Episode 33 – Jaclyn Brautigam • Fordham Fashion | Why Emerging Designers Struggle with Wholesale, Pricing & Sales Strategy

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Jaclyn Brautigam, Founder of Fordham Fashion, about the operational blind spots that prevent emerging designers from turning strong creative work into viable businesses.Many designers are trained to develop products — but not to sell them. They are often left navigating wholesale, pricing, margins, and distribution without a clear roadmap.From wholesale entry strategy to pricing structures, the conversation highlights how commercial viability in fashion depends less on the product itself and more on the systems built around it.We explore: • Why many designers underestimate the complexity of B2B wholesale • The operational foundations required before approaching retailers • How pricing and margins shift when moving from DTC to wholesale • Why expensive showroom strategies often fail emerging brands • How designers can leverage direct outreach and network-driven growth insteadAt its core, this conversation reframes fashion not as a product-driven industry, but as a system-driven one — where understanding distribution mechanics, financial structure, and market timing determines whether a collection becomes a business or remains an idea.For those looking to move from collection to commercial strategy and growth:✨ Exclusive offer for The Fashion Translator community Use code: FTC26Receive $500 off The Fashion Visionary Experience, Jaclyn’s signature package designed to help fashion brands grow and strategically build their business.Valid through year-end.Guest: 👤 Jaclyn Brautigam 🔗 Instagram: @fordham_fashion🔗 LinkedIn:Jaclyn BrautigamBrand / Platform: 🌐 Fordham Fashion 🔗 Website: https://www.fordhamfashion.com/🔗 Substack: If you’re currently trying to turn a collection into actual sales and feel stuck on what to do next, feel free to reach out. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com