3 Things Fashion Designers Can Do TODAY to Get More Done and Feel Less Overwhelmed

It's funny. I didn't set out to help fashion designers and creative types with their time management. No way. But every time I did a seminar or worked with a new client, I asked them a simple question. "What's the biggest challenge you have in trying to grow your business?" 4 out of 5 people answered something like, "trying to get it all done," "not sure what to do first," "overwhelmed and need some direction," "time management in general."

It's not surprising. Time management is tough for creative types. You're starting a fashion business or want to launch a line - and it can be overwhelming.

Designing my line and running a retail store for 14 years definitely taught me a thing or two about how to get it all done. Throw in two little boys and, trust me, you gotta get some skills.

So anyway, I got so many requests for time management help that I started writing it all down. The result? In addition to typical fashion design business issues, I now have the bonus of helping people feel less stress, anxiety, and overwhelmed.

So here are 3 of my favorite strategies. They're things you can do - today, yes NOW, yes even YOU, the one with the ponytail, especially you - to GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER and get more done. So you don't end up like designer #2!

1. Make a list of the 2 - 3 things you absolutely must accomplish today. You can do this either the night before (my favorite) or first thing in the morning. Then make them a priority. This means working on these tasks without interruption. So if your phone rings or your email beeps while you're doing today's TOP 3, don't answer.

Turn off the ringer or beeper of all electronic devices for 1 - 2 hours at a time. I promise it will not kill you, even if you think it will. Think about past days when you're in a meeting all day or at a trade show and couldn't answer your beeping devices for hours at a time. Your business survived, right? I'm just asking for an hour or two at a time. This focus time will increase your productivity dramatically - I guarantee it. You can make an exception to this rule if you're waiting for something important (a big order that's truly time-sensitive, for instance). Just be sure it's really important and not just what I call "urgent for the sake of being urgent."

2. Don't check email first thing in the morning. Get something accomplished from your TOP 3 list - or everything - before you check email. This is very hard, I know. And the temptation to cheat is huge! But when you think of it like this, you may agree...

'Email is a nice, orderly list of other people's 'emergencies' and priorities. Not yours!"

It's easy (and habitual) to start the day by checking email because then we don't have to think. We let someone else decide what work to do by RE-acting to an email. But YOU are the boss of YOU, so don't let email "tell" you what to do with your time. Be PRO-active about your work and do what's important to you first.

Having your TOP 3 list takes the "thinking" and "deciding what to do today" away too. It's already on the paper, now just start the task.

3. Empty your entire email Inbox. Say what??? Who's got time for that? Well, I can give you a way to do it that only takes about 30 minutes and will keep your email Inbox nice and clean and shiny and easy to read. And it will stay that way. I got so sick of having 65 new emails every day (what a time suck) that I had to take action.
Here's what I did:

I put my spam control on the highest setting. I hadn't done it before because I was afraid I'd miss something important. Heh.

I decided what email lists I wanted to be taken off. This was hard, but I was tough (it's like cleaning out your closet - you have to be brutally honest, not emotional about it). For instance, Daily Candy. I like Daily Candy but why does it have to be every day??? Man, that's just excessive. I unsubscribed but know I can go to their website any time I want to see what's new. There were also a lot of e-zines that I enjoyed but clogged up my Inbox. I switched them to an old email address that I check about once a week. This way, when I get some time I can read them. And if I don't have time, they won't distract me from my "real" work.

For the rest of the emails left in my Inbox, I had to decide if keeping them would help move me considerably closer to the goals I have for my business. If they met this criteria, I gave them a "label" of KEEP. If not, I deleted them. Again, this was hard but it felt soooooooo great after I did it. Clearing the clutter is oddly liberating.

I then moved all the KEEP emails out of my Inbox into a KEEP file. Voila! Empty Inbox. It only took me about 3 days to clear out everything from the KEEP file and my Inbox has stayed clean. I LOVE IT. And I don't get that sinking feeling I used to get when I check email. I no longer have all those emails in there screeching "HELP, read me!" Then I'd feel guilty because I didn't read them. I'm not kidding.

© 2010 Jane Hamill, Fashion Brain Academy

The History of Fashion Week

Fashion, the world without it would be so bland, so dull, so colorless. Fashion is defined by many to be the trend or just anything stylish. It is the hip looks youngsters wear. Well, it may be all of that, but now it has emerged as a multi-million dollar industry. The fashion industry comprises of designers, models, photographers, magazines, makeup artists, event planners, and what not.

Fashion has captivated modern society in a stance. Everyone wants to know the latest trend and own the most fashionable item. They do so mostly by firstly following fashion and keeping themselves up to date about the latest style, and then avidly adopting the trend. Some of the methods to keep up to date with fashion is to watch celebrities and other fashion icons, go through the fashion magazines and keep track of the latest collections by designers. But by far the quickest way to see the new trend coming is by attending fashion shows.

