Lessons Learned as a NYC Sleepwear Startup with Elizabeth Frenchman of Fichu Bedwear

In episode 32, Elizabeth Frenchman shares what worked and what didn't about starting a sleepwear brand in her home town of NYC after retiring from a career in graphic design. Elizabeth Frenchman is an apparel designer who adheres to the “less is more” philosophy as well as G-d being in the details. She was born and raised in Ohio but escaped to earn a BA in printmaking from Rutgers in New Jersey. This led to a long varied graphic design career in Boston and New York. An MLS from Pratt facilitated a switch to architectural materials librarianship. Many courses at both FIT and Central Saint Martins (London) prepared her for launching a sleepwear line, Fichu Bedwear. In architecture, in fashion, in graphics, the designer must listen to her materials. Design serves a purpose: to shelter, to clothe, to mediate harmoniously with nature yet it harness nature for knowledge, beauty and utility. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Elizabeth started a fashion brand after a career in graphic design Why she chose sleepwear as her product category How Elizabeth approaches design When it might be better to work with a one-stop-shop factory versus outsourcing each step to different vendors How Elizabeth made connections with patternmakers, fabric suppliers, and factories How being in NYC shaped how Elizabeth started Fichu Bedwear What Elizabeth wished she’d known about selling before starting Fichu Bedwear The advice Elizabeth would give to new designers starting a brand The advice her FIT professor gave her that she didn’t follow, but wished she did People and resources mentioned in this episode: Fichu Bedwear website Elizabeth’s email Fichu Bedwear Instagram Elizabeth’s studio website Shilo Byrd patternmaker Mint Collaborative FIT Central Saint Martins Evolution STL knitwear factory Fashion Group International of Saint Louis Saint Louis Fashion Fund Do you want fashion business tips and resources like this sent straight to your inbox? Sign up for the How Fitting newsletter to receive new podcast episodes plus daily content on creating fashion that fits your customer, lifestyle, and values.