We met with Mimi Berry, Emma Jones, Sabina Savage and Oyuna Tserendorj at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month. For International Women’s Day 2024, they shared their top tips on running a business as women in the fashion and textile industry. 

Mimi Berry

Founder of Mimi Berry, a designer bag and purse brand handmade in England

What are your top tips running a business?

Believe in what you do and the ethicality of what you make. Take risks. Encourage others and they will encourage you in return.    

What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?

Trust your gut and promote people from within the business.    

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Travel as much as you can and work in as many countries and with as many different areas as possible of the business you love. You can never learn enough. Opportunities are always there, but often not where you think they’ll be.  

Emma Jones

Owner of Emma Jones Consultancy, which operates showrooms in London, New York and Paris, and has a portfolio including ELV Denim, Red Run Club, Camilla Elphick, Laura Pitharas, Sinead Gorey

What are your top tips running a business?

Set clear goals: Define your vision and break it down into short-term objectives to keep your team focused. Prioritise customer satisfaction: Continuously improve products or services based on customer feedback. Build a strong team: Surround yourