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The In-Between Season: Reading the Signals Before Fashion Month August 2026 August Monthly Thread Mood The "In-Between Season": Identify key transitional signals before fashion month begins. August is often overlooked, as it lacks the excitement of fashion month or the renewal of a new year. However, it affords a valuable opportunity to focus on current projects before industry attention turns to New York Fashion Week. The Signals: Designing what's best for the In-Between This season's Pre-Fall collections are all about variety! There's really no one-size-fits-all vibe when it comes to silhouettes or colors. Some brands are keeping it cool and classy with sleek funnel-neck jackets and sharp tailoring, while others are going all out with fun layered sheer pieces, sporty touches, and eye-catching prints. It's a little something for everyone! The question is- do you need to design for this time period, or what can you do as a designer & business to take advantage of this month? Crochet trim Here are some callouts of insights and inspirations for the month of August. Resort 2027 emphasizes heritage with craftsmanship-focused collections, nautical references, and high jewelry as key storytelling elements. The result is practical style with a strong material presence. For independent designers, this is a transitional season rather than a trend-driven one. Pre-Fall addresses demand for products between seasons, creating valuable design opportunities for both boutique and direct-to-consumer sales. Consider what your brand offers during this period; even if a solution is not required, it is a worthwhile question to explore. August Mood Board Getting a jump start on color: Color Mood Board If this month involves research, assessing your offerings, sales, and future requirements, take a look at colors you should know about. Below are five fall key colors, each credited to its source for additional exploration: Coloro Fall 27 Key Colors, from https://coloro.com Sources: WGSN/Coloro. Learn more at https://coloro.com NYFW Is Coming: Key Highlights to Watch The official CFDA September schedule features 70 runway shows and presentations from Thursday, September 10 to Tuesday, September 15. The season opens with Henry Zankov's debut as artistic director for Diane von Furstenberg and concludes with Thom Browne, marking significant transitions at both ends of the week. Check out their website and catch some show replays or live-streaming Looking for ways to participate? If you are an independent designer considering NYFW, remember that the official schedule is only one aspect of the week. Numerous independent showcases, buyer previews, and industry events run concurrently, granting valuable opportunities for emerging brands to build relationships. It is a great way to network, see what's out there, and get inspired for your own work....read on to see what ifd has up it's sleeve! We have some exciting things happening! ifd will be actively working within the NYFW ecosystem this September. If you are an independent designer interested in joining any of our NYFW events, please email info@insidefashiondesign.com with your portfolio or a concise description of your work. Details on our NYFW events are provided below. On the ifd Calendar This September Unique Fashion Show (UFS), New York City, September 13, as part of NYFW. IFD is partnering again this year, and designer outreach is underway. Interested designers should have an established collection and a demonstrated commitment to innovative or conscious design. Selection is based on portfolio review as well as alignment with the event’s focus on emerging and independent talent. Further eligibility information and application details are available upon request. Inquiries: design@insidefashiondesign.net or link below: Sourcing, Selling, Sustainability & Scaling – Empowering Fashion Entrepreneurs: NYFW, a showcase co-produced with Mind Your Fashion, highlights conscious and sustainable design. Jude Kingston is bringing her sold-out seminar to New York — exclusively at Made with Intention 2. Jude Kingston Global Sourcing Seminar With 30+ years at the top levels of the global fashion industry, Jude doesn't do theory. She delivers real frameworks for building a fashion business that's profitable, purpose-driven, and built to last. You'll walk away with: 🔹 Smart sourcing strategies 🔹 Sales approaches that actually convert 🔹 A blueprint for a brand rooted in integrity 🔹 A real plan to scale — without losing your vision This is a part of the Made with Intention 2: Included with all day pass or ala-carte. Made with Intention 2: Open to everyone! An evening of storytelling, brand activations, and a designer showcase, co-hosted with Mind Your Fashion and 99 Yards. If any of these opportunities match your goals, please contact us at design@insidefashiondesign.com, we would love to support you. This is the most effective way to ensure your inquiry is received promptly. Also Worth Your Calendar This Month MAGIC Las Vegas Summer, August 10–12 (Las