The Fashion Startup

Michelle Ramsay, Fashion Designer & Startup Mentor - The Fashion Expert®
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The go-to podcast for first-time founders who want to start a clothing brand and do it right. Hosted by Michelle Ramsay, The Fashion Expert® - fashion designer and startup mentor with 20 years of industry experience. Each episode covers the real startup journey - from brand foundations and product development to manufacturing, marketing, and launch. Whether you're still in the idea stage or already building, you'll find honest advice, founder stories, and expert insight to help you fast-track your fashion startup. Rated 5 stars on Spotify and trusted by founders across the UK and globally.

  1. 1d ago

    EP 37: How to Prepare to Work With a Fashion Designer for Your Clothing Brand Startup

    How to Prepare to Work With a Fashion Designer for Your Clothing Brand Startup You think you can’t work with a fashion designer yet because you can’t draw, or because you don’t know how to explain the ideas in your head. But actually, that isn’t what a designer is looking at. In this episode of The Fashion Startup, fashion designer and startup mentor Michelle Ramsay of The Fashion Expert® shows you how to prepare to work with a fashion designer for your clothing brand startup, even if you’re convinced you can’t draw. Whether you’re still at the ideas stage or about to book your first design call, getting ready to work with a fashion designer can bring up its own confidence issues. In this episode Michelle shares what a designer is really thinking when they open your ideas, exactly what to send before your first call, how to organise it all, and what happens on the design call itself. You’ll also hear why this is the stage people confuse with manufacturing, and what changes when your designer stays on your team after the tech pack. What you’ll learn What a fashion designer is really looking at when they open your ideasWhy you can stop apologising for your sketchesExactly what to send a fashion designer before your first call about designing your collectionHow to organise your ideas so a designer can use them for your tech packsWhat happens on a design call, and what you don’t need to have worked outWhy the design stage is not the manufacturing stageWhat changes when your designer stays on your team after the tech packChapters00:00 Why preparing to work with a designer feels overwhelming00:46 The worry about explaining your ideas01:18 The fear behind it all01:54 What a designer is really looking at03:10 The rough sketch question03:40 Number one and two05:13 Number three07:00 Why the factory isn’t the place for this07:44 How to organise it all08:55 The colour question10:20 What happens on the design call12:49 What you miss out on14:39 The design stage versus the manufacturing stage16:18 Who should be on your team16:42 Your next step Links Download the free Fashion Launch Plan BlueprintGet your designs turned into professional tech packs with MichelleBook a free discovery call to talk through your brandSubscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a reviewAbout Michelle Ramsay, The Fashion Expert®Michelle Ramsay is a UK-based fashion designer, startup mentor and fashion consultant with 20+ years in the industry. For the last 10+ years, she’s helped first-time founders bring their clothing brand ideas to life. Through The Fashion Expert®, she designs tech packs and collections, helps founders find and work with manufacturers, guides them through sampling and production, and mentors them at every step, turning messy ideas and Pinterest boards into real collections ready to launch. Her client base is worldwide, mostly in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia. She has worked with brands such as Topshop, ASOS, M&S and Gymshark, and is now trusted by 400+ brands and founders. Michelle is known for helping people without fashion industry backgrounds navigate the process with expert support, not guesswork. About The Fashion StartupThe Fashion Startup is the go-to podcast for first-time founders who want the courage and know-how to start their own fashion brand. Hosted by Michelle Ramsay, founder of The Fashion Expert®, designer and mentor who has worked with 400+ brands and founders. Follow: Instagram @thefashionexpertuk, website www.thefashionexpert.com

  2. Oct 27

    EP 36: Who Should Make Your Clothing Brand’s Tech Pack?

