In the over 10+ years I’ve spent in the sustainable fashion industry I have worked as a rep and a sounding board for probably over 40 designers.

What’s always been interesting to me is the challenge a designer has choosing between attaining lots of press versus a real steady focus on sales and image. In fact, I am in awe how many times people have tried to hire me just for press without a focus or for anything in particular.

“I just need press…I think.”

While this might seem like an illogical quandry, for surely the designer wants sales and to be successful financially, many young start-ups equate press, (and seeing their face and clothing plastered everywhere) with orders, rabid buyers and new customer followings.  Maybe you’ve seen your designer friends looking like they are everywhere and at everything but if you, (like I) ask them every once in a while “business good?” more often than not there’s the “I’m faking it til I make it” response.

As my (very successful) colleague Tyler Forrest, Co-Founder of True Collaborative Fashion showroom says: “You can be a successful company with sales and no press. You are out of business with press and no sales.”

Read the full article on the Brooklyn Fashion+Design Accelerator.