Join us for a Mary Gehlhar book signing for “The Fashion Designer Survival Guide,” February 23rd

“Mary Gehlhar’s third edition of her seminal Fashion Designer Survival Guide is the definitive how-to for navigating the fashion industry, post-pandemic. Mary’s trailblazing book illuminates and inspires. She is a fashion treasure and this new edition is a rare gem.” Tim Gunn

“The Fashion Designer Survival Guide is packed with essential knowledge and advice from industry experts and experienced designers to set you on the right path. These insights will give you the solid foundation to create a plan and make smart decisions…” Christian Siriano

In this updated and expanded edition of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide, Mary Gehlhar, industry authority and consultant to hundreds of fashion design entrepreneurs, offers behind-the-scenes insight and essential information to launch and grow your own fashion label. You’ll hear from experts in social media, financing, and sales, along with advice from dozens of designers on solutions to their biggest challenges and their keys to success. A new section of full color photos from 25 independent designers bring the concepts to life.

“Hi, I’m Mary, and I wrote the Fashion Designer Survival Guide to help fashion entrepreneurs find answers to all their questions about starting and running their own fashion label.”

In this must-have guide, Gehlhar reveals essential information on:

• Creating a viable business plan
• Social media strategies to grow your customer base
• Maximizing online sales to get your designs directly into customers’ closets
• Integrating sustainability in your sourcing and manufacturing
• Collaborating with influencers, stylists and brands to expand your audience
• Landing the right financing for your type of business
• Establishing wholesale partnerships with the best retail stores
• Navigating the pitfalls of production both at home and abroad

About Blank Canvas

Blank Canvas partners with New York’s best sewing rooms, factories, and fabric resources, helping clients imagine and realize their fashion designer dreams through their in-house product development, pattern making, sample making and production services.  Blank Canvas Showroom serves as the basecamp for the pattern making and development end of the business contributing to a renaissance for production and manufacturing in the United States, and making the industry more aware of its impact on our environment and economy.  The Savannah storefront on Bull Street features custom and limited edition designs for sale from its founder, clients, and a curated selection designers and makers both domestically and around the world.