Vegas Convention Center), is one of the season's biggest wholesale marketplaces — a strong option if you're building buyer relationships ahead of fall. For a smaller, more boutique-scaled alternative, Chicago Collective Women's Edition runs August 23–25 at The Merchandise Mart — often a better entry point for independent labels not yet ready for a floor the size of MAGIC's. Fashion pro working at her desk The Business Angle: Plan the Gap, Not Just the Show While fashion month attracts significant attention, the in-between season is a great time for operational planning. This includes setting manufacturing timelines for fall delivery, managing cash flow during slower sales periods, and evaluating whether participating in a September show fits with your brand's current position. Before committing to a show this fall, consider whether it will connect you with buyers and press who might not otherwise discover your brand, or if it mainly offers general visibility. Both are valid reasons, but it is important to be clear about your objectives. 3 Fashion models on the runway Brands that leverage fashion month effectively view it as one touchpoint within a wider relationship-building strategy, rather than a single decisive event. Before September Hits Consider the following checklist while the season remains quiet: Organize your Pre-Fall inspiration references into a working folder now, before fashion month brings a flood of new content. Don't need additional designs? Use this time to still gather inspiration for future use, evaluate current product offerings and sales data to make informed business decisions If you are considering presenting this fall, review your financials carefully. Assess participation costs against realistic ROI, beyond the excitement of a runway opportunity. Consider showing as part of your marketing budget- in some cases, it's less expensive than paying for ads, and some opportunities are budget-friendly and provide you with several perks to level up your business. If the event offers photos, social media shares, and networking opportunities- that could be valuable ROI for your brand. Review your in-between-season offerings. Is there a gap in your collection, similar to how Pre-Fall addresses gaps in the retail calendar? To identify gaps, line up your key styles by delivery date and price point to see where items may be missing or duplicated. Ask yourself: Does my assortment cover my customer's needs for this time of year? Review recent customer feedback or sales data to identify what was requested or sold out last August. Even a simple exercise, such as mapping your collection on paper and color coding by season, can reveal overlooked opportunities. Show your work at NYFW FAQ’s: Participation in Events: How can I apply or express interest in the listed NYFW events and showcases? Start by visiting the official NYFW website (cfda.com/fashion-calendar) to see what the bigger shows are. For independent designers- check out ifd use the link above and we will send you more information. Most events provide online forms or contact emails—prepare a concise inquiry email using this template: “Hello, I’m [Name], an independent designer interested in [Event Name]. Please advise on application steps. Portfolio attached.” Double-check all deadlines and required materials. Avoid missing cutoffs by setting calendar reminders. Engage with organizers and past participants on social media for updates and insider tips. Selection Criteria: What are the requirements or selection criteria for designers to participate in ifd-partnered events? Requirements typically include: a professional portfolio (10–20 high-quality images), a lookbook, a brand bio, and past collection overviews. Organizers prioritize originality, quality, inclusivity, and a clear brand story—some events spotlight first-time or underrepresented designers. Double-check if a minimum number of collections, press coverage, or sustainability credentials are needed. Review each event’s published criteria and tailor your submission—avoid generic applications. If unsure, reach out via email for clarification. Practical Guidance: Are there tips for preparing a strong application or portfolio for these opportunities? Highlight your brand’s unique identity, craftsmanship, and narrative. Use high-quality visuals, concise bios, and relevant press coverage. Focus on storytelling by demonstrating how your work fits the event’s theme or audience. Include contact information and make sure all materials are professionally formatted. Financial Planning: What are typical participation costs for independent designers at NYFW events? Costs vary, but expect expenses for entry fees, venue rental, production, staffing, and marketing. Typical budgets for emerging designers range from $5,000 to $20,000. Factor in travel, shipping, and PR. Inquire about available sponsorships or grants, reach out to ifd to inquire about options, and consider collaborating with other designers to share costs. Networking NYFW ifd Event Networking: How can I maximize networking and exposure