The Fashion Startup

Michelle Ramsay, Fashion Designer & Startup Mentor - The Fashion Expert®
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

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. 5d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. Sep 8

    EP 29: Why Google, YouTube and AI Can't Teach You How to Start a Clothing Brand

    Ready to start your fashion brand? Grab my free Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint to see the proven steps to get started Three fashion founders. Same YouTube videos, same Google searches, same AI prompts, same advice. All three are about to do completely the wrong thing for their brand, and none of them know it yet. In this solo episode of The Fashion Startup, I break down why generic advice about how to start a clothing brand almost always fails, why "doing your research" can quietly become a way of avoiding starting at all, and what changes when you work with a clothing brand mentor instead of piecing it together alone. I walk through three founders - one building activewear at volume, one making bespoke silk dresses to order, one launching a functional problem-solving product - and show why advice that's right for one is wrong for the other two. I also unpack the "research spiral" I see in almost every founder before they start mentoring: the belief that once you've researched enough, you'll finally feel ready, when that moment never actually arrives. What you'll learn: - Why generic advice on how to start a clothing brand can be right for one founder and wrong for another - How to recognise the research spiral, and why it feels like progress when it isn't - What a clothing brand mentor does differently to Google, YouTube or AI - The hidden, non-financial costs of building a fashion brand solo - What mentoring inside the Fashion Startup Academy actually looks like, from the first call onward Chapters 00:00 Three founders, one Google search 06:41 Why the same advice can't be right for everyone 15:57 You don't know what you don't know 16:57 The dictionary problem 20:40 The research spiral 24:01 What mentoring actually is 32:12 The real cost of going it alone 35:24 The velvet rope 37:43 Inside the Fashion Startup Academy 42:12 Why this isn't something AI can replace 46:29 Where the research spiral actually ends 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

  6. Sep 1

    Ep: 28 How to Start a Clothing Brand With No Experience - What's Really Holding You Back

    If you've ever told yourself you can't start a clothing brand because you didn't go to fashion school, can't draw, or don't have any connections in the industry - this episode is going to reframe all of that for you. In this solo episode, Michelle Ramsay gets honest about why the "just believe in yourself" advice so many founders receive is not only unhelpful, it can actually be harmful. The missing piece isn't self-belief. It's a process. And the good news is, that process is 100% learnable. You'll hear why your knowledge and skills gaps are not a verdict on your ability, how the biggest fashion companies in the world operate on the exact same process you need as a startup founder, and what's really keeping your clothing brand idea stuck on that Pinterest board. What You'll Learn Why the "ideas graveyard" exists and what keeps clothing brands stuck thereThe difference between a knowledge gap and a limiting belief - and why mixing them up is costing youHow Topshop, ASOS, and Gymshark all follow the same process your startup needsWhy the research trap keeps founders on a hamster wheel instead of making progressWhat successful founders actually have in common - it's not that they felt readyHow to identify which step to focus on first 👉 Download your free Fashion Brand Launch Blueprint here: thefashionexpert.com/launchplan👉 Learn how I can help you launch your brand inside the Fashion Startup Academy: https://www.thefashionexpert.com/how-to-launch-a-fashion-brand👉 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 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.

  7. Aug 29

    Ep27: What To Work On Now To Start A Clothing Brand - Fashion Founder Prep School Part 6

    Been sitting on your clothing brand idea for months, maybe years, without moving forward? In this final episode of Founder Prep School, I share exactly what I'd focus on right now if I wanted to launch a fashion brand. Been sitting on your fashion brand idea for months, maybe years, without moving forward? In this final episode of Founder Prep School, I share exactly what I'd focus on right now if I wanted to launch a fashion brand next year. Episode Summary I walk through the real, practical steps to take if you're serious about launching a fashion brand next year — starting with an honest reflection on what's been holding you back, cutting out tasks that feel productive but aren't moving you forward, and giving yourself a realistic 9-12 month runway. I also cover building your visual direction through mood boards, getting honest about time and money, and how to know when it's time to get outside help rather than keep going it alone. What You'll Learn How to honestly identify what's really been holding your fashion brand backWhy some "productive" tasks (sewing classes, endless research) can actually be procrastination in disguiseWhy 9-12 months is a realistic timeline for most first-time fashion foundersHow to start building your brand's visual direction with mood boards, before committing to anythingHow to get honest about the time and money you can realistically invest, and when it's worth getting expert help 👉 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 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.

  8. Aug 22

    Ep26: Is Starting a Fashion Brand Right for You? - Fashion Founder Prep School Part 5

    Thinking about starting a fashion brand but not sure if it's really the right move for you? In this episode, I ask you to pause and honestly consider whether this path is a good fit - because it's genuinely not right for everyone, and that's okay. What you'll learn: I walk through the real reasons people start fashion brands — from spotting a gap in the market to craving a more creative career, wanting change, or simply not wanting to look back with regret — and the personal qualities that actually determine success: dedication, resilience, patience, and a willingness to learn. I also cover the honest warning signs that fashion might not be the right industry for you right now, and why parking an idea and coming back to it is actually a good sign, not a red flag. What You'll Learn The real reasons people start fashion brands, beyond just "spotting a gap in the market"The core qualities you need to succeed as a first-time fashion founderWhy chasing quick money or overnight success is the wrong reason to start a fashion brandWhy parking your idea and returning to it later is actually a positive sign, not a failureHow to get honest clarity on your own "why" before you spend any money 👉 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 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.

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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
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michelle Ramsay, Fashion Designer & Startup Mentor - The Fashion Expert®
  • Show Website
    The Fashion Startup

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