The New Age of Breaking into Fashion Design

Which celebrity does not have their own fashion line?maximum window of opportunity for that kind of
The list seems to be getting shorter as more andenterprise," said Mr. Wolfe. "That doesn't seem to exist
more stars announce their new lines and fragrances toanymore. I just can't imagine who would be a new
be sold at already well established and accessibleDonna Karan."
stores around the globe. The next time Sarah JessicaThe task for new young designers on the scene has
Parker is seen on the red carpet she may be wearingbeen made doubly difficult by the number of celebrities
the likes of Marc Jacobs, but her new fashion linewho already have face and name recognition coming
Bitten is not aimed for this Prada toting crowd. Theout with their own designer fashion lines. These celebs
new trend among celebrities is reaching out to thehave used the already existing economic infrastructure
masses by providing them with trendy and affordableof big names like Topshop and Tesco to market and
duds on the high street and in shopping mallssell their designs, or in many cases someone else's
everywhere. But what does the future hold for the realdesign that they have attached their name and face
designers out there?to. This strategy is what can give many new designers
The recent deaths and retirements of a few majora ray of hope, using mega stores and recognisable
leaders in fashion have piqued the interest ofbrands to get their designs out there to be seen,
fashionistas everywhere that are wondering who,purchased and worn.
when, and even if, they can be replaced. Some ofThe time may soon come when young budding
these designers and their associated brands such asdesigner's dreams are not their first catwalk show
Versace and Calvin Klein have lived on in the hands ofduring London's Fashion Week, but a job with a big
designers happy to take on and continue the legacy. Inname high street store like Marks and Spencer,
other instances the designer brand is bought out byDebenhams or Kate Moss's choice of Topshop. The
bigger corporations looking to cash in on the alreadybenefits of designing for big stores has even been
established client base. These big name designers whohighlighted on shows such as Project Catwalk, a reality
are so often worn at movie premiers and awardshow where young designers compete to win a job
shows might continue to reign but the question lies inworking as one of the designers at Debenhams.
whether or not the public and the celebrity elite will seeThis new building ground for designers just starting to
any new big names and faces associated withget their feet wet has potential to benefit all parties
fashion, as we have seen in the past.involved. The designers receive more capital via
David A. Wolf, a fashion trend forecaster and creativesponsorship from an array of initiatives from big
director of the Doneger Group believes that the era ofnames stores with deep pockets looking to capitalise
massive empires built upon a single name or face areon fresh new looks and the public can happily drape
probably over. "The people who have empires andthemselves in the newest trends for prices that will not
giant names, happened to begin their careers with thebreak the bank.