    You think the cheapest or quickest way to get a tech pack made is a sensible way to start. But actually, this is the point where first-time fashion founders waste the most money. In this episode of The Fashion Startup, fashion designer and startup mentor Michelle Ramsay of The Fashion Expert® compares five ways to get a tech pack made and explains who should make yours, with real examples from 20+ years in fashion. SummaryWhether you’re still at the ideas stage or about to ask for quotes, choosing who makes your tech pack is one of the first places you spend or save money. In this episode Michelle explains why a pretty tech pack can fool a first-time founder, what she calls plausible confidence, then compares five routes: a graphic designer, a newly graduated designer, a factory, AI and doing it yourself. You’ll hear real examples, including an activewear founder whose designs were turned away by factories and a client whose cheap graduate designer ended up costing double, plus what to check before you hand your tech pack to anyone. What you’ll learn Why a pretty tech pack can look right and still fail at the factoryWhy a graphic designer can’t give you a factory-ready tech packWhy a cheap graduate can end up costing you doubleWhat you hand over when a factory makes your tech pack for youWhy AI tech packs look convincing but get constructions and trims wrongWhat you need to know to make your own tech packHow to check who is filling your skills and knowledge gapChapters00:00 The fire extinguisher that sprays confetti01:00 Why it matters who makes your tech pack02:16 Plausible confidence: why a pretty picture can fool you05:10 Route one: why a graphic designer isn’t the answer09:50 Route two: the cheap graduate and the driving test14:32 Route three: what happens when a factory makes it for you18:34 Route four: why AI tech packs look right and get it wrong21:55 Route five: what you need to know to make your own24:45 Who is filling your skills and knowledge gap?25:28 What to do next Links Download the free Fashion Launch Plan BlueprintGet your designs turned into professional tech packs with MichelleBook a free discovery call to talk through your brandSubscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a review About Michelle Ramsay, The Fashion Expert®Michelle Ramsay is a UK-based fashion designer, startup mentor and fashion consultant with 20+ years in the industry. For the last 10+ years, she’s helped first-time founders bring their clothing brand ideas to life. Through The Fashion Expert®, she designs tech packs and collections, helps founders find and work with manufacturers, guides them through sampling and production, and mentors them at every step, turning messy ideas and Pinterest boards into real collections ready to launch. Her client base is worldwide, mostly in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia. She has worked with brands such as Topshop, ASOS, M&S and Gymshark, and is now trusted by 400+ brands and founders. Michelle is known for helping people without fashion industry backgrounds navigate the process with expert support, not guesswork. About The Fashion StartupThe Fashion Startup is the go-to podcast for first-time founders who want the courage and know-how to start their own fashion brand. Hosted by Michelle Ramsay, founder of The Fashion Expert®, designer and mentor who has worked with 400+ brands and founders. Follow: Instagram @thefashionexpertuk, website www.thefashionexpert.com

  3. Oct 20

    EP 35: How to Make Your Startup Clothing Designs Better - What Premium Actually Means

    You want your fashion brand to feel premium, not basic, but you can't quite say what makes a garment look elevated. You think that means you don't have the eye for it. But actually, premium isn't a feeling, it's a set of specific design decisions, and nobody has shown you what they are yet. In this episode of The Fashion Startup, fashion designer and startup mentor Michelle Ramsay of The Fashion Expert® explains how to make your clothing designs better, with two real examples from 20+ years in fashion. Every first-time founder wants their clothing to feel premium, but "make it better" means nothing to a fabric supplier or a factory. In this episode Michelle explains why premium comes down to specific design decisions, why you can't ask for options you don't know exist, and how that gap leads to months of back and forth sampling. You'll hear two real examples: a baby wear founder who spent months asking for the wrong fabric, and a menswear collection for Sorsa that Michelle lifted with a trims collection, plus what she means by aiming for the gold standard when you start a clothing brand. Why "make it more premium" means nothing to a supplier or factory Why premium is a set of specific design decisions, not a feeling Why not knowing your options keeps first-time founders stuck in endless sampling What an experienced eye spots in a swatch, a yarn, a logo technique or a fit How one fabric change ended months of back and forth on a baby wear collection How a trims collection lifted a classic menswear range for a premium brand Why to aim for the gold standard in your design and tech pack, then make it commercial [Timings are from the edited recording, before your intro. Add your intro length, plus the length of the mid-roll for anything after 07:54, then delete this line. Update the YouTube chapters to match.] 00:00 How to stop your clothing brand looking basic 00:45 Everyone wants premium, but what does it actually mean? 01:48 The missing link between your vision and your supplier 03:40 The cake and the chef: you can't know what you don't know 04:54 The two ways your product can come back 05:37 What an experienced designer catches that you can't see 07:05 Story one: months of back and forth over the wrong fabric 08:00 Story two: how I lifted a menswear collection for Sorsa 09:02 Why small design decisions have massive implications 09:39 Why I aim for the gold standard with every tech pack 10:50 Why it goes wrong when you navigate it alone 12:43 Your takeaway: premium is a set of decisions 13:39 What to do next Download the free Fashion Launch Plan Blueprint Get your designs turned into professional tech packs with Michelle Book a free discovery call to talk through your designs Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a review Michelle Ramsay is a UK-based fashion designer, startup mentor and fashion consultant with 20+ years in the industry. For the last 10+ years, she's helped first-time founders bring their clothing brand ideas to life. Through The Fashion Expert®, she designs tech packs and collections, helps founders find and work with manufacturers, guides them through sampling and production, and mentors them at every step, turning messy ideas and Pinterest boards into real collections ready to launch. Her client base is worldwide, mostly in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia. She's worked with 400+ brands and founders, and has become known for helping people without fashion industry backgrounds navigate the process with expert support, not guesswork. Episode summaryWhat you'll learnChaptersLinksAbout Michelle Ramsay, The Fashion Expert®

