If you think fashion consultants have anything in common with fashion police, think again.
Far removed from the world of television shows such as What Not To Wear, these professionals offer expertise that can benefit a range of small businesses beyond those immediately related to the apparel industry.
Most fashion consultants are leveraging their years of experience in design and manufacturing. This means they have a firm understanding of all that goes into running a clothing label, whether sourcing fabrics at fairs such as Premiere Vision in Paris, advising designers about how to build cohesive collections that retailers will want to buy, sourcing local manufacturers, or offering guidance on how to open an independent boutique or stage a fashion show.
They can also provide more general insight about trends, from seasonal colours to ecotextiles to model diversity, which could help shape the way a business develops a creative campaign. Fashion consultants can be brought on board to work with advertising agencies or even when planning special events. They are often asked to appear as keynote speakers because they bridge the worlds of culture and commerce.
Amy Verner
