Bikinis & atom bombs: Be inspired by everything.

When we think about inspiration, what influences us most are ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. We appreciate when someone has the ability and willingness to be selfless, creative, innovative, or just dares to be different. Being ordinary and creating extra ordinary stuff.

It’s one of fashion’s great mysteries. Where do designers find their inspiration? The birth of a trend has long been a source of debate. Inspiration can literally come from anywhere, be it family, music, streets, a crack in the sidewalk etc . There are no restraints as to what someone can draw from to turn a mere thought into a reality. In fact, fashion design is all about great inspirations. Today’s designs are everything from elaborate drawings in a sketchbook to creative photo shopping.

Unexpected inspirations:

Miniskirt: Did you know the origin of the miniskirts by Mary Quant’s was actually named after her favourite car – The Mini. According to her, miniskirts meant young, fresh, colourful and fun.

The bikini: Louis Reard named his two-piece swimming costume after the Bikini Atoll, where the US military was testing bombs. He believed his revealing swimwear would create a shock similar to that of the atomic bomb. He sure did!!!!!!

Versace logo: Gianni Versace’s major influence was Greek mythology – the logo for his company is the head of Medusa – thought to symbolize the empowerment of women. Through his clothing, Versace wanted to give women confidence and power, and this was shown through his choice of flamboyant textiles, bold colors and flattering cuts.

Red-soled Louboutins: Christian Louboutin’s red soles were inspired by Andy Warhol and nail varnish. When designing a pair of shoes influenced by Warhol’s Flowers, Louboutin was dissatisfied with the outcome. While looking at the shoes, which had black soles, to try to figure out why they didn’t work, his assistant was painting her nails red. Seeing the polish, Louboutin grabbed the pot and lacquered the shoe’s sole, and an icon was born.

We at MyWear® would like to be the bridge that leads artists to becoming entrepreneurs. We can provide you with all the tools you need to successfully launch your own clothing line. Your own website, Custom sizes, your own choice of fabric, Social media integration, advance designing tools, ecommerce, on demand manufacturing and shipment. You name it we got it.

We have made sure that tools, technology and cost are no longer barriers. Just bring in your creativity, talent, drive and let’s get started.

Show the world what you can do,

Register now: www.launchmywear.com

How to build a successful e-commerce business

Is there a short cut to success? I’d love to give you a new and unique answer which would magically make all your problems disappear. But, unfortunately, there is none. So, I’m just going to go with the old fashioned epithets of ‘hard work ‘, perseverance, talent and a little bit of luck (although the law of attraction states luck itself is directly proportional to how hard you work!).

A lot of budding entrepreneurs think that they can get a website, open a shop and customers will beat a path to their store. The reality is far different. With a billion websites out there, getting discovered, building the trust that gets a sale take a lot of time. Most new e-commerce sites don’t net a single sale for the first 3 months.

You could do a simple google search to find hundreds of articles about hard work. I simply wish to give a more realistic perspective on the subject.

Case study 1:

In 1993, K. Anders Ericsson and colleagues asked musicians to estimate the amount of deliberate practice– full engagement in structured training activities designed to improve a particular aspect of performance– every week for each year of their careers. They found that on average, the most accomplished musicians estimated much higher amounts of deliberate practice than the less accomplished musicians. At age 20, the average estimated hours for the most accomplished violinists was more than 10,000 hours, whereas the average estimated hours for the least accomplished violinists was about 4,600 hours.

Case study 2:

Winston Churchill, one of the 20th century’s greatest orators, practiced his speeches compulsively. Vladimir Horowitz supposedly said, “If I don’t practice for a day, I know it. If I don’t practice for two days, my wife knows it. If I don’t practice for three days, the world knows it.”

