Today we’d like to introduce you to Frances Harder.
Frances is an industry expert and educator who has published a series of books dealing with starting a fashion business. Fashion for Profit, Costing for Profit, Brand Building for Profit and Forms for Profit are industry-focused texts used both by new companies and for further education programs. www.fashionforprofit.com. Additionally, she serves as an industry expert in apparel and textile-related legal disputes. Consults and speaks internationally on a number of industry topics, including; Product Development, Sustainability, Branding, Merchandising, Costing Analysis, Production Procedures and Entering the US market. She was the Founder/President of the FBI (Fashion Business Incorporated) 1999- 2017. Educational 501c3, which provided vital business development and certified job retraining programs to the US apparel industry. Through her many international presentations and consultations, she was asked to serve as a United Nations consultant for small businesses producing Alpaca products in Peru and Cashmere products in Nepal.
Her past design experience includes two lines for Priscilla Priestley that sold on Home Shopping, designing active sportswear for the royal house of the Sultan of Brunei, having her name under license in Japan for a higher-end contempory line and designing Halloween costumes for Fredricks of Hollywood. Previously taught full time as an Associate Professor at Otis College of Art & Design, as well FIDM, LA Trade Tech among other education institutions both within the US and UK. She is an Adjunct Professor and serves on the advisory board of Cal Poly Pomona for both the Apparel Merchandising Dept. and the Dean’s Advisory board. She has been voted for 18 years by the Apparel News as one of the industry most influential people.
Has it been a smooth road?
Most of what I have achieved has been due to the people I have met along the way. Nothing is smooth sailing. You win some you loss some! I try and view my work life as a game. Sometimes you win and then you can loose a game. But get up and try again or a new tactic! Maybe when you loose it turns out for the best!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Fashion For Profit Consulting – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I have been fortunate to be an educator and also follow my passion for fashion. The most I am proud of is my books Fashion for Profit in its 10th edition has now been published for 20 years. I am also proud of the educational not for profit I founded in 1999 to 2017. During that time, I had many exciting opportunities and adventures. Being a United Nations consultant was amazing working in Peru and Nepal helping develop Alpaca and Cashmere producers to enter the US market. I also was responsible for annual fundraiser fashion shows in amazing venues downtown LA, including Union Station, Viviana Cathedral, on the roof of the Standard Hotel among others. The shows featured many new brands which I had personally helped launch.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like the diversity of LA and the many opportunities that it has afforded me. The traffic is a problem especially LAX. Why is there no rapid transport to the airport? The train they are building now to get around the terminals is way overdue.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3402 Tanglewood Lane, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
- Website: www.fashionforprofit.com
- Phone: 3105697772
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
The images of the group photos was the launch of my Fashion For Profit Consulting Service. The other is the logo and my head shot.
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