  4. Oct 16

    EP 34: What Goes Wrong When You Start a Clothing Brand Without a Tech Pack

    You think a bad factory ruined your samples. But actually, anything you don't specify, a factory fills in with the cheapest option. In this episode of The Fashion Startup, fashion designer and startup mentor Michelle Ramsay of The Fashion Expert® shows what starting a clothing brand without a tech pack really costs, with a founder's 20-piece collection and her own story from 20+ years in fashion. Most first-time founders file the tech pack under nice to have. In this episode Michelle shares two real stories: an anonymised client whose first collection came back in the cheapest polyester, the wrong red and sizes far too small, and the time she skipped a tech pack herself, when a factory she'd worked with for years swapped the sizes of two bags. You'll hear why factories fill in the blanks, what repeated sampling really costs, and how a clothing brand tech pack protects you when samples go wrong or someone copies your design. Why "surely the factory will know what I mean" costs first-time founders so much What happened when a founder sent a Pinterest board to a factory for a 20-piece collection Why factories fill in the blanks, and why they choose the cheapest option What went wrong when I skipped a tech pack, with 20+ years' experience Why repeated sampling costs more than getting the tech pack done first How a tech pack protects you when samples go wrong, or if your design is copied [Timings are from the raw recording. Add your intro length, plus about 30 seconds after the mid-roll drops in, then delete this line. Update the YouTube chapters to match.] 00:00 Why the tech pack gets treated as a nice to have 01:44 Why founders skip it 04:09 Why I compare a tech pack to an architect's plans 05:19 What makes you the exception? 06:54 Story one: a founder's first collection 11:07 Why factories fill in the blanks with the cheapest option 13:24 The sizing problem, and thousands spent on resampling 14:52 Whose job is it to fill in the blanks? 16:38 Story two: the time I skipped the tech pack 19:46 The bags that came back the wrong way round 21:33 What it cost me: we paid twice and waited twice 23:22 Why my story matters for you 25:07 Your tech pack as a blueprint and proof of ownership Get your designs turned into professional tech packs with Michelle Download the free Fashion Launch Plan Blueprint Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a review Michelle Ramsay is a fashion designer, startup mentor and fashion consultant with 20+ years of industry experience helping founders bring their fashion brand ideas to life. Through The Fashion Expert®, she works with first-time and emerging founders on everything from design development and tech packs to manufacturing guidance, launch planning and one-to-one mentoring, helping turn messy ideas and Pinterest boards into real collections ready for production. After working with brands such as Gymshark, ASOS, Topshop and M&S and now trusted by more than 400 fashion founders, Michelle is known for helping people without fashion industry backgrounds design and launch successful clothing brands.

