3 Biggest Mistakes of Fashion Brand Startups

[@lissettehurtadoschoel7573]

Zoe is our fashion fairy godmother 🧚‍♀️ 👗✨💯‼️ Realistic and honest advice. Being truthfully honest with your strengths and weaknesses is ABSOLUTELY essential. I feel like quality has diminished exponentially in fashion. Standing out is possible by offering quality over quantity. Being business savvy is 80% and design is 20%. Majority is too focused on the design aspect…hence the high turnover rate of failures & bankruptcy. Living in reality and starting small. Metaphorically speaking slow/steady wins the race. Being too idealistic is a one way ticket to pain and suffering.

[@faithkamara8341]

It’s not about what u know but who u know sometimes in fashion

[@yonazworld]

been watching you for 6 months and you’ve taught me so much even for my 2nd hand business. happy new year to you and your fam ⭐️🪡🧵

[@natasha2222227]

It’s a good day when I see a new Zoe Hong video :)

[@emilykoh1234]

Thanks Zoe, exactly what I needed to know before starting my brand next year. Love your Patreon content and both your Fashion books. Absolutely cannot thank you enough for the work that you do, you make people's dreams come true!! Happy New Year and all the best to you for the upcoming year ahead.

[@zoehongteaches]

Thank you so much for all your support! Hope you have an incredible 2025!

[@soidee]

Fashion files?ME!🖐HAPPY NEW YEAR ZOE!

[@zoehongteaches]

Happy new year!

[@cameronclark6556]

Great video, full of great information, as always! Thank you and happy New Year.

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome! Happy New Year to you too!

[@m.woodsrobinson9244]

Very timely and informative video, Zoe! And shouts out to Fashion Files and Elsa Klensch (RIP), too! Those were the days!

[@zoehongteaches]

Thank you! RIP indeed.

[@bycarolinakobayashi]

Can't wait for the Première Vision vlog! I've only been to one textile show last year, so it's good to have access to how tradeshows go about in other countries!

[@zoehongteaches]

I'm excited but also a tiny bit nervous. People say PV is overwhelming because it's so huge! But still more excited than nervous by far.

[@alexanderpons9246]

What a great video full of real information, thank you so very much Zoe Hong! Can't wait to see in the future the video on the Paris Trade Show.

[@spellcasteraggiev6012]

I always love how solid your info is.

[@falehamel-y5s]

Happy new year Zoe love you

[@zoehongteaches]

Happy New Year!

[@nataliechim5227]

Excellent advice Zoe. I hope anyone looking to start in the Fashion business takes on board what you are advising. Looking forward to your visit to Paris. Happy New Year.

[@zoehongteaches]

Thank you, and Happy New Year to you too!

[@rajchakdar2245]

thanks for an amazing video 🎉 ..... i'm just a student and i'm learning about business and fashion , i hope i'll learn from you

[@KaysFantasy]

Love your knowledge and fashion knowhow Zoe. I've been a fan for many years, i love to sew and currently am studying fashion. 😊🪡🧵✂️

[@zoehongteaches]

Thank you! Good luck with your studies!

[@randyfernando4442]

Thanks for this year end advice and a 2025 food for thought! Happy holidays and best of the year ahead Zoe ! 😍🍾🥂🥳

[@zoehongteaches]

Happy New Year!

[@shanudressdesigns]

❤ You speak about fashion is very interesting.

[@amalbadra4926]

Happy mew year zoe thankyou a million

[@mercykirke]

Glad I found your channel Zoe! Looking gorgeous BTW

[@katia0701]

Loved this, thank you!!! Could you make more videos where we can watch you design and draw ? HAPPY NEW YEAR 😁🥳

[@zoehongteaches]

I have a lot of those. Check out my Watch Me Design a Fashion Collection series.

[@MBAinternetmktg]

Great advice, Zoe!

[@ellenkass9410]

Happy New Year 🎉

[@zoehongteaches]

Happy New Year!

[@preoptrans]

Love this video and thanks for the info! cute sweater btw 🖤

[@zoehongteaches]

Thanks and you're welcome!

[@Sew_OzzyWar_Made_This]

12:09 I love sourcing!!! 😂😂😂 Hire me if Zoe doesn't source 😬😬😬

[@pathao9719]

Watching from Minnesota!❤

[@Ellsped10]

Happy new year to you too! I have 2 questions: 1- can you show some of the good fabric stores in Paris? I mean quality wise! 2. I posted a question recently (the video about leather) regarding the structure and trend of velvet garments! Can you explain/answer that question please? ❤❤❤

[@isaiahsguilty]

hello zoe! since you said you love excel spread sheets, could you possibly make a video showing some examples of all this information compiled and sorted? or a workflow of your process when it comes to documenting manufacturers, processes ect.

