Fashion designers have been doing collaborations for years on end. Iconic collabs in the past few years include Gucci x The North Face, Dior x Nike, and Louis Vuitton x Supreme. Collaborating with another designer’s fashion line can not only benefit you, but also the other brand you work with because when brands team up for a campaign, both brands receive exposure to each other's audience.
If you are wanting to team up with another designer and collaborate with them, then you have found the right place to do so. This blog will teach you how to find, contact, and work with another fashion designer for a collaboration.
How to Find a Designer to Collab With
As an emerging designer you will want to find someone who is one the same level as you. While working with a big name is your ultimate goal, it’s best to start smaller and work your way up. Find someone who shares a similar audience or an audience that holds the same values as yours. By doing this, you will attract customers who will be interested in your fashion brand as well.
When you are looking for a designer to collaborate with, working with someone whose work you admire will bring the most genuine connection. Talk to your fellow designer and let them know how you feel about them and their work. After you have established a relationship, pitch them your idea of a collaboration.
A part of this process includes deciding on the type of designer you are and what kind of collaboration you want to take part in. It wouldn't make sense for Coach to collaborate with Micheal Kors. However, Coach collabing with Disney was strategically planned. I myself have considered buying a Coach bag specifically to wear to DisneyWorld. Make sure when you scout for another designer or brand, you are keeping in mind what the collaboration could entail, what you both bring to the table, and how your customers will receive them.
How to Contact Another Fashion Designer
There are a few different ways you can go about this depending on your relationship with your collaboration target. In a professional manner, the best way to pitch your idea is through email. In your pitch, you should include what it is you want to collaborate on and how you expect the partnership to work logistically. Do you both want to just design a t-shirt together? Or do they have a jean line that you will add a creative twist to? Include what you want from them along with what you plan to bring to the table. Of course this should be negotiable.
If you already are on speaking terms with the other designer or they are a friend, you won't have to email them. However, you should still approach this in a professional manner and have the pitch ready whenever you present them with the idea. Professionalism will show them that you are serious and ready to get to work.
Once you contact another designer and they have agreed to collaborate on a project with you, here are some logistical things you need to sort out before getting started on designing the project:
- Who will be paying for production, delivery, and logistics?
- Where will the products be manufactured?
- How will the workload be divided between the two?
- Who will sell what products?
- How will the profits be split?
- Will there be a lawyer involved or a contract drawn up?
How to Work With Another Fashion Designer
Once you figure out who you're going to work with and what you're going to work on, it's time to get designing. Working with anyone on a project can be challenging to try to merge both ideas together and to both sides be satisfied. Here's a list of things that can help when collaborating with another designer:
- Evaluate values and a mission
- Set goals for both brands
- Define assignments for each party
- Have open communication between collaborators
- Promote creativity
- Ask for feedback from the other
Putting two different designers together to create a unique piece that nobody else in the market offers will benefit both designers. This should be a fun process for both parties involved. Don’t be afraid to pitch your idea to other fashion designers, you could create something that fashion didn't know it needed. Feel free to refer back to this article as needed -- best of luck!
Comments