Fashion is a world of style, glamor, and ambition. If you’re a designer with a dream of a clothing line, there’s no time like the present to take your initial steps into this world. If the dream is to start your own clothing line, you can begin by reading these few tips on important initial steps.

Dreaming of people in the streets wearing your design? Of models strutting up and down the runway showcasing your clothes? Then maybe it’s about time to start your own clothing line. If you want to get into the fashion business, there are a few important steps to take from the start. In this article, you can get tips for three initial things to do.

1. Finding a fashion niche
The first step to taking your dream into reality is making your clothing line specific. What kind of clothes do you want to make? What’s the special thing about your clothing brand compared to others? You must figure out what separates you from all the other clothing lines. You should start finding your niche by figuring out what your specific passions are. You can get inspired by celebrity style here. 

It’s often a good idea to walk the line between having your own original signature on your pieces and keeping up with the trends as well. The creative process is one of the most important at the beginning and all the way through. This is why you do what you do. So that’s why it’s always a good tip to start in your notebook (or where you sketch) and go from there. Keep the creative process at the center of your business.

2. Create a brand identity for your clothing line

Brand identity is something to consider from the very beginning. The more you incorporate this in the building of your brand, the stronger it will probably be. How do you want to express yourself? What’s your style and vibe? Think about this as this while you make your first collection, your visual material, and choose a name for your clothing line. The name of your clothing line obviously has a huge influence on your brand. But luckily in the fashion world, you can be very creative. A good place to start is to use a fashion brand name generator. It’s a great way to start a brainstorming process, and maybe find the perfect name for the runway. 

3. Spend time doing a business and marketing plan
It’s time to think business. If you want to succeed with your clothing line, you should start doing a business and marketing plan. A marketing plan will usually also be included in your business plan. Here you should focus on describing every part of your business and how you’re going to make it a success. A business plan is also essential if you want to raise external funding. You can read much more about making a business plan here.

The fashion industry is worth billions of dollars. You see models plastered all over billboards and elsewhere. Their beauty is on full display on the runway and all over the world.

Beyond that, there is an issue that not many are bringing up. That issue is drug addiction. In the fashion industry, it’s something that continues to exist to this day.

Where there is beauty, there might be a dark side. One of the best Infinite Recovery ideas is getting the help someone will need regardless if they are in the fashion industry or just working a regular job. We will be discussing if drugs and the fashion industry are a relationship that is unlikely or whether it’s something that’s normal and goes unnoticed.

Let’s take a deeper look at what’s going on in the fashion world and what role drugs may play.

There is a lot of pressure involved

The fashion industry is perhaps one of the most competitive out there. That’s because you have new models competing with those who have been in the game for years. The pressure that comes with this can be higher than usual.

For this reason, the use of drugs could be something that occurs on a regular basis. That’s because they need something to cope with the pressure. A model’s career is said to last about five years and the pay may not be the best starting out.

Some of them may rise to stardom in a quick amount of time. With that rise comes the increase in earnings. Some may make it and others may not.

Models may also be dealing with long days. This includes spending time with a client followed by a long day of photo shoots. It can get to the point where their busy schedule may limit the amount of sleep they need to function properly.

This may be a challenge to achieve because the powers to be want their models looking well rested and looking fresh. Thankfully, there are plenty of models that turn down drugs or substances at any opportunity. They will find other ways to cope with the pressure.

Either way, models are building a career in an amount of time that may seem small. So they need to do what they can to work for as long as possible. This could also be a reason why they would use drugs.

They are judged on a regular basis

Models in the fashion industry are aware that they are judged on a regular basis. This is mostly on their beauty. Not to mention, they are competing with others.

It can get to a point where they might be considered less beautiful compared to the other model. This may take a mental toll on them. It can even lead to them using drugs to numb the pain and pressure of doing better.

While being judged under a microscope regularly, it may seem hard to keep up. Some may even try to take the edge off using drugs. So they are more relaxed instead of less worried.

What kind of drugs are common in the fashion industry

For decades, some of the following drugs listed were common in the fashion industry. Because of this, some of the world’s best models had opened up to their struggles with drug addiction. Aside from models, even fashion designers and other important figures have also struggled.

Here are the drugs that are common in fashion:

Cocaine

Cocaine can be snorted, injected, or even smoked. For a more intense high, smoking or injecting it would be the go-to option. Otherwise, it’s snorted but it will take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes before it takes effect.

Cocaine may be designed to stimulate the nervous system to the point where they feel some kind of pleasure. Plus, cocaine is believed to give one a boost of energy and a decrease in appetite.

The latter may be considered one of the reasons why models want to keep their weight down. However it can lead to malnutrition, which can be dangerous or even fatal. 

Heroin

This opiate drug has been the cause of many drug overdoses both inside and outside of the fashion industry. It’s often injected, but it can be sniffed or smoked. Either way, it’s a potent drug that can cause a deep sensation and also help them relax. 

On top of that, it can also lower inhibitions as well. Models may be asked to do something risque and may not be aware of it for this reason. However, the addiction to heroin can also make it difficult for someone to work.

The dependency to this drug can even lead them to building a tolerance. When that happens, the chances of them overdosing are greater. Those overdoses can be fatal.

Meth

Meth can be easily abused despite being a stimulant. This can be used to treat certain conditions like ADHD. However, it can also be used to keep their weight low.

This drug can be ingested in multiple ways. It has similar effects compared to cocaine. Depending on how much is ingested, a person could be up for days and go without any food.

