Andrea Beaulieu of MOORE Custom Goods
Andrea Beaulieu of MOORE Custom Goods Beth Olson Creative

Starting a business, any kind of business is HARD. If you talk to anyone who has decided to pursue this endeavor, whether it be someone who owns a restaurant, a boutique, or a shop that sells dirty magazines (do those even exist anymore???) they will regale you with tales of razor thin margins, 80 hour work weeks, and never-ending competition with big-box and online retailers.

Portland has become a hub to TONS of start-ups of the apparel design variety, and if you are one of those (crazy) people that wants to start a clothing line of your own, or you already have but need some guidance, there are a series of classes coming up hosted by Portland Fashion Institute that you will want to check out. ā€œOur city is known nationwide for its fashion,ā€ says Sharon Blair, director for PFI. ā€œWe want our apparel designers to continue that image, to express themselves and have fun. But we also want them to make money and stay in business. Itā€™s no fun to go broke.ā€

Classes begin September 9th and are full of guest speakers that know. their. shit. Full class listing below:

- September 9: Start an Apparel Business with Marcy Newton and Sharon Blair
- September 16: Future of Fashion: Forecasting with Andrea Beaulieu, MOORE Custom Goods
- September 23: Excel for Apparel Professionals with Jennifer Hasper and Dana Ditto, Nike
- September 30: Social Media Marketing with Ben Herman, Mad Fish Digital
- October 7: Costing & Pricing with Jennifer Hasper and Dana Ditto, Nike
- October 14: Working with Production with Alyson Clair, Alyson Clair Originals
- October 21: Sourcing 101 with Jennifer Hasper and Dana Ditto, Nike.
- October 28: Contracting Basics: Owen Schmidt, attorney
- November 4: Protect Your Intellectual Property with Amelia Forsberg, IP attorney
- November 11: Truth about Trade Shows with Jason Calderon, West Daily
- November 18: Working with Boutiques with Celeste Sipes, Radish Underground

Classes are every Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm and cost $75 per class or $669 for the whole series. For more information and to register shoot an email to PFI here.