Angela Wolf - How to Start a Home-based Fashion Design Business

Angela Wolf is the owner of ABO Apparel, LLC, and an internationally renowned fashion designer, TV personality, speaker, instructor, and author. Angela graduated with a business degree from Illinois State University. With a new sewing machine and serger as a graduation gift from family, she started a home-based custom apparel business. With the encouragement of her (now) husband, she created an eighteen-piece collection and held a private fashion show for local women. This show launched Angelas career in custom couture in 1994, and in 2010 she launched her first ready-to-wear (RTW) collection.

Winner of the 2008 Passion for Fashion award, in 2010 Angela was one of the featured fashion designers participating in Chicago Showcase Fashion Event put on by the Apparel Industry Board and chaired by Mayor Richard Daley. Angela is also the couture-sewing expert on the PBS series Its Sew Easy. With added exposure in the sewing industry, Angela has launched a pattern collection for the home sewer. Each season she offers patterns to coincide with her RTW collection. You can find the patterns at AngelaWolfPatterns.com.

Angela writes a monthly Fashion and Trends column on PatternReview.com and is a frequent contributor to Threads and SewStylish magazines. With a passion for designing quality clothing and exploring her love for creating new trends and techniques, Angela continues to share her talent by teaching and speaking all over the country.

A special thank you to my husband, Winn, for all your love, support, patience, and encouragement. You have been there from the beginning of my fashion career, talking me into putting on my very first fashion show. You have been there for it allfrom challenges to successes, what a ride it has been. Thanks for always believing in me, but mostly, thanks for being my best friend.

To my mother, Linda Boyer, for all your guidance, prayers, and support. Thanks for traveling to shows with me, never complaining when I would sneak fabric from your stash, allowing me to test patterns on you, my first sewing machine, and just being a great friend.

To my father, Richard Boyer, for instilling in me a solid confidence to believe anything is possible. You always encouraged me to strive for first and never settle for less.

Teresa and Julie, my sisters, for always stepping up to help me out, from ripping out seams to helping with my fashion shows. You both are the best!

To my grandparents Gene and Shirley Stowell for your love and support. Thanks for your many words of wisdom and encouragement and for being so special in my life. I feel so blessed.

Marge and Walt Wolf, thanks for your wisdom, guidance, strength and support.

A special thank you to my clients. There are so many of you that I could never start naming because I would be sure to leave someone out, and you know that would kill me. You all are the reason I was able to create a successful business and why I am able to write this book, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for all the lessons, advice, memories, and friendships. Thank you!

To those that added to book: Janet Pray, president of the American Sewing Expo and Islander Sewing System. After I won the Passion for Fashion in 2008, Janet became a priceless mentor in my career and a great friend, I thank you so much for everything, and I look forward to new adventures with you. Marsha Brenner, executive director of the Apparel Industry Board Inc., is a great mentor to many fashion designers in the Chicago area and contributor to the fashion industry. Thanks for your guidance. Susan Glick, vice president, Womens Apparel Merchandise Mart Properties, is a well-respected expert in the fashion industry. Thanks for your encouragement. Joi Mahon, my fellow ASDP member, fashion designer and winner of the 2009 Passion for Fashion, thanks for your input. I always enjoy working with you and sharing a few laughs. Linda Stewart, fellow ASDP member, and alteration expert, thanks for sharing your story and encouraging others in the sewing industry through your writing and teaching.

Thanks to Tracee Williams and all those at Globe Pequot Press for this great opportunity and all your behind-the-scenes work.

To all my friends for standing by my side, their support and encouraging words, the occasional forced modeling in my fashion shows or behind-the-scenes delegator, you are all great, and I cherish your friendship.

The Apparel Industry Board Inc.

www.aibi.com

Association of Sewing and Design Professionals

www.paccprofessionals.org

Business Networking International

www.bni.com

Council of Fashion Designers of America

www.cfda.com

Fashion Business Incorporated

www.fashionbizinc.org

Fashion Group International Inc.

www.fgi.org

GenArt

www.genart.org

National Sewing Council

www.nationalsewingcouncil.org

Rotary International

www.rotary.org

Books

Arrington, Jay, and Michael H. How to Effectively Sell Your Clothing Line to Retailers. Harper Arrington Publishing, 2004.

. The Reality of Owning and Operating Your Own Clothing Line. Harper Arrington Publishing, 2004.

Calderin, Jay. Form, Fit, and Fashion: All the Details Fashion Designers Need to Know but Can Never Find. Rockport Publishers, 2009.

Harder, Francis. Fashion for Profit: From Design Concept to Manufacturing and Retailing; A Complete Professionals Guide, 9th ed. Harder Publications, 2010.

Meadows, Toby. How to Set up and Run a Fashion Label. Laurence King Publishers, 2009.

Okonkwo, Uche. Luxury Fashion Branding: Trends, Tactics, Techniques. Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.

Websites

www.apparel.edgl.com

www.apparelnews.net

www.balluun.com

www.consumergoods.edgl.com

www.copyright.gov/eco

www.ftc.gov

www.oneofakindshowchicago.com

www.risnews.edgl.com

www.startingaclothingline.com

www.weconnectfashion.com

www.intuit.com

www.intuit-gopayment.com

www.paypal.com

www.samsclub.com

www.squareup.com

Books

Burns, Leslie, and Nancy Bryant. The Business of Fashion: Designing, Manufacturing, and Marketing. Fairchild Publications, 2007.

Fasanella, Kathleen. The Entrepreneurs Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing. Apparel Technical Services, 1998.

Gehlhar, Mary. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide. Kaplan Publishing, 2008.

Khalje, Susan. Bridal Couture: Fine Sewing Techniques for Bridal Wear and Evening Gowns. Krause Publications, 1997.

Klaman, Stacey L., Karen Kunkel, and Barbara Fimbel. The Experts Book of Sewing Tips and Techniques: From the Sewing Stars; Hundreds of Ways to Sew Better, Faster, Easier. Rodale Press, 1995.