They could also remain in that state of euphoria for days on end. This can be dangerous even for models who are trying to work hard and keep up with the demands of the fashion industry.

Final Thoughts

The fashion industry and drug addiction may be an issue that needs to be addressed. Behind the beauty may be a dark shadow that is being cast. It’s important that the fashion industry should be aware of what happens behind the scenes.

Whether they are dealing with it or sweeping it under the rug is unknown. But there may be stories told by models past and present that may answer this question. The pressures and demands could be enough for someone to turn to drugs.

But it can have fatal consequences. It may be considered an ignored norm for the fashion industry unless something changes.   

There is simply no denying that rocking statement clothing and accessories can help you become a more fashionable dresser and a more memorable individual. Think about Iris Apfel and her amazing collection of bold oversized glasses or Hillary Clinton’s iconic pantsuits. These signature statements command attention and ensure that nobody looks away! 

Even if you’re the type of dresser who likes to blend in, rocking the occasional statement-making piece can help you breathe new life into your existing wardrobe and add some personality to otherwise simple looks. If you’re looking for some great statement pieces to add to your closet, check out the list below. We’re sure all of these items will help your looks become unforgettable!

1. A Floral Printed Dress — Bold yet easy to style, floral printed dresses are the perfect pick for the lady who wants to infuse some style into her wardrobe without going too far over the top. Choose chic dresses in vibrant floral prints or palm prints that suit the season. The brighter the better!
2. A Leather Jacket — Want to feel like a total boss when you step out in the fall and winter? A classic leather jacket is the way to go! Choose a genuine leather option if you’re looking for an investment-grade statement jacket. Take cues from fashion icons like Kate Bosworth and Reese Witherspoon and pair your leather jacket with some trendy jeans and a pair of statement shoes. 
3. A Chic Sun Hat — You don’t need to be heading to the beach to pull off a wide-brimmed hat. As long as the weather’s warm and the sun is out, a straw hat will look right at home with your relaxed ensemble. In the Fall and Winter, switch to a wool felt wide brim to keep the hat vibe alive.
4. A Printed Blouse or Two — Every collection of cute women’s clothing should include a few statement tops! Why not go with a pretty printed blouse in an eye-catching print that’s sure to turn heads? We love printed tops because they’re easy to style with jeans, pants and skirts but are still total show-stoppers.
5. A Shimmery Skirt — When it comes to chic skirts, you can’t go wrong with something flowy and ruffled. But if your goal is to make a splash, consider stepping out of the solid-colored box and opting instead for an eye-catching fabric that will totally make the look. 
6. Statement Sunglasses — Take any outfit from simple to statement with a pair of gorgeous sunnies. Go retro with a colorful oversized square style or make a funky splash with some large cat eyes. Regular eyeglasses can make a massive statement too — take it from the queen of statement eyewear, Iris Apfel!  

7. A Menswear Blazer — Oversized blazers are all the rage right now, and they’re not just for office wear. When paired with a well-fitting t-shirt and jeans, this piece can give you an edgy yet authoritative look so people take you seriously.
8. Ripped Jeans — Ripped jeans: statement piece or wardrobe basic? It depends on who you ask! But we think distressed denim can be considered a statement piece when amply destroyed and made the focus of your edgy ensemble. Pair them with some pointy stilettos or leather boots for a cool vibe.
9. Sparkly Heels — Sparkles, studs, rhinestones! Sparkly heels take your simple dressy footwear and crank it up a few notches. Perfect for special occasions, New Year’s Eve or a sassy night out with your girlfriends, bedazzled heels go with everything yet still command plenty of attention.
10. Bedazzled Flip-Flops — As much as we love our dressy heeled sandals and trendy slides, we still think there’s a place in the wardrobe for some flip-flops. After all, no other shoe is as comfortable and easy to slip on and off when the weather is warm. But basic flip-flops are not the way to go. Instead, opt for some sparkly or bedazzled flops that make your outfit positively sparkle.
11. A Straw Handbag — Straw handbags are summertime statement pieces that have the unique ability to go with tons of different colors, patterns and fabrics. This makes them amazing for traveling! Go for a unique shape to play into the statement vibe, such as a round or circular option or something with a cool wooden handle. 
12. A Sequin Sweatshirt — We love sequins, and we love sweatshirts, so why not combine the two? This is an awesome way to give your comfortable or casual looks a bit of an eye-catching overhaul without having to go too fancy. Grab a graphic crewneck bedazzled with some pretty sequins to make it pop.
13. A Funky Phone Case — Let’s face it: Your phone goes with you wherever you go. Why not treat it like an outfit accessory and dress it in a fun, eye-catching phone case? We love swapping out our cases for the occasion, season and vibe of the moment to add something extra-special to every single look.
14. Cowgirl Boots — Who says cowgirl boots are just for the ranch or stable? Look to the urban ensembles put together by trendy tastemakers like Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner for inspiration. These babies can be styled with simple dresses, chic denim and even bold patterned dresses.

15. A Printed Silk Neck Scarf — Tie a silk scarf around your neck and you’ll instantly feel like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday or Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. This timeless fashion accessory is feminine, whimsical and a little bit retro. Plus, if you go for a vibrant color or a fun pattern, it’s guaranteed to turn uninspired outfits into total statement-makers.

A good wardrobe can be broken down into two categories: core staples and fun statement pieces. Once you’ve got the fundamentals down — high-quality denim, layering tops and sturdy jackets — you can start to pepper in some fun pieces that give your outfit a one-of-a-kind twist. All of the items on the above list can help you transform practical outfits into fresh and iconic ones!