  5. Oct 6

    EP 33: What is A Fashion Tech Pack And What Does It Do For Your Clothing Brand

    If you're researching how to start a clothing brand, you've probably been told you need a tech pack without anyone explaining what one is. In this episode of The Fashion Startup, fashion designer and startup mentor Michelle Ramsay of The Fashion Expert® explains what a tech pack is, how it differs from a sketch, and what it gives your clothing brand. After 20+ years in fashion and more than 400 founders, her view is that the missing piece isn't your vision or your drawing skills, it's the step between your idea and a factory. A sketch shows what your garment looks like. A tech pack tells a factory how to make it. Michelle takes you back to basics on the difference between a sketch, a fashion flat (CAD) and a tech pack, what goes inside a professional startup fashion tech pack, and what having one actually gives you, from accurate quotes to owning your designs. She also explains when you need one, and whether you should try making your own. Why a sketch, even a good one, isn't enough for a factory to make your design What a fashion flat (CAD) is and why it's only one part of a tech pack The three parts of a professional tech pack: colour CAD, tech sheets and size spec Why a size spec is not the same as a size guide What a tech pack gives you: accurate, comparable quotes, something to point back to, ownership of your designs and factories taking you seriously When you need one, and whether you should make your own Chapters 00:00 Why I'm talking about tech packs today 02:58 Why it isn't your vision that's missing 03:40 What a tech pack is not: the rough sketch 05:44 The fashion flat (CAD), and why it still isn't enough 08:10 What a tech pack actually is: your blueprint 10:26 The three parts: colour CAD, tech sheets and size spec 14:29 Why a size spec is not a size guide 17:09 What a tech pack actually gives you 24:26 When you need one 25:49 Should you make your own? 29:00 What working with a designer looks like 31:03 Why inspiration and a tech pack aren't interchangeable Get your designs turned into professional tech packs with Michelle Download the free Fashion Launch Plan Blueprint Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a review Michelle Ramsay is a fashion designer, startup mentor and fashion consultant with 20+ years of industry experience helping founders bring their fashion brand ideas to life. Through The Fashion Expert®, she works with first-time and emerging founders on everything from design development and tech packs to manufacturing guidance, launch planning and one-to-one mentoring, helping turn messy ideas and Pinterest boards into real collections ready for production. After working with brands such as Gymshark, ASOS, Topshop and M&S and now trusted by more than 400 fashion founders, Michelle is known for helping people without fashion industry backgrounds design and launch successful clothing brands. The Fashion Startup is the go-to podcast for first-time founders who want the courage and know-how to start their own fashion brand. Hosted by Michelle Ramsay, The Fashion Expert®, designer and mentor to hundreds of startup founders. Follow: Instagram @thefashionexpertuk, website www.thefashionexpert.com

  6. Sep 29

    EP 32: Facebook and Instagram Ads for Clothing Brands: The Dos and Don'ts with Naomi Davies