A fashion show is an event where models display a designer's latest collection on the ramp. A fashion week is nonstop extravaganza for a whole week cramp packed with the latest fashion collections by multiple designers. It is most awaited event in the fashion world. Now, the fashion capitals of each country hold their own fashion weeks. The most popular, more commonly known as "the Big Four", fashion weeks are held in Paris, Milan, London and New York twice a year.

So, we wonder, from where does this fashionable affair start? Like all other inventions, in this case too, the mother happens to be necessity. As war waged across Europe, and stopped many aspects of life, it also hindered fashion. It dates back to 1943 when the World War 2 was at its fullest atrocity. Fashion gurus from around the world were unable to come to France to see and appreciate Paris's latest designs. This was thought as an opportunity for designers elsewhere to showcase their collections. Thus, the first fashion week was arranged in New York by Eleanor Lamber. It was called the Press Week and after it there was no looking back.

This idea became very popular and since then fashion weeks are becoming the most awaited event of the fashionista world. Designers from clothes, to accessories, to shoes say that events such as the fashion week, not only give boost to their business but also provide an opportunity for displaying their aesthetic obsessions on the ramp.  

Media And Fashion

The fashion industry seems to get more media coverage than it has ever had before. It is clear that fashion and the media have become two related subjects. However, the Internet also seems to be a place where fashion can expand as much as it wants.

From the simple articles about fashion that we can find in most online magazines, to fashion blogs, fashion pictures, fashion forums and also fashion online shops. Everything there is to know about fashion can be found on the Internet. If you are interested in learning some more details about the history of this ever-growing industry all you have to do is to do some research. Also if you want to enlarge your wardrobe and you don't seem to have the time to do it, you are a click away from designer websites and fashionable online shops that offer you everything that you might need or desire.

One of the most appreciated media/fashion phenomenon going on in our days seems to be the fashion blogs. Such blogs are usually created by teenage girls that despite the young age have a very strong fashion style. The media coverage that fashion seems to be getting in our days can also be attributed to their daily posts and comments. However, fashion hasn't moved in the online environment completely as we still have great fashion magazines that are a pleasure to look at and read.

Fashion shows and fashion weeks are still the number one attraction for every fashionista that respects herself. The Paris Fashion Week or the New York Fashion Week seems to be the highlight on the fashion season. The TV fashion shows also play a big part in the media/fashion phenomenon. This is because, before the Internet, TV is one of the most appreciated means of communication that can reach a great number of people in a very short period of time.

Even in the social economical context that we live in today fashion is still a prospering business and it seems that it doesn't depend on anything. Fashion is however, relative and it depends mostly on your tastes and personal style. So try to be creative and only choose to wear what you know looks good on you!

The Role of Fashion Publicists at Fashion Shows

Interested in getting involved in the business of fashion week but not sure what fashion show jobs are out there? A great job for the fashionably business-minded individual is fashion publicity. Ensure that you are the best candidate for the job by learning the industry through a fashion design school or online fashion school. Now, you are on your way to breaking into the fashion industry!

The role of a fashion publicist can change depending on the house or agency you work for, but will basically be in charge of all operations regarding name, the brand, press, image, magazine credits, you name it! It's a publicist's job to ensure the company's image is presented in the best light possible. A fashion publicist's day is focused on gaining exposure for the line, whether communicating with editors and seeing what styles they need for upcoming shoots, talking to celebrities' stylists and coordinating which looks would be great for their clients, plus, set up photo shoots and interviews.

During an important event such as New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, a fashion publicist helps to handle almost all of the details of the fashion show such as the invites, seating chart (that's a big one that a publicist must accomplish, and accomplish correctly!) making sure the celebrities coming have everything they need, and set up backstage interviews. The fashion house will still oversee everything, but fashion publicists make sure it goes exactly to their liking.

Just as with any profession there are ups and downs to a fashion PR job. The down side is that entry level positions receive little to no pay. Plus, it is also important to keep in mind that this is not a 9-5 job. There are extremely long hours and no one cares if you were up at 5 a.m. and it's midnight. But there are plenty of benefits to this fashionable job that make it all worthwhile! Such as, you get to sport the designs from the house you represent, your job is 100% business and 100% creative and you are 'forced' to go to cocktail parties and mingle with extremely interesting people! Keep in mind that this is not a job for the weak, but can be the most rewarding profession you will ever have!

In conclusion, if you are a business-minded individual but cannot imagine yourself not being a part of the fashion world, then fashion PR is right for you!

G'day USA - Australia Week - 10 Years of Celebrating Australia in the USA

January 2013 marks the tenth year of the biggest annual promotion of Australian excellence in the United States of America - G'day USA.

