If you are thinking of starting a business in fashion this contains everything you need to know.

This book is most valuable when you're 'in the the process' of starting/ running your line. It's a little piece of gold... keep it in your library for reference after you finish reading it. Of course, you're going to have to go out and navigate this industry for yourself, but this aptly named - survival guide - gives you a running start. It's worth every penny... buy the Expanded Version. One thing that I think you should pay particular attention to is the way she phrases things... ex. saying, "I'm a fashion designer" is for the public, not the industry... confidence is key to opening doors, but so is the way you communicate... design is a small part of the process... it's first and foremost a business to you and to your vendors... time and money are in high demand... FDSG will save you both and give you the opportunity to sculpt the way you think and work within this industry... good luck!

I've been in the business (www.glamajama.com) for almost five years now and I still found lots of useful info. Gives lots of pointers on how to set-up your clothing line's "timeline" for design, production, and launch. Follow their suggestions and you will have the optimum amount of time to build and promote your line. Also, it provides an overview for legal issues, marketing, and selling the line. This is a great reference tool for anyone wanting to know more about the inner workings of the fashion biz.

As a fashion design student, I was given this book before attending school by a friend. I read it all in one day and really appreciated all the information in it. But, I will say that I understood most of the business end of the information because I had already taken a college level business class.

The information in this book is very general and I would say it is excellent for someone who is thinking about going into the fashion industry and wants a realistic view of the process. Reading it before attending classes will give you a head start to understanding key concepts that will be covered.

If you already have a degree, I agree with one of the other reviewers, I wouldn't buy it.

This extremely well written book is enough to put you off even thinking of venturing into starting your own fashion label!! It is very well researched and obviously written by someone who is EXTREMELY conversant with the notoriously fickle and difficult fashion industry.I have worked in fashion at the design level as a patternmaker for well over 30 years and Mary Gelhar has put together a very informative manual.
It is exactly as it is, no matter what country you live in.
Take note anyone attempting to start your own label!!!

This is a great book for those interesting in the fashion business. I am not a designer, but I am a marketing consultant to several fashion designers. This book has helped me, help my clients.

This is an excellent tutorial IF you already have a basic background in the fashion industry, otherwise, you might not understand certain information predicated on the assumption of a knowledge base.

I would most certainly recommend it for anyone thinking of starting their own business in the fashion industry. It will skillfully guide you through the land mines of the fashion landscape and prevent you from getting a leg blown off!

Clear, concise and thorough. Lots of 'white space' on every page prevents the reader from being overwhelmed and sublimimally infers that starting your own business IS simple enough that you absolutely can succeed!

Just do your due diligence with Mary. Good luck!

I am not a fashion designer, but when I bought this book, I was starting my own fashion business and this book was exactly what I needed to help me along. For someone just starting out in the fashion business, this book explains everything you need to know from what kind of company to set up, setting up a business plans and legal issues to production and PR. This is a great, well rounded guide that is easily set up so it is very easy to understand and read. This is a must have for anyone who wants to get into the business of fashion

I wish I had bought this book before I started my company.
I learned allot of things the hard way and if I had, had this book I may have been a little more successful a little sooner.

I highly recommend this book to anyone starting out in the ''business" or even have been in business for a while. A great read!

If you are looking for a detailed book on how to start a fashion business, this is NOT it. It's a good start though, the author offers a good general overview of the business in an interesting, readable style. I recommend this to those who are just thinking of starting a fashion business, on your "idea stage" or if you just want extra information about the industry. You won't be wasting your money.

My business partner and I have been struggling with the hardships of being a growing apparel line in the fashion industry. So far this book has addressed and solved almost every problem, every second guessed thought, even every mistake we have made. Thank goodness a book as informational as this has hit the market. This survival guide has taught me so much from both the design and business aspect that I could have never learned in school.

It tells you step by step what to do and what not to do, it even gives you places to go so you can get started and gives you that extra push you need to make it

This book is the most concise source of information on how to mindfully start one's own clothing line. Detailed and clear, it outlines everything one needs to know from inseption and development through financials, incorporation, press, factory relations, shows and beyond. It is, by far, the most complete resource for any aspiring designer.