during the in-between season and NYFW? Maximize exposure by attending industry mixers, after-parties, and panel talks—even as a guest. Join designer communities and mentorship groups (e.g., Inside Fashion Design, Fashion Mingle) for introductions. Use social media to share process stories, tag event partners, and connect with attendees and press. Prepare a digital press kit (bio, images, contact info) for quick sharing. After the event, send a friendly follow-up message to new contacts within 48 hours. Avoid waiting—timely follow-ups show professionalism and keep you top-of-mind. So are you planning to attend NYFW? Let us know...we can see you there! Reach out if you want to be involved- either to show your collection, volunteer at an event or just attend!! Happy to share our schedule with you. Happy Conscious Creating! Britta Founder, Inside Fashion Design ifd community gatherings Sources CFDA — "View the Preliminary September 2026 Official NYFW Schedule"https://cfda.com/news/view-the-preliminary-september-2026-official-nyfw-schedule/ Marie Claire — "6 Pre-Fall Trends Fashion People Are Shopping for 2026"https://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/pre-fall-trends-2026/ Trend Hunter — "Top 30 Luxury Fashion Trends in August 2026"https://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/august-2026-luxury-fashion WGSN/Coloro; — seasonal color direction https://coloro.com/creative-teams

Male models walking the runway wearing light colored suits Insights & Inspirations -- July 2026 From the Shore to the Salon: Paris Men’s SS27 and Resort 2027 trends. What we are watching, loving, and thinking about this month in conscious fashion. This is part of the Inside Fashion Design Monthly Series. Each month we share: → Insights & Inspirations -- a recap of the creative pulse of the industry, for everyone → The Monthly Thread -- deeper signals, strategy, and business focus, for Members inside ifd Connect → The Monthly Spark -- your monthly action workbook for members, inside ifd Connect Neutrals with brights color palette on fashion models Hello, friends. Welcome to July. Paris Men's Fashion Week has just wrapped -- and it was a week worth watching. Not for spectacle alone, but for the quieter signals beneath it: the return of craft, the value of a clear point of view, and a renewed appetite for design that means something. Resort 2027 is arriving alongside it with a complementary message -- fashion is leaning into longevity, versatility, and identity. This month's Insights & Inspirations looks at what happened on the runway, what it signals for independent designers, and where the most useful creative and business insights are emerging. Mens corsage made of fabric What We're Watching Paris Men’s SS27 and Resort 2027 trends: Paris Men's SS27 shows ran June 23-28 during a record-breaking heatwave—temperatures pushing 40 degrees Celsius across the city. The weather was dramatic. The collections were more interesting. Jonathan Anderson's Dior continued to sharpen its language—precise, slightly destabilized, and intentionally alive. Tailoring that carries tension rather than perfection. Heritage codes recast to feel newly charged. The message: archive dressing need not feel nostalgic. It feels current when proportion shifts, texture loosens, and formal dress carries a little friction. Louis Vuitton under Pharrell Williams operated as a model of total brand storytelling -- a collection that moved through a language of ease and polish, balancing sharp dressing with relaxed summer energy. When the idea, clothes, styling, and presentation all speak the same language, the result feels unmistakable. That coherence is the lesson. And the season's most significant story isn't a collection at all. Grace Wales Bonner has been named menswear creative director at Hermes -- the first designer to hold the role since Veronique Nichanian's decades-long tenure. Her first collection is expected in January 2027. It signals where authority in menswear is headed: cultural substance, research-led design, and quieter confidence in meaning. Resort 2027, arriving alongside Paris Men's, makes a different but equally important case. The strongest collections A.L.C., No. 21, Sea NY, The Garment are treating versatility as a core design value, not a compromise. Pieces that earn their place across multiple contexts. Brands that know exactly who they are dressing, and don't waver. The collections resonating most this season are not the ones chasing the trend. They are the ones that know who they are -- and don't waver when the season shifts. Male model in Paris wearing a pastel suit What's Inside This Month's Full Edition Members have access to the complete July Monthly Thread, inside ifd Connect -- including: Full Paris Men's SS27 show recaps -- LV, Dior, Saint Laurent, and the Wales Bonner/Hermes story Resort 2027 collection recaps -- A.L.C., No. 21, Sea NY, and The Garment 4 trend directions every conscious independent designer should know right now Designer spotlights -- Grace Wales Bonner, Marine Serre, Sabana Swim, Collina Strada