015 - Everything You Never Knew About Fabric with Katie Towle

This week I'm joined by fabric expert Katie Towle - she's a woven fabric designer & sourcing expert having worked for some of the biggest retailers in the UK I met Katie when we were both at Next nearly 10 years ago & bonded over a shared love for fashion & dread for public speaking (although we've now both conquered the fear - FINALLY!) We moved to London around the same time and have stayed in touch ever since :)   In this episode we discuss : the role of a fabric sourcing team in a retailer how to choose the right fabrics for a garment spotting fabric trends and what's in store for 2020 best practises at fabric trade shows where to buy fabric what each country's fabric specialism is discussing Katie's worldwide travels when fabric sourcing! we launch into a full blown fabric lesson with the differences between fibre & fabric / woven & jersey Katie's side hustle as a swap shop event organiser! Are you ready to discover what it takes to become a 6-figure fashion brand?  Or maybe you're already there & looking for ways to improve! I have a really fun quiz for you to try out today!  It's just 21 questions that will determine a score from 0-100 and you'll automatically receive a personalised audit of how your business is doing. As a fashion brand owner, it can be challenging (to say the least!) to stand out in a crowded market and drive consistent sales. However, with the right marketing, product development, sales channels and pricing strategy, you can take your fashion brand to the next level! In under 2 minutes, ask yourself these carefully selected set of questions to determine if your fashion brand is on the path to success.   For example … *Do you regularly update your website and analyse your competitors' pricing?  *Do you frequently update your website's content and product offerings to keep customers engaged? *Does your fashion brand have a content marketing strategy?  Take the quiz to unlock the secrets of a 6 figure fashion brand and see how you compare. Once completed, you'll receive an e-mail with a fully personalised audit on how you can scale with success - it's honestly so cool, you have to try it to see for yourself…    links You can keep in touch with Katie via her insta link below: https://www.instagram.com/bykatietowle/   sponsor This episode is sponsored by Sourcing Playground Sourcing Playground is an online platform making it easier for brands to connect with compliant, ethical & sustainable manufacturers – think match.com but for retail! Post your project for free & let the suppliers come to you On the platform you can easily compare quotes & factory profiles to choose the right supplier for your brand Sourcing Playground are offering a free upgrade to The Fashion Feed listeners which means your project will only be viewed by the factories & hidden from public view Go to www.sourcingplayground.com to check it out & mention The Fashion Feed in the chatbox   contact me If you'd like to find out more about working together on your brand, click here