I f you are starting a business this is the best book you can find.
You ll find a lot of advices that will be very helpful.

Ok I read this book and this other book called Fashion For Profit. This author obivously does not sound like she has really worked in the garment industry. It would be very scary to start a business taking advice from this book. It kind of reminds me of that old sewing lady professor you have in home economics class trying to tell you like you are a 4 year old trying to run a company, scary stuff if you ask me. I got all I ever needed out of Fashion For Profit. That book is strictly business. It's twice as much ,but you get what you pay for. Apparently the author of Fashion for Profit has been voted numerous times in the top 10 most influential in the California Apparel Industry by the California Apparel News. Bottom line you get what you pay for.

Ok I read this book and this other book called Fashion For Profit. This author obivously does not sound like she has really worked in the garment industry. It would be very scary to start a business taking advice from this book. It kind of reminds me of that old sewing lady professor you have in home economics class trying to tell you like you are a 4 year old trying to run a company, scary stuff if you ask me. I got all I ever needed out of Fashion For Profit. That book is strictly business. It's twice as much ,but you get what you pay for. Apparently the author of Fashion for Profit has been voted numerous times in the top 10 most influential in the California Apparel Industry by the California Apparel News. Bottom line you get what you pay for.

I would recommend this book to anyone thinking about starting their own fashion design business. It answers any and all questions and best of all it provides resources that we all need (especially if we have no one to guide us). If you're a student of course you would have the resources provided to you by the school itself, but for someone who is doing this from natural talent and ideas, it's GREAT!!!

I would recommend this book to anyone thinking about starting their own fashion design business. It answers any and all questions and best of all it provides resources that we all need (especially if we have no one to guide us). If you're a student of course you would have the resources provided to you by the school itself, but for someone who is doing this from natural talent and ideas, it's GREAT!!!

This is a wonderful book for anyone thinking about entering into the retail business on your own. It cover the basics so you know what elements to consider before you take the plunge. Other than this book, you still need to do quite of abit of research on your own.

Useful, definitely has information that you absolutely must know about the fashion industry. But it does not need to be purchased. Borrow it from the library--the book can be read in one sitting and offers general advice.

Easy to read, concise book to anyone interested in starting their own line.

I JUST READ A FEW PAGES OF THIS BOOK..BECAUSE I JUST RECEIVED IT TODAY!I AM IN LOVE WITH IT.FOR AN ASPIRING FASHION DESIGNER AT 17 YEARS OLD ;I BELIEVE THIS BOOK WILL HELP ME REACH MY GOAL SOMEWHAT SUCESSFULLY.GREAT BOOK TO BUY FOR YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERS OR ASPIRING.

I really wish I had read this before I set up a fashion business; this is invaluable reading from somebody actually IN the industry.

With relevant information & quotes from designers, & other people in the industry, the reader is able to understand so much more on what is actually involved in setting-up/running a fashion business. The book is extremely easy to read & each chapter covers a relevant topic fairly concisely, enabling the reader to learn from others experiences; from costing through to actually selling, & will always be there for reference when needed.

We all have so many questions to ask when setting up/in a business & this book will probably answer most, if not all, & may actually save you from having to learn from your own mistakes...well most anyway! If you are looking at setting up a fashion business, then BUY this book & learn 'how' to do it better.

Thankyou Mary Gehlhar, from a young designer company who now realise they were right on some things, feel reassured on others, but who now have a vast amount of new knowledge to take it further...

Thinking about going into fashion design industry, read this book first. It gives you a lot of helpful information.

This book is exactly what its title says.... A Fashion Designer's Survival Guide.... It reinforces what you know and points out a thing or two to learn/ prepare for!!!!! I love this book!!! It is a life-long reference for my business!

I purchased this book to help me plan my small apparel company. The author Mary Gehlhar has practical realistic advice and knowledge to offer anyone on any scale interested in persuing a fashion design career. My favorite is when she explains the money pit runway shows have become and the small return that they often generate most of the time. The chapter on marketing is indespensible for any small designer who doesn't have promotion experiance. I can't believe this wasn't on my textbook list for my apparel degree. I must for anyone looking for a realistic reference especially on a small scale.