July Color Mood -- 5 SS27 colors grounded in Premiere Vision and WGSN/Coloro research The creative and business signal connecting all of it -- and what it means for your pitch to investors, Plus the Monthly Spark -- our members-only deep dive into pitching your fashion brand to investors and buyers this month, including a full framework for walking into the room prepared. Want the Full Story? This is just the beginning of July's conversation. The Monthly Thread—showcasing recaps, trend callouts, designer spotlights, color intelligence, and business signals—is waiting for you inside ifd Connect. Not a member yet? Join us inside. It's where the real conversation happens. Read the July Monthly Thread inside ifd Connect -> Learn more about ifd Connect membership -> Thank you for spending a few minutes with us this month. Your curiosity and creativity are what make this community so special. Happy Conscious Creating! Britta Cabanos -- Founder/CEO, Inside Fashion Design PS: Which moment from Paris Men's SS27 caught your eye this month? Drop it in the comments—and if you want the full breakdown, we will see you on the inside.

Fashion Student at desk From Fashion Student to Brand Founder 8 Real Stories of How They Did It The gap between studying fashion and running a fashion business can feel enormous. On one side: studio critiques, collection projects, sketchbooks, and design vocabulary. On the other: suppliers, MOQs, cash flow, customer acquisition, inventory management, and the constant reality of building something real. But the next step is often smaller and closer than it feels—like getting in touch with a local maker for a first sample, or simply starting to document your process. Breaking the journey down into a single action can make everything that follows less overwhelming. What closes that gap is not a better business plan or a bigger starting budget. It is seeing how real people made the transition — what they did first, what surprised them, what they would do differently. These eight stories come from designers who started exactly where you might be now: in school or just out of it, with more ambition than resources. 1. He spent a decade learning the business before his label finally worked Victor Glemaud studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology while working as a design assistant to Patrick Robinson. After graduating, he didn't launch a brand right away — he spent years inside the industry first, as a fashion publicist and later as studio director at Paco Rabanne and style director at Tommy Hilfiger. He launched his own knitwear label in 2006, inspired by cutting up and reassembling his father's old sweaters. It took a decade of refining — including a full relaunch in 2016 with a sharper business strategy — before the brand found its footing. In 2017, he was a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, and his colorful, size- and gender-inclusive knitwear is now sold at Saks, Nordstrom, and SSENSE. The lesson: there is no clock on this. Glemaud's path wasn't school-to-launch — it was school, then years of learning the business from the inside before the brand that actually worked—source: Fashionista, Hypebeast. Try this: If you're not ready to launch the day you graduate, that's not failure — it's data. A few years working under other designers or brands teaches you sourcing, costing, and production in ways no thesis project can. Real entry positions like production assistant, merchandiser, technical designer, or showroom coordinator can give you insider information and contacts. Seeing the business up close in one of these roles is valuable training. Treat a job in the industry as paid R&D for your future label. Tan Represent Tee design 2. He turned a college project into a brand worth $100 million In 2010, George Heaton and his brother Mike took the sewing skills their grandmother taught them and launched a graphic T-shirt brand called REPRESENT out of their grandmother's house. It started as a college project. In 2023, REPRESENT posted $100 million in sales, opened a store in LA, and launched a permanent shop-in-shop at Harrods. Heaton's advice is clear: know what you are good at and protect it. Hiring a CEO let him dedicate effort to creativity and product rather than getting pulled into the business side he wasn't built for. Finding the right people to cover your weaknesses is not a luxury — it is what allows the brand to grow—source: Entrepreneur. Try this: Get honest early about which parts of running a brand energize you and which you just tolerate. You don't need to hire a CEO in year one, but you should know which tasks you'll want to hand off — and start looking for the right person before you're burned out doing them yourself. Nasrin Jafari from MIxed: Image from https://mixedbynasrin.com/pages/about 3. She built a brand from Instagram masks during a pandemic Nasrin Jafari was a middle school history and English teacher with no background in fashion when the pandemic hit. She started sewing face masks by hand and posting them on Instagram. That experiment became