Navigating through the treacherous waters of the fashion industry can be a difficult task to tackle alone. There are sharks in the water ready to snap their jaws at the  slightest whiff of blood. Luckily, it’s been a team effort between me and Igor to get our company C’est Mode Chic off the ground but not without a few sharks threatening to crush our launch.

Trying to convince a New York City garment manufacturer to produce a new designer’s first collection can be a test in resilience because the majority of the time the response given is a flat out, “no.” Other times they won’t give you the time of day if you’re not linked to a big name.

From a manufacturer’s prospective, it’s safer to work with established brands than newbies who are just starting to get their feet wet in the fashion industry, which is understandable. Well known brands provide a steady stream of income for factories. Independent designers just starting out, like us, are wild cards. You never know what you’ll get from us but isn’t that what makes start-ups so exciting—the unknown possibilities or the possibility for greatness? Nothing in life is a sure thing. However, the values of a business should be. Align yourself with those that share your values, not just in your personal life, but in your professional one as well.

After countless calls and a few awkward meetings with manufacturers, we finally found the one! Good rapport and common courtesy go a long way in building a solid business relationship; something so simple yet lacking in our previous experiences. However, that was not the case here. Thanks to our friends at ADF Accessories Inc, we’ll be launching our first collection at the Fairfield County Women’s Expo on April 26. Stop by booth 339 in the State Ballroom at the Stamford Plaza Hotel. See you there!