5 Simple Ways for Fashion Entrepreneurs to Find Inspiration

We live in an exciting and ever-changing ecosystem. In the blink of an eye, something can go viral and change the way everyone sees the world. The rules are very amorphous, therefore, in the fashion industry specifically, the direction is established by those that are bold enough to put themselves out there as a trendsetter. Understanding what’s driving those trends and how to leverage them as a competitive advantage requires you to allows be on top of your game.

Fashion Trend Awareness

Trying to define and understand those trends while at the same time providing the underlying technology to support a very diverse and tech savvy audience that is always online (“Omnipresent”) and using a vast range of technology (mobile, laptops, etc.) to stay connected provides endless possibilities.

Customer Feedback: Understand Your Consumers’ Needs

Today's consumers want what they want when they want it. If you are unable to adjust to the consumers needs they will find someone that can. Loyalty today is defined as “what have you done for me lately”. Finding ways to provide innovative solutions to the consumer in a manner that inspires the consumer to stay engaged requires a higher degree of commitment and inspiration than ever before.

Seek Mentorship: Inside Your Industry

You should seek advice from a diverse group of mentors both within the industry you are focusing on; as well as mentors outside the industry.

Here is why, while mentors within your industry of expertise will be able to provide you with direction and guidance as it relates to your journey; since you are embarking down a journey they have already travelled – that’s the good news. The bad news could be since they have already travelled down that road they might be unintentionally leading you down a path similar to their path because it is the path best known to them – therefore, there might be some bias in their advice.

Seek Mentorship: Outside Your Industry

On the other hand, mentors from outside your industry of expertise will provide you with direction and guidance that sounds rationale to them; they have no real knowledge of the industry. Therefore, some of their guidance might be totally nonsensical and disjointed.  However, don’t just totally discount it since some of the greatest ideas come from advisors that will provide out of the box suggestions. It is often in those out-of-the-box suggestions that you might find your niche; since they suggested something that no one else is doing simply because they don’t know any better. Then again, there could be a legitimate reason no one else is doing what they suggested; so you can’t blindly take that advice either.

Be Responsible For Your Own Success

At the end of the day, a mentor is just that… someone that advises you. You still own and are responsible for your overall success. Listen to their advice then apply your best judgement to the situation. Remember, if you fail or succeed, you always want to do it on your own terms.