Mixed, a direct-to-consumer fashion brand based in Brooklyn that now works with multiple manufacturers worldwide. The key decisions that shaped her brand: launching on Instagram before building a website, starting with a home sewer from her community for initial samples, and treating every operational challenge as something to learn from rather than avoid—source: Practical Ecommerce. Try this: You don't need a manufacturing background to start. You need one person willing to make a first sample with you — a home sewer, classmate, or local seamstress — and a motivation to learn production as you go, one small batch at a time. Maren. Made dress from https://marenmade.com/ 4. She opened a boutique at 18 before starting university Emily Brown launched Maren Made using money from babysitting, dog walking, and a country club job — starting her brand before she was old enough to vote. Within a year, the brand had customers in Australia. She bought a boutique at 18, rebranded it, sold it in 2024, and opened a storefront in a major Indianapolis mall while studying full-time at Purdue. The founding capital was small and earned. The ambition was not—source: Purdue University. Try this: Don't wait for outside funding to start. Small, earned capital from a part-time job, babysitting, or freelance work is often enough for a first small run if you keep your collection tight and your risk low. Many founders started with as little as $500 to $2,000 to create their initial samples or mini collection. Prove the idea before seeking bigger money. 5. Two classmates sold their entire thesis collection before they'd sold anything else Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez met as students at Parsons School of Design. They decided to collaborate on a joint senior thesis, naming it Proenza Schouler after their mothers' maiden names. When they presented it in 2002, Barneys New York bought the entire collection on the spot — before the two had even launched a commercial line. They built the brand from there into one of the pillars of American fashion, generating an estimated $60 million in annual sales at its peak, winning the inaugural CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award, and eventually taking over as creative directors of Loewe. The lesson: a thesis collection isn't just a school requirement — treated seriously, it can be a first collection—source: Parsons School of Design, Wikipedia. Try this: Treat your senior thesis or final collection like a real pitch, not just an assignment. Invite people who could buy or back it — local boutique owners, past internship contacts, industry professionals from your network — to your show or portfolio review. You never know who's in the room. If you don't feel like you have a strong network yet, take the initiative: get in touch with to alumni from your school, attend local fashion events or pop-ups, or become part of online communities for emerging designers. Developing connections starts with simply showing up and introducing yourself. 6. She went from fashion degree to global brand — and it took 13 years Johanna Ortiz studied fashion design in Florida and returned to Colombia to launch her namesake label in 2001 — starting with couture, pivoting to resort wear, and slowly building. The international breakthrough happened in 2014, when Moda Operandi selected her collection. Today, the brand is sold in more than 30 countries, 95% of its production is exported, and it employs over 440 artisans, 78% of whom are women. Her Escuela Johanna Ortiz, founded in 2016, trains at-risk women in couture seamstress skills. The lesson from Ortiz is patience and rootedness. She built for 13 years before the international moment came, and when it did, the brand was ready because the infrastructure was already there—source: Johanna Ortiz — The Woman. Try this: Use the slow years to build parts of the business no one sees on Instagram — reliable manufacturing relationships, systems, fit and quality control. When a big opportunity shows up, you want to say yes without scrambling to catch up. 7. She built sustainability into the business model, not just the marketing Bethany Williams earned her MA in menswear at London College of Fashion and launched her label in 2017 with a mission built around social and environmental change from day one. Every collection uses organic, recycled, or deadstock materials, and each is developed in partnership with a grassroots organization — including The Magpie Project and programs supporting women in prison and recovery — with a share of proceeds returned to that partner. She did not treat sustainability as a marketing layer applied after the fact. It shaped sourcing, production, and who she worked with from the very first collection. The approach earned her the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design and a place on the LVMH Prize shortlist—source: London Fashion Week, Refinery29. Try this: If sustainability matters to you, build it into your first sourcing decision, not your brand statement. One partnership with a local