 

The field of fashion is no different. Sure, talent is important, but consistency, hard work and dedication to the art are even more important. Opening an online store is easy, anyone can do it. But making it successful requires hardwork, perseverance and motivation. Maintaining its standards consistently with new, catchy designs, customer service, keeping up with trends, research etc are the tough parts. It’s even tougher doing all these knowing that you statistically won’t be getting even a single order for at least 3 months from starting your store. These are the parts which will determine if you will be a success story or a cautionary tale for others.

If you say, “I’ve tried all this, still no success”, here are few more case studies for you, Colonel Sander’s chicken recipe was rejected 1099 times before going mainstream, Henry ford failed in five businesses before starting ford motors, Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper early in his career because “he lacked imagination and creative ideas”.

So what is the secret sauce to building a new digital business?

1. Have something truly unique
2. Share your website with friends and family and ask them to share it with their friends
3. Provide excellent customer support. Give your customers a reason to buy from you
4. Be active on social media like Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and share your work.

In the end it takes talent, nurturing, motivation, persistence and hardwork to build a success story. There are no shortcuts here!

Fashion Philosophy

Where’s all the art?

Though it might seem as if the artistic aspect of fashion is missing in the bustle of commercial marketing and constantly changing trends, it actually is not the case if you look at the work of some of the most accomplished designers today.

Just like painting, sculpture or dance, there is an inspiration, that compels the designer to create, thus giving them a reason to create, a purpose. This compulsion can be due to numerous factors which could be emotional or inspired by internal or external circumstances. Regardless, the compulsion to create can be boiled down as a need to express,

Fashion creates a gate way for the human mind to express an inner truth, a belief or an idea, about oneself or the external world though the canvas of clothing. An emotion one can wear, which reflects themselves or the world around them.

Every aspect of a garment can tell a story, from the colors, texture, cut, drape to even minute subliminal details such as buttons which can signify strong ideals such as aspiration or innocence.

Now, owing to the union of technology and fashion, expressing yourself has become easier than ever. Through the MyWear^® designer platform, you now have a blank canvas. Express your own emotional spectrum by launching your own clothing line under your own label.

So, whats your expression?

 

Launch your own clothing line at under $100,

Launch Your Own Clothing Line. Custom Made, On-demand!

MyWear^® is the only integrated platform to let you launch your own line of apparel or accessories, designed, produced and delivered to order, under your label, with no minimum order quantities. MyWear^® provides you with everything you need: design tools, e-commerce, social media integration, manufacturing & drop shipping!

If you are wondering, is talent alone enough?, you need to look at industry legends like Coco Chanel, who learnt the art of sewing while being raised in an orphanage or Georgio Armani, who started his career from a garments shop, where he assisted a photographer in arranging the window, or let’s take the example of Calvin Klein, who started his career as a complete loner, with no connections nor money, except for what he made helping his father at his grocery store.

The simple truth is, in addition to being exceptional fashion designers, these greats were also exceptional business men and women, scouting the market like a hawk, searching for opportunity, flaws, chinks in the armor where they could step in and offer their solutions.

For instance, Rene’ Lacoste designed a game changing shirt with a buttoned neckline and short sleeves in a time when tennis players were accustomed to rolling up their sleeves to get a little relief. Lacoste saw opportunity, stepped in and offered his solution. A simple formula.

These extraordinary people loved their art enough to learn and develop a new line of business. Now, we have made the barriers much lower for an enterprising designer to get started on their own.

Choose from our wide range of product silhouettes across customer segments – Tees, Tops, Dresses, Backpacks, Messenger bags and Raglans across Kids, Men, Women and Extended Sizes in Synthetic, Cotton, Polyester, Silk or Blends. Just design on our 3D tool and publish to your store and the product is ready for purchase! No inventory, no pre-orders, no minimums – we will custom make and drop ship every single order, under your label, within 2 weeks.

Need your own custom product or special fabric? We will design, pattern-make and set up manufacturing just for you, for a small fee.

Don’t be restricted to designing inside a box! MyWear® is the only platform that supports full-bleed prints with custom sizes and choice of fabric. Go ahead and unleash your creative skills without any technology limitation.