Much better than other fashion business books that seem boring and lecturing. Here a ton of young designers and other fashion people share with you the things they did to make their business successful. Better still they also give you the dirt on the mistakes that most people make. To me, it's a must read for anyone who is SERIOUS about making it as a young designer. Would have loved this while starting out. But there is still a lot for me to learn.

Kushner, M.
Truth About Caffeine, The
SCR Books

This book provides answers to unanswered questions and goes into subjects not covered in Fashion School. ;) I would sugest this book to any on in the fashion industry or still in school. It will help you grasp a better understanding of the when, why, and how things are done.

This book is ideal for someone coming into the industry with little to no knowledge. It provides a lot of tips to help one avoid re-inventing the wheel.

my friend, for whose birthday i purchased this book, is delighted and learning so much needed info.

I have to say this book has really helped to guide me. The fashion business is a crazy one, and this book will give you great insight to know if this business is right for you or not - before you begin to spend lots of money!

By far, the most impressive, knowledgeable and useful guide to everything from the decision to start your own design business to handling the press, buyers and everything else.

It's not a book that sugarcoats the truth about how hard it is to succeed in this business and how few succeed at all. Even established designers who didn't lay the right foundations, had it come back to bite them. It starts you off in the right mindset and helps you learn from the mistakes and experiences of others, so that you don't waste time and money screwing up by yourself!

A must have book!

Mary Gehlhar's book is outstanding. It has depth and breath. I really enjoyed all the quotes and pearls of wisdom provided by so many lovely people in the apparel industry. This book covers everything - from concept and design to wholesale price points to retail product placement. This book shows you "the what" and "the how" like no other apparel industry book has.

What I especially enjoyed learning about was the legal information. Thank you Charles Klein for you saved me much heartache that comes with losing your intellectual property. Now I can work with investors wisely for you have banished the only fear I have and that is losing control of my intellectual property as I lose some corporate control due to investors' terms. This is what I read books for - to gain knowledge and insight from people who have done it before me, do it better than me, and write it down to share with us curious souls and thirsty minds.

The other aspect of this book I found to be stellar and not noted in any other fashion industry book (and I read them all) is what Mary Gehlhar says about patternmaking and samplemaking. She states both sides of the argument, doing it yourself and others doing it for you, articulately and succinctly. I applaud you Mary Gehlhar. You wrote a great book.

Usually industry guides offer tips from seasoned pros - who may have forgotten the real focus and experiences of novices; so it's refreshing to see industry newcomers included alongside pros in Fashion Designer Survival Guide: An Insider's Look At Starting And Running Your Own Fashion Business. Emerging designers receive practical strategies and advice from both big names (Tommy Hilfiger, Richard Tyler and more) and newcomers who all share their industry insights. The result is a 'must' for any aspiring fashion designer: packed with strategy, insights, and even checklists for success.

this book is jam-packed with excellent information for anyone interested in the fashion business. i read the 200 pg. book in a day and will keep it around for reference. it was easy to understand, brutally honest, and extremely useful in answering my many questions about who, what, when, where, how. i've already made a list of things to do and add to my business plan.

This book's price is right too!

Gehlhar's book avoids all of the pitfalls of many "how to" guides for small business owners, balancing the realities of a very tough industry with practical approaches to success. The hardest thing about being a small business owner is making the tough decisions on how to spend and evaluate that spending's value toword profitability. A true practical guide, she enumerates costs and suggests creative means for those that are cash strapped (i.e. most of us) to start and succeed in the industry. It should be a text book in any fashion class. I highly recommend it to anyone in a fashion related industry who is interested in information on the inner workings of the business.

Nobody told me that being a fashion designer would be easy. And the past 5 years haven't been! This book brings an honest perspective when it discusses both the "glamorous" and "non-glamorous" of fashion. It's not boring like most of the business books and it's packed with stories and advice from lots of people in the fashion industury. It's definitely not candy coated -- but i am personally relieved to hear i'm not alone in facing these issues. If you want to get a practical book with INSIDE information -- you must read this book. I wish this was out when i started. But it'll still save me lots of pain in the future.

I am a jewelry designer and found this book to be valuable to my business. I also met her in person and she is a good public speaker.
Liza Sonia