G'day USA is a celebration of Australian capabilities across a range of sectors including finance & business, technology, retail, arts & entertainment, tourism and leading edge research.

Over the course of about 2 weeks, Americans have a chance to stimulate their five senses, their brains, their hearts and hopefully their wallets at many of the 20+ events in 7 cities across the USA.

Over the last decade, G'day has grown from its original, and far more modest, G'day LA 10-day program to the much larger multi-citied G'day USA event you see now.

As is often the case with high growth, high profile activities, there are lots of people who celebrate the success, join in and help build for even greater success.

Sadly as with most successful ventures, there are also some negative voices in the mix. G'day USA is no different. There are people who have always sought to dismiss, discredit or disbelieve.

Often the detractors point to the Gala Dinner held in Los Angeles as "proof" that G'day USA is just a party organised by Aussies in Hollywood for Aussies in Hollywood.

But to describe all of G'day USA's achievements by one Gala Dinner is as short-sighted and limited as defining Italy by "pasta" alone.

The program celebrates so much more about Australia than just our entertainment and sports greats. It recognises and promotes Australian entrepreneurs in technology, researchers in life-sciences, thought-leaders in political and economic thinking, as well as captains of industry, fashion designers, manufacturers and of course our enviable tourism and life-style appeals.

Yes, the LA Gala Dinner is a highlight event. And yes, it is indeed a celebration of Australian excellence in the fields of entertainment, held, one might argue quite logically, in one of the world's most significant film, television and music hubs.

But despite this, the LA Gala has been, and remains, both a blessing and a curse to G'day USA.

Before I explain, it's worth declaring a strong and personal belief in the program! I am one of the four original founders and was running Austrade's operations in LA at the time, along with John Olsen (Consul General, DFAT), Wally Mariani (Snr Exec VP Qantas, Americas) and Michael Londregan (VP Tourism Australia, Americas).

So clearly I will have a more positive frame of mind to start with than most.

But I hope by explaining some of the thinking behind the program, which includes the LA Gala Dinner, that people may better understand the broader economic, cultural and commercial value G'day USA has played over the past decade.

You see this all started from the notion that Los Angelenos knew so little about us, other than perhaps Paul Hogan as Crocodile Dundee, that we had to find a way to engage their attention and add some diversity to the image.

So we tried to think up ways we could get the local's attention and broaden their understanding of what Australia had to offer. The original Business Plan had only a few key objectives;

• Focus on promoting Australia as a great place not only to visit, but also in which to invest, buy from or to study
• Focus on 2 - 3 sectors relevant to the LA market
• Help NSW companies get commercial deals and connections
• Get positive, local media

We specifically identified the need to run a program for 2 - 3 years to avoid the "big bang, big fizzle" syndrome, but I can attest to the fact that we all thought that if G'day made it into its third year it would be an amazing achievement.

You see the US market is one of the largest, wealthiest and toughest consumer and media markets in the world.

Every nation around the globe and hundreds of thousands of businesses are competing to get the US consumer's attention and a share of their wallet. The "noise" in the marketplace is therefore deafening. Finding a way to cut-through that noise is a formidable marketing challenge for anyone, surviving is another.

Assuming you have 30 seconds to get someone's attention, you need to appeal to something they are interested in and/or are familiar with - in LA that means you start with the entertainment industry and celebrities. It's not rocket science.

To illustrate, try getting a radio or paper to promote an Australian supermarket showcase in Bristol Farms for no other reason that it is G'day USA - Australia Week.

But let them know Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are in LA supporting something called G'day USA and it's a different story. You are more likely to get - "Keith Urban is in LA this week to receive an Australian award for Excellence in Music as part of the annual Aussie G'day USA program - a 10 day celebration of all things Aussie, including this year a showcase of Australian foods and wines at all Bristol Farms supermarkets in LA. "

Which brings us to the dual blessing and curse that is the LA Gala Dinner.

It's a curse because it's an easy, highly visible target for nay-sayers quick to point out its nothing but a celebrity fest, with half the ball-room filled with Australians.

Like many quick-to-judge reactions, this shows poor consideration. If one goes no further than just to point out that based on the above criticism, at least half the room is made up of Americans, including many of the major studio houses who bring productions to Australia like Wolverine, then you can start to see that perhaps there is more to the Gala and indeed, G'day USA than first meets the eye.

If you go back to the Keith Urban example, you don't have to be a marketing guru to see the stronger appeal of promotion by association. And I'm not ashamed to say we used that principal mercilessly, especially in the first few years.

We used celebrities involved in the Gala - both US and Australian - to attract large commercial sponsors, to drive extensive media coverage, to cross-promote the other more commercial activities occurring during the program and to attract US visitors to those associated events.