Promote your products on Facebook, sell on Facebook in-app store, promote on Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest with a single click from our social dashboard. When your customers order on any of your channels, we will manufacture and drop ship it!

Launch your line, under your own label.

We have simplified supply chains, built design tools and brought on-demand
manufacturing so any budding designer with talent and entrepreneurial skills can get started. We have made sure tools, technology or cost are no longer a barrier. You just need to add your talent and creativity to the mix!

Register now: https://www.launchmywear.com/design-make-sell.html

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Styling Your MyWear Dress This Summer

With custom sizes and the ability to upload any print you want, MyWear® is the perfect solution for any of us in search of our summer dream dress. Stay cool with these fun ensembles perfect for your next weekend getaway!

RETRO RIVIERA

Headed to Europe this summer? Whether snacking on gelato or sipping wine on a cobble stone street, you’ll look amazing doing it in this instagram-worthy outfit! Dress up your MyWear® fit & flare with embellished shoes and a fun basket weave tote.

EARTH ANGEL

Embrace the relaxed vibe of festival season without overdoing the bohemian trend that’s proved to be so popular. A timeless MyWear® fit & flare dress in an earthy color scheme is the perfect companion for a pair of vintage-inspired platforms and a slouchy bucket bag. Complete your ensem’ with a hydrating tinted lip balm and a casual short sleeve jacket for those chilly summer nights.

KID AT HEART

Is fun on the top of your to-do list this weekend? Pair a MyWear® dress in a graphic print with quirky accessories, like chunky sneakers and a statement crossbody, to facilitate fun and keep you cool on the go!

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Know Your Stuff: A List of Patterns A-Z

Argyle: A solid diamond pattern with an overlay of intercrossing diagonal lines.

Barcode Stripe: A pattern created by stripes of varying width.

Burberry Plaid: A distinct plaid featuring camel, black, and red associated with British fashion house Burberry. 

Camouflage: Created to conceal a person or object, camouflage clothing is often associated with the military.

Dotted Swiss: Small evenly spaced polka-dots.

Fleur De Lis: A classic French pattern consisting of a stylized lily composed of three petals.

Floral: A pattern featuring flowers or sometimes other nature-inspired elements like leaves or vines.

Geometric: A pattern formed from geometric shapes that often repeat.

Gingham: A pattern consisting of sheer lines that are overlapped to create a checker motif.

Glen plaid: A plaid created by assorted alternating dark and light stripes that overlap to create a pattern of checks that vary in size.

Graph Check: Checks created by evenly spaced, solid, single-colored lines, like that of graph paper.

Herringbone: a pattern of zig zags created by short parallel lines that slope opposite direction of each other.

Hound’s Tooth: A pattern made up of checks with notched corners to create a jagged effect.

Ikat: A pattern created using or replicating an Indonesian tie dye technique.

Liberty: A small floral pattern developed and made famous by Liberty & Co. of London.

Madras: Brightly colored plaid design often used on summer clothing.

Ombré: A gradient effect where tones or colors are shaded into each other.

Paisley: A stylized teardrop-shaped design.

Pinstripe: A stripe pattern created by thin lines.

Pucci: Brightly colored, boldly patterned designs in geometric, swirled, or kaleidoscopic prints created by famed Italian designer Emilio Pucci.

Quatrefoil: An ornamental design made of a four-lobed flower or leaf, resembling a four-leaf clover.

Shepherd’s Check: Small, even-sized, checks made from overlapping bands of twill-weave or finely slanted lines.

Tartan: A plaid made of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors, often associated with the Scottish.

Tattersall: A repeated pattern of evenly spaced horizontal and vertical stripes in alternating colors.

Tessellations: A pattern made of repetitive interlocking shapes that can be repeated infinitely.

Windowpane: Checks consisting of widely spaced stripes spread evenly apart to create a pattern that resembles panes in a window.