    Thinking about running Facebook and Instagram ads when you start your clothing brand? Paid social can really help grow a fashion brand, but only when the foundations are already there. In this episode I'm joined by Naomi Davies, founder of fashion marketing agency NMD Marketing, for an honest conversation about what paid ads can and can't do for a new brand. We talk about why ads aren't the magic pill version launch-day sales machine many first-time founders expect, what needs to be happening in your brand before paid social has a real chance of working, the monthly Meta ads budget Naomi recommends, why lo-fi iPhone content is beating polished campaign shoots, and what needs to be in place on your website before you pay for a single click. In this episode you'll learn: - What paid social is, and why Naomi calls ads "ghost posts" - Why ads amplify demand rather than create it - Why you need some organic orders before ads work well - How much to budget for Meta ads, and for how long - What makes good ad creative for a fashion brand - Why sizing, returns and abandoned basket emails matter after the click Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:00 Meet Naomi, and what paid social actually is 02:30 Are ads the silver bullet founders think they are? 04:15 What needs to be in place before ads work 06:15 Why you can't rely on one marketing channel 07:05 Using creator content across organic and paid 07:55 Conversion campaigns vs lead generation 10:10 How much budget you actually need 15:55 Why you should talk to your customers 17:00 What makes good ad creative 19:50 What happens after the click 22:35 Ads, website and email working together 23:20 Where to find Naomi About Naomi Davies Naomi is a paid social and email marketing expert specialising in fashion and beauty brands. Over the last 8 years she's run her own agency, NMD Marketing, supporting over 120 fashion and beauty brands from startups through to international brands. Grab Naomi's free Meta Ads Starter Checklist. It includes every step you need before you're ready to run ads, without wasting budget figuring it out as you go, even if your brand has never run a single ad. Website: https://nmdmarketing.co.uk Instagram: @nmd_marketing Are you launching a fashion brand? Start your clothing brand with a plan Download my free Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint Find out about mentoring with me About Michelle Ramsay, The Fashion Expert® Michelle Ramsay is a fashion designer, startup mentor and fashion consultant with 20+ years of industry experience helping founders bring their fashion brand ideas to life. Through The Fashion Expert®, she works with first-time and emerging founders on everything from design development and tech packs to manufacturing guidance, launch planning and one-to-one mentoring, helping turn messy ideas and Pinterest boards into real collections ready for production. After working with brands such as Gymshark, ASOS, Topshop and M&S and now trusted by more than 400 fashion founders, Michelle is known for helping those without fashion industry backgrounds to design and launch successful clothing brands. About The Fashion Startup The Fashion Startup is the go-to podcast for first-time founders who want the courage and know-how to start their own fashion brand. Follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a review to help more future founders find it. Instagram: @thefashionexpertuk Website: www.thefashionexpert.com

  7. Sep 22

    EP 31: How to Create a Month of Content for Your Fashion Brand in Two Hours

    How to Film a Month of Content for Your Clothing Brand in Two Hours If the thought of creating content for your fashion brand fills you with dread, or you've picked up your phone to film something and immediately put it back down, this episode is going to change how you think about the whole thing. I'm joined by Stacey Gribben, founder of Creative Canvas, a 24/7 self-serve content studio in Glasgow built specifically for founders and creators. Stacey helps fashion brand founders go from camera-shy and overwhelmed to walking out of a two-hour session with a full month of content ready to go. We get into why content creation is so much harder than most first-time founders expect, why volume matters more than perfection, and the practical strategies that make filming feel less like a chore and more like something you can actually build a routine around. Stacey also has a brilliant free resource for listeners at the end, so stick around. What we cover: What a content studio actually is and how it differs from a photography studioWhy filming at home or out in public often makes things harder, not easierHow to get a full month of content from a two-hour studio sessionHow to use a content studio before you launch to build audience excitementHow to create great content without ever speaking directly to cameraHow to plan your session so you are not winging it on the dayWhat to bring with you, from extra outfits to snacksWho else you can bring to your session, from fellow founders to makeup artists More about Stacey: Stacey Gribben is a Glasgow-based creative marketer and the founder of Creative Canvas, a self-service content and podcast studio in Hillington. Her background runs from fashion design and international supply chains to digital marketing, and she built Creative Canvas to give people an easy, round-the-clock space to record their own podcasts and content. Creative Canvas is a 24/7 self-service content and podcast studio in Hillington, Glasgow. Book a slot whenever suits you, come in, and record - podcasts, video, social content - in a space that's set up and ready to go. No crew, no hourly minder, just you and the room whenever you need it. Links:  Stacey's freebie: DM Stacey on Instagram and mention this episode to receive her 5 top ChatGPT prompts for planning your social media content. https://www.instagram.com/creativecanvas.co.uk?stkn=MWg2MWlsMDQ0aTV1eA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Find out more and book a session at Creative Canvas Website https://www.creative-canvas.co.uk/?srsltid=AU7gw4VjCUwnUs0Ylt8Fj2qZDHehfhz9aAY1mJGhuyY73XbBtLDWvQG3 👉 Download your ⁠⁠free Fashion Brand Blueprint here ⁠⁠ 👉 Learn how I can help you launch your brand⁠⁠ inside the Fashion Startup Academy⁠⁠ 👉 Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a 5 star review to let me know what you loved! About Michelle Ramsay – The Fashion Expert® Michelle Ramsay is a fashion designer, startup mentor and fashion consultant with over 20 years of industry experience helping founders bring their fashion brand ideas to life. Through The Fashion Expert®, she works with first-time and emerging founders on everything from design development and tech packs to manufacturing guidance, launch planning and one-to-one mentoring, helping turn messy ideas and Pinterest boards into real collections ready for production. After working with brands such as Gymshark, ASOS, Topshop and M&S and now trusted by more than 400 fashion founders, Michelle is known for helping people without fashion industry backgrounds design and launch successful clothing brands.

