How to Get Started in Accessory Design

Question:  “Which is easier:  clothing or accessory design?”

Answer:  It all depends on your skill level.  Creating shoes, handbags, hats, and jewelry is every bit as challenging as assembling apparel.  All require training, patience, and many hours of practice to become proficient.

If you have an interest in one of these accessory design areas but don't know much about it, start by visiting your local library or bookstore to find books about the subject.  Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble also have several titles to choose from.

If you find a topic that grabs your interest, see if you can find classes on the subject that are being offered in your area.  They might be presented by a college or through a continuing education workshop that are offered in many towns.  Or, look in the phone book for local designers or fabric shops and call and ask them if they offer classes or know of someone who does.  A little persistence in tracking down resources can yield very good results.

Often, people who succeed in accessory design have been “tinkering” with their passion for some time as a hobby.  I know many jewelry and hairgoods designers who fall into this category.  They started designing their own stuff when they were in grade school or high

school, and never really thought about making money with it until someone pointed out that they could.  By the time they launched their businesses, they had all the necessary experience they needed.

So is there an “easy” way of showcasing your creativity without spending years honing your skills?  Absolutely!

Just go online and find a wholesale supplier like:

Baseline Clothing

http://www.baseline-clothing.com

Café Press

http://www.cafepress.com

that offers “plain Jane” T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, baseball caps, tennis shoes, totes, or whichever medium strikes your fancy. 

Then pull out your paint kit, sewing kit, or glue gun and embellish your blank canvas to your heart's content.  Tie-dye t-shirts or baseball caps, for example.  Paint different breeds of dogs or cats on totes.  Glue rhinestones or sequins on tennis shoes.  Draw local attractions on sweatshirts or kids' clothes.  Do whatever suits your fancy.

You can sell them at flea markets, to specialty shops, by mail or on the Internet. If you just look around, wherever you live, you'll see plenty of people already doing this quite successfully.

As you can see, there's plenty of room for people of all skill levels to succeed in apparel and accessory design.  Whether you're looking for a fun, part-time source of income, or a full-fledged design career, you can use your creativity in different ways to leave your mark on fashion.

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Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a fashion writer and image consultant
and a contributing author to FabJob’s Guide to “Become A Fashion
Designer.”  You can visit her online at FashionJobReview.com .