And it worked.

In 2005, Australian companies working with us in Austrade LA reported over $A5 million in sales as a result of the various food, wine, fashion, music or art showcase events we held during G'day LA or as a result of the connections they made at highlight networking events like the Gala Dinner.

In 2008 Austrade NY reported that just within the fashion events alone about $A6 million had been reported over the past 3 years with designers making sales to high fashion departments and speciality stores such as Barneys, Saks 5th Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel and Bloomingdales.

I understand the practice of tracking commercial returns stopped somewhere along the lines, but I know the last reported figure was over $22 million.

By then I guess the model had proven itself. Not to mention the fact that Australian exporters and commercial sponsors clearly wanted the program to expand to new locations and feature new industry sectors in order to provide even greater reach into the US market.

In each new city the program was adjusted to match the local conditions; technology and research in San Francisco, finance and fashion in New York, oil and gas in Huston etc.

The approach of using 'celebrities' continued in those markets too - just the nature of celebrity changed. Celebrities became more sector-specific personalities. And in many instances we moved even away from Australians telling Americans how great we are to American icons telling Americans how much Australia has to offer!

For example, in New York we worked with Ford Model Agency to promote Australian Fashion, more recently in San Francisco, the Innovation evening featured Lars Rasmussen of Googlemaps and Facebook fame as an advocate for the creative, technological capabilities of Australia.

Wolfgang Puck, a hugely popular (albeit Austrian) US-based chef and restaurateur, has previously helped promote Australian food and who can forget Oprah Winfrey and her Ultimate Australian Adventure that effectively promoted our tourism sector to millions and millions of viewers around the globe, and aired at the same time as G'day USA.

Using celebrities in the US market is a proven marketing tactic. But of course, it has to be followed-up with substance. By reaching its tenth birthday this year and delivering millions in additional sales to Australian companies over the years, G'day USA has surely proven itself?

G'day USA may not last another 10 years, or even another 3, as all good things come to an end.

But no matter when the end comes, I will always be extremely honoured to have played a part in the creation of such a strong celebration of Australian excellence. And I take my hat of the many Australians and Americans, such as Barbra Held, Event Director for G'day since its second year, who helped the program grow and maintain momentum in a market as tough and unforgiving as the USA.

It therefore also goes without saying that I'm also proud of the LA Gala Dinner, its celebrity appeal and the media, sponsorship and commercial contacts it attracts for the broader program. To me it has always been a blessing

Happy Birthday G'day USA!

A Week Full of Fashion

Fashion week is a week-long event that is held to commemorate the fashion industry and the cogs that keep the wheel moving. Fashion designers, brands and houses display the latest and best of their collection via runway shows. Buyers and the media are prominently present during this activity and this helps the designers to showcase and sell their work. Fashion week is an important event in the lives of the fashionable since it is here which determines the trends that are in Vogue and those which are passé. The most popular and well-known fashion weeks are held in the four major fashion capitals in the world namely New York, London, Milan and Paris.

Fashion has stormed the globe in a big way and some other countries which also host other important fashion weeks in the world are; Madrid, Australia, Rome, Dubai, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Singapore, Toronto, Jakarta, India, Berlin, Barcelona, Seoul, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles and Dallas.

Fashion week is a seven day long entertainment cum business event where people from all walks of life fraternize with those from the fashion industry. This event is bi-annual in nature and is held in the major fashion capitals in the world like London, New York, Paris and Milan. Fashion weeks are held several months prior to commencement of the fashion season so that it allows the buyers and press a better chance to preview the trends and designs for that season. January to April hosts fashion shows to showcase the autumn and winter collections. On the other hand, September to November showcases the spring and summer collections. This gives ample time to the buyers, retailers and purchasers to assimilate and include the fashion designers into their stores.

Latest innovation, flamboyant designs and striking new trends are showcased during these fashion weeks and all the latest collections are compiled into a special report and covered in all the leading fashion magazines in the world as well as the websites which cater exclusively to fashion. The first ever fashion week was held in 1943 with the purpose to distract attention in World War II from French fashion when workers from the fashion industry were unable to travel to Paris. It was believed that designers in America relied on the French for their inspiration and design. A fashion publicist by the name of Eleanor Lambert had organized an event called Press Week to showcase the works of American fashion designers. Magazines such as Vogue began to feature more American designers in their features and stories.

In the year 1903 a New York based shop held the country's first ever fashion show to lure middle-call socio economic groups into the store. Close on their heels, in 1910 major department stores were holding private fashion shows of their own. Along with promoting fashion these shows had elements of entertainment and were very theatrical in nature. It was theme based and accompanied with a narrative commentary. Fashion weeks helped in integrating all aspects of the fashion industry and bringing it under one roof.