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Seeing Red: You Can’t Be Mad at This Week’s Romantic Looks

Normally, when we think of the color red, words that might come to mind are along the lines of “passion”, “action”, or “anger”. Color psychology associated with red represents “our most physical needs and our will to survive. It exudes a strong and powerful masculine energy.”

But, let us introduce you to the softer side of red. This look has been spotted multiples over the last week, especially at Cannes. Florals, naval stripes, and hints of nude and blush have been keeping things romantic, feminine, and, dare we say, soft?

Red is a classic color that never goes out of style, but with its current popularity, now is the perfect time to design something of your own in the timeless shade.

Here are just a few examples of how you can achieve this style with MyWear®:

How will you showcase red in your next MyWear® design? Tweet us your creations at @LaunchMyWear!

Stripes: The Perfect Companion for Your MyWear® Line this Summer

As we’ve reported a few times now, stripes have been quietly elevating their status from classic wardrobe staple to one of 2016’s biggest trends. We saw this budding as early as last year, gaining traction through early 2016, and now;  they’ve officially hit their trending tipping point:

Stripes are easy to create, compliment other prints (think polka dots or floral pattern mixing), and go well with multiple colors and styles. Simply put, they’re perfect for incorporating into your MyWear® designs this summer!

To design your own in Photoshop, use the rectangular marquee tool to select the size stripe you want. Then, use the paint bucket tool to fill in the selected area with a desired color. Repeat! Copy and paste your stripe design for an ongoing pattern.

Want to switch it up with a new color scheme, you chameleon, you? No problem! Use the Hue/Saturation dial located in adjustments to give a quick color change!

As mentioned above, pattern mixing is a cinch with stripes, just remember to use at least one matching or complimentary color!

Most importantly, have fun and infuse your own personality into this classic!

Until next time, happy designing!

Color Psychology: What Colors Sell?

When designing for your customers on LaunchMyWear, it’s beneficial to keep their preferences in mind. The idea is to stay true to who you are, so that you attract consumers that match your aesthetic, while also remembering the upcoming trends they’ll most likely want and their overall predilections.

Pantone Colors 2016

One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by offering colors that are trending, (see Pantone colors of the year) and making products available in some key colors or tones that are popular your your buyers’ demographic.

For example, based on this chart, you can see that one clear winner is the color blue:

Whereas orange did not fare so well …

It has also been shown that more unusual and unique color names can increase the intent to purchase. This may hold especially true with women, according to KISSmetrics. So, keep that it mind when naming and describing your products.

 

While we’re on the topic of color, it would be a disservice not to recommend looking at a color chart to determine complementary colors to use in your design.

Via ccisolutions

For more on color psychology, check out our post on logo deigns, too!

MyWear My Way: Lupita Nyong’o’s SAG Awards Head Turner

It’s no surprise that Lupita Lyong stunned at the  21st Annual Screen Actors Guild on Sunday. The floor length Elie Saab gown was just the right amount romantic, moody, and modern… a sure fire way to land on everyone’s best dressed list for the evening.

I fell in love with this print and knew immediately that I wanted to make an affordable MyWear version. But, upon some internet investigation, found the real kicker: Lupita loved it so much, she wore the same print in the fit’ n flare version to an after party!

In a day and age when After Party means “costume change!” and an opportunity to wear a second showstopper, arriving in the same exact print takes real dedication.

Lupita’s loyalty to this Ellie Saab Pre-Fall 2015 stunner tells me that this style is going to be EVERYWHERE. I had already predicted we’d be seeing moody, romantic pieces and stripes this next year, but having a fashion icon like Lupita confirm it x2 makes me want to scream, “I told you so!!!” from the hilltops (<yeah, I have some issues to work through).

I created a soft, almost pixilated-looking floral print in Photoshop and then added black stripes. Voilà; Lupita’s look for less… or rather looks!

You can use MyWear® to recreate lots of celebrity looks for a tiny fraction of the cost. Or, you can unleash your creativity and create the pieces you’d like to wear on the red carpet. As always, tweet us your designs at @LunchMyWear!