[@EthicalDivyanshBaghel]

i will keep these advices in mind

[@andreasfort1599]

I have wanted to book you but I’m no where near the point where I need the “Zoe tough love” state.

[@kshum6604]

This is great info!

[@zoehongteaches]

Thank you! I hope it helps.

[@Fuzzy_Slippers111]

Thank you for this video!! I’m 19, just switch my major to fashion in college and have been watching your channel for a couple months getting informed and excited. Luckily enough for me business interests me as well as fashion but the single product categories advice in particular was gold for me in particular, though I do wonder does this apply for accessories? I CANNOT find anywhere online that talks about following a similar business model of “high end brands” if you’re trying to start one, by releasing nicer accessories more people can afford like bags and shoes. Does the “only start with one product category” apply to these items that seem like they would be cheaper to produce anyway? Like if I came out with a pair of jeans and say a pair of kitten heels or something…

[@zoehongteaches]

Many, many accessories brands start with not just one category but sometimes just one bag, one suitcase, one pair of shoes. See Polene, the handbag company recently bought by LVMH for example. The whole jeans and heels thing follows the "you're doing too much" category.

[@Mahshid.m.z.m]

Happy New Year 💞💞💞💞🌹🌹💞💞💞💞

[@zoehongteaches]

Happy New Year!

[@StudioNYCGirlMongtomery]

i find it very had getting access to attend the trade shows in New York as a start up they want so much information at the front desk please advise, thank you in advance.

[@dianac9460]

I'd like to learn footware design, is there some vid abt it? or recommendations

[@odinakachukwuinegbedion7363]

Zoe, for someone that want to buy your sketchbook how do you go about it

[@zoehongteaches]

Go here: etchedstonepaper.com/products/zoehongsketchbook and buy online. They are not available in any brick and mortar stores or other websites.

[@candacedivito]

Love this video, Zoe! 🙌 I'm curious, what other trade shows would you recommend attending besides Première Vision? Looking for more opportunities to discover new trends and connect with the industry. Thanks! 😊

[@zoehongteaches]

Magic Sourcing is another broadstrokes one. You can also look for some in your niche of choice. There are separate shows for denim, for intimates, etc. Run a search. I don't recommend PV yet, since I haven't attended yet.

[@candacedivito]

@@zoehongteaches Thank you so much Zoe!

[@demetrarowan6037]

Happy New Year

[@zoehongteaches]

Happy New Year!

[@benedictaoshevire2723]

The way this attacked me. Love it though

[@aBirdAndHisBoy]

Excellent video, as always! 🤗🤗 Random, but have you seen Wicked the movie yet? It's amazing. 😍🤩

[@kristinapaxton9686]

I hear you...Prada was a bag maker and before that a mime artist.

[@erannovhari604]

Hii when r u starting the "creative director" thingy u made a vid abt

[@zoehongteaches]

When my brain wants to do it.

[@erannovhari604]

@zoehongteaches noice tyy

[@raymondtsui289]

Would recommend hiring a PR company for a new graduate wanting to set up own brand ?

[@zoehongteaches]

I would but I wouldn't recommend a new graduate start a brand right away.

[@175dee9]

Rick Owen’s didn’t start his own line until he was 33, didn’t do his first show until he was 41. What are you in a rush for???

[@noecadiente1420]

Hi Zoe, this is a very important information. I’m in New York so I have known production facility recommended by my school. I’m a novice and I just finished I want to work in the industry and at the same time develop my brand. Let say I will create 1 dress and reproduce it with different colors and test run in the market. Do you think it’s a good idea to begin with.

[@Houseofelegance_swe]

Good morning Zoe! I did buy your book before the 20th of nov and I sent you a confirmation of that, but I have not recived any respond!? I hope everything is ok, i don`t want to miss the live!! //Kindly Tess🇸🇪

[@zoehongteaches]

Oh, I am so sorry. I must have missed your email somehow. The lecture has been recorded so I will send you the private link via email. Again, I'm so sorry for my mistake.

[@RobinClayborne]

Thank you!!!! Have a wonderful day 💖😊 Robin N. Otis -Clayborne

[@zoehongteaches]

Thank you and you too!

[@CydneyEllis]

Hi!! My name is Cydney Ellis and I am a Louisiana State University student trying to start up my fashion career as an illustrator/designer/stylist/ I don’t know lol. I have some plans in terms of building my portfolio and gaining credibility, but if there was some way that we could talk and I could pick your brain a little bit, that would literally be amazing and I would be so grateful!! I think you’re amazing and I would love to receive any advice you may have!

[@trufatfisseha4569]

hi how

[@ladinembuli9829]

Loved this! Thank you 🤍

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@VioletFem]

If it’s allowed, it would be great if you could vlog your time at Premier Vision in February

[@zoehongteaches]

That's the plan!