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How do you network with people in the industry?

#networking #fashion #network #fashion-shows

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Ken’s Answer

Two paths, internal and external. Internal = things like Employee Resource Groups (ERGs); every offsite team outing you can attend (the larger the group the better); volunteer! External = every professional group, even if tangential to your area of expertise (you never know who'll you meet); meet-ups and Communities of Practice (usually free or nearly so).
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Mohit’s Answer

You will do everything by being good at your job. If you're really good at your job people will start recognising you & will refer you to different companies & managers. but at the same time can build you network on https://www.linkedin.com/. follow leaders that seems interesting to you :)
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Anna Kate’s Answer

Hi Natalie,

Creating a LinkedIn Profile is a great way to start networking with people across the U.S. and beyond. Do you read fashion magazines? Search your favorite designers on LinkedIn and start interacting with their posts. Think outside the box - go to the company's LinkedIn page, for example Ralph Lauren, and follow some of their more junior staff to get an idea of what working for a big fashion house is like. Do you like smaller designers? You may be able to follow them directly (ie their staff aren't running their page.) Once you interact with a few posts by commenting, you can reach out to connect with a message like, "Hi [Name], I've really enjoyed following you for the past few weeks and have learned a lot from your posts. Can we connect?"

Again, think outside the box - don't follow just designers, but fashion magazine editors, and staff (check out that first few pages in a magazine and follow those people on LinkedIn.) Think about following and learning from people who work in retail (Gap, Urban Outfitters, etc.) to get a true feel for the industry. Use the search function in LinkedIn to search for designers in MS or the Southeast - try just "fashion designer" with MS as the location. Join fashion networking groups on LinkedIn and introduce yourself, asking people to connect.

Eventually once you establish a relationship with a connection, you can ask for a short informational interview to learn more about their role in the industry. Always keep these short (15-20 minutes) and prepare your questions in advance. The more you show that you respect someone's time, the more they may do for you.

Always be professional on LinkedIn. Most professionals are excited to help younger people just getting their start.

Anna Kate recommends the following next steps:

Identify people and brands to follow on LinkedIn - think outside the box beyond big fashion designers to fashion editors, writers, photographers, models, etc.
Follow those professionals on LinkedIn and interact with their posts.
Request to connect with a professional message.
Consider your education options and make sure you're at the top of your game with industry knowledge.
Think about where you'd like to take your career and request informational interviews with people in those roles.
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Michelle’s Answer

Hello, Natalie F. It's very good to see that you are interested in a career in the fashion industry. You want to know how to network. It sometimes comes very easy for some people but the more you network it will become second nature to you.


You should start networking with people in your school. Let people know you are interested in the fashion world. Start right where you are. Introduce yourself to people and see who shares your interests. Make a LinkedIn page. I've checked MeetUp.com and there are no groups in your area right now, but you could start one and or keep checking. I am not sure what grade you are in but see if your school offers anything related to fashion and take all the courses you can. You never know where like-minded people will be. It's a matter of talking with a lot of people you meet and you will know when it's right. I also am not sure what job you are interested in : modeling, designing, merchandising. But it is a good idea for you to just start where you are and do as much work on it to build up something to show.


Best wishes to you in your journey towards your career goals !

Michelle recommends the following next steps:

Discover and utilize any and all of your school's resources.
Check MeetUp for any Style or Fashion groups that may begin in your area
Meet and talk with more people at school
Make a LinkedIn page
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Bjanka’s Answer

Hello Natalie
I wanted to share a few tips on how to best network within in Industry
Use all social media( i.e Linked In) and tools available that the company has to offer
Join networking events
Join events that support causes that you are passionate about. You will be able to meet people for all different groups within the company or even outside
Explore different ways of field of interest like search for remote set up vs office. This way you can come across people that can help you guide you better on what is that you are trying to accomplish.
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Megan’s Answer

Hey Natalie,

So.....networking with people in the industry down South is a little more difficult that in large established cities (my opinion). I'm orginally from GA but obtained my Fashion Degree in Nashville, TN. My situation may be completely different than yours because this was almost 11 years ago when Tennessee wasn't that populated and didn't have a lot of fashion events. What I did to network was research, research, research. I looked up other designers, merchandisers, fashion businesses, out of state companies, and other people that were interested in doing what I was doing. My first networking gig I ended up going to Atlanta, and working with designers and fashion production for Atlanta International Fashion Week. From there, I ended up meeting a man who did Nashville Fashion Week we ended up going to the same school and in the same class together. We kind of stayed in contact for a couple of years, but lost contact after I moved. I did a lot of fashion shows in my twenties, a lot of merchandising in my twenties, and a lot of travel with no pay. Hopefully now since things are little bit more established the south it will be easier for you. I would just research a lot of companies write to them all let them know what you're doing and what your plans are for the future and how you can be an asset or what type of networking you're trying to do with him. It would also be great if you found a networking group, people who are interested in the same things you are.
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Jack’s Answer

In this day in age, when you blindly send out your resume, it'll end up in a big pile of hundreds of resumes! How will an employer know to pick yours out of the pile? The key is to make connections and network with them! You may not know anyone in the industry. But let's say you know 50 people. What are the chances that those 50 people know somebody in the industry you're interested in. Simply start asking your family and friends if they know anybody in the job, industry, or company you want to be in! Keep turning over rocks and you will start networking naturally!

For more great content on how to network, I'd recommend reading Ken Coleman's book "Proximity Principle" or his podcast- the Ken Coleman show
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