’ll want to do…
Pitch Holiday Gift Guides - Sarah Shaw Consulting
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Chad is a go getter that’s for sure creating Eyewear that makes a DIFFerence. Growing up in the eyewear business, he visited factories around the globe with his father from an early age and got to learn and understand the world of manufacturing. Chad and his partners started DIFF by selling sunglasses at music festivals to get a sense of their target market before doing the deep dive into creating and manufacturing their own unique brand.
Once they created their own designs, getting products to celebrities and the media was not too difficult and the brand quickly took off. Leveraging the media exposure, they were able to build an online business that has donated over 1 million pair of glasses to those in need.
Eyewear that makes a DIFFerence — Sarah Shaw Consulting
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Chad is a go getter that’s for sure creating Eyewear that makes a DIFFerence. Growing up in the eyewear business, he visited factories around the globe with his father from an early age and got to learn and understand the world of manufacturing. Chad and his partners started DIFF by selling sungla...It's import to face the music and KNOW if you have a zero or a hero when launching a product. Join me and Tracy Leigh Hazzard and learn how to figure this out.
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How to know if you have a hero or a zero — Sarah Shaw Consulting
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Dial for Dollars: How to bring in more sales by expanding on your idea — Sarah Shaw Consulting
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This episode shares how to think more broadly about your product line so that you can get into more stores and more magazines.