charity, deadstock supplier, or community organization from collection one says more than a paragraph about your values ever will. 8. She built trust before she built a store Danielle Guizio started her namesake label with just $400. Instead of capital, she had years of an existing personal following — people who'd been watching her style and trusted her taste before she ever sold them anything. When she and a friend put together some T-shirt designs and launched a site, it sold out almost immediately. She had no formal design training and little starting capital. She scaled from shipping out of her parents' basement to running a nine-person team and landing on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. The lesson: an audience built on genuine trust is more valuable than one built on ad spend, even a small one — and it doesn't have to be manufactured overnight. Source: AOL / In The Know. Try this: Start sharing your process now, before you have a product to sell — your sketches, your fabric sourcing trips, your fitting sessions, your failures. The people who watch you build something are far more likely to buy it than a stranger seeing a polished ad for the first time. The Common Thread Eight different stories. Eight different schools, starting points, and timelines — some launched within a year of graduating, others took over a decade to establish themselves. But look at what connects them: none waited for perfect conditions. None started with significant capital. All started with what they had — a following, a skill, a thesis collection, a sewing machine, and some spare fabric — and built from there. That is what makes the transition from student to founder. Not a better plan. The decision to start and the persistence to keep going after don't look the way you expected. Female models in pastel dresses sitting on edge If You're Starting Now: A Quick Checklist • Don't wait for the perfect collection to start talking about your work. Document the process — sketches, sourcing trips, fittings — starting today. • Treat your final school collection like a real pitch. Invite people who could actually buy, stock, or back it. • Start small and self-funded if you can. One tight capsule, made well, beats a large collection made cheaply. • Find one person — a sewer, a factory, a classmate — willing to make your first sample with you. You don't need a full supply chain on day one. • If sustainability or social impact matters to you, build it into your first sourcing decision, not your brand story. • Get comfortable with a long timeline. Some of these brands launched fast; others took over a decade to establish themselves. Both are normal. • Know which parts of the business you're good at, and start watching for people who can cover what you're not — you won't need them on day one, but you will eventually. Ready to take the step from student to founder? The IFD community is where independent designers at every stage of the journey connect, share resources, and support each other's growth. Ready to be part of it? Visit our website at insider.insidefashiondesign.com to learn more and sign up. Membership is open to students, graduates, and emerging designers. Simply fill out the short sign-up form online to join our growing network. SOURCES [1] Fashionista — How Victor Glemaud's 'Meandering Journey' in Fashion Led to His Label of Joyful Knits (2020). https://fashionista.com/2020/01/victor-glemaud-designer-sweaters [2] Hypebeast — Designer Victor Glemaud Is Putting Equality and Body Inclusivity First (2020). https://hypebeast.com/2020/7/victor-glemaud-designer-profile-equality-body-inclusivity [3] Entrepreneur — He Turned a College Project Into a $100 Million Luxury Fashion Brand (2025). https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/how-a-college-project-became-a-100-million-luxury-brand/481270 [4] Practical Ecommerce — From Teacher to Fashion Brand Founder (2026). https://www.practicalecommerce.com/from-teacher-to-fashion-brand-founder [5] Purdue University — How One Purdue Student Built a Fashion Brand While Earning Her Degree (2025). https://www.purdue.edu/entr/how-one-purdue-student-built-a-fashion-brand-while-earning-her-degree/ [6] Parsons School of Design — Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez alumni profile. https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/profile/jack-mccollough-lazaro-hernandez/ [7] Wikipedia — Proenza Schouler. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proenza_Schouler [8] Johanna Ortiz — The Woman. https://www.johannaortiz.com/pages/the-woman [9] London Fashion Week — Bethany Williams designer profile. https://londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers/bethany-williams [10] Refinery29 — Get To Know Bethany Williams, Fashion's Sustainability Saviour (2020). https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/bethany-williams [11] AOL / In The Know — How Designer Danielle Guizio Built Instagram's Favorite Clothing Brand. https://www.aol.com/news/designer-danielle-guizio-built-instagram-151601061.html Approx. 1,100 words