In my first year of college, after meeting various contacts, I embarked on a project with three of my high school friends with the objective of creating an online clothing brand that shipped worldwide but with a base target in the Americas. We created an LLC in the state of Florida by the name of House of Aesthetic, examined various fulfillment centers in the US, and got certified by Alibaba for production of the clothing. For 6 months we were rigorously working, researching, and searching for investments to carry out this project. We ended up raising US$70,000 in investments and were on the verge of releasing our first season in September 2017, though we were faced with complications with regards to marketing and put the project on hold once the semester started.
It was a very enriching experience, and through many sleepless nights we were able to learn and intake more than any semester of college had up to that point. Though it didn't fall through, it was an exciting time and the adrenaline of working on something that meant something to oneself was truly amazing.
I am part of the UF online program and was advised to enroll in this class, though I do have an interest in entrepreneurship and am very much excited to intake as much as possible-- so as to have the possibility and applying the knowledge learned into potential future opportunities.
If you decide to try again nat your clothing brand in the future, that would be awesome. There are so many crazy clothes on the market, and sometimes I wish that plain, well-made staples were more common. I don't know what your fashion sense is, but whatever it is, I hope that things work out for you. I have some career ambitions that I feel to cautious to try/to believe in, so it's awesome to hear that you actually put in the work to pursue yours. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteHey there Carlos! I dig the passion you have for the work you do, creating a clothing brand in this cutthroat market isn't easy but still attempting and making that process your own is inspiring. I would encourage you to continue looking into the clothing world, but to also think of different methods of production. As much as we look to make a profit remember Dr. Pryor's mention that entrepreneurial ventures don't often make more money than average salaried incomes, so maybe cutting down on margins but making sure materials are sourced in an ethical way or moving production to local areas that can still serve your international needs can be great ways to make your brand and your research a little more diverse and have a rich history besides just setting up shop with fulfillment from normal producers.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to talk clothes or general money ventures, hope your long weekend is going good!