  8. Sep 16

    Ep 30: Starting a Clothing Brand? Here's What You Actually Need to Know

    Starting a Clothing Brand? Here's What You Actually Need to Know... Ready to start your fashion brand? ⁠Grab my free Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint to see the proven steps to get started Wondering when you actually need help starting a clothing brand? If you're stuck between researching alone and feeling ready to ask for support, this episode gives you the honest answer, and the real cost of waiting too long to find out. In this solo episode, Michelle breaks down why so many first-time founders go fast alone for a while, then quietly stall. Using her "well-oiled machine" analogy, she explains why starting a clothing brand touches far more moving parts than most people realise, and why getting help isn't about fixing one broken sample or one bad tech pack. It's about someone with expert eyes checking the whole machine while it's still being built. What you'll learn: Why founders struggle to know when it's the "right time" to get help starting a clothing brandThe real difference between a supplier saying "that's not possible" and "that's not easy for me to produce"Why letting suppliers create your tech packs and size specs can mean losing ownership of your own IPWhy starting a fashion brand is never just one problem, and why help is usually needed across two or three areas at onceWhat changes once you bring in expert support, and why it isn't about starting again from zeroChapters:00:00 Why "go fast alone, go further together" is so true for fashion founders02:46 The well-oiled machine: why one wrong part can quietly stall your whole brand06:28 The real reason founders don't know when to ask for help09:06 Why starting a clothing brand touches design, sourcing, costing, branding and production all at once16:24 What happens when you take supplier advice at face value23:36 "That's not possible" vs "that's not easy for me": the MOQ trap27:17 Why letting suppliers create your tech packs costs you your IP31:12 Why asking for help after a grinding halt is more expensive than asking early38:39 What working together actually looks like, and why it's never starting from zero44:18 Inside the Fashion Startup Academy Ready to start your fashion brand? - ⁠Download the free Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint⁠ - ⁠Take the free "How Ready Are You?" quiz⁠ - ⁠Learn about the Fashion Startup Academy⁠ - Subscribe and leave a review so more first-time founders can find the show About Michelle Ramsay - The Fashion Expert® Michelle Ramsay is a fashion designer, startup mentor and fashion consultant with over 20 years of industry experience helping first-time founders bring their clothing brand ideas to life. Through The Fashion Expert®, she works with first-time and emerging founders on everything from design development and tech packs to manufacturing guidance, launch planning and one-to-one mentoring, helping turn messy ideas and Pinterest boards into real collections ready for production. After working with more than 400 fashion founders, Michelle has become known for helping people without fashion industry backgrounds navigate the process with clarity, confidence and expert support. About The Fashion Startup: the go-to podcast for first-time founders who want the courage and know-how to start their own fashion brand. Hosted by Michelle Ramsay, The Fashion Expert®, designer and mentor to hundreds of startup founders. Subscribe and review: follow The Fashion Startup on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a review to help more future founders discover the show. Follow: Instagram @thefashionexpertuk Website ⁠www.thefashionexpert.com

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The go-to podcast for first-time founders who want to start a clothing brand and do it right. Hosted by Michelle Ramsay, The Fashion Expert® - fashion designer and startup mentor with 20 years of industry experience. Each episode covers the real startup journey - from brand foundations and product development to manufacturing, marketing, and launch. Whether you're still in the idea stage or already building, you'll find honest advice, founder stories, and expert insight to help you fast-track your fashion startup. Rated 5 stars on Spotify and trusted by founders across the UK and globally.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Ramsay, Fashion Designer & Startup Mentor - The Fashion Expert®
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michelle Ramsay, Fashion Designer & Startup Mentor - The Fashion Expert®
  • Show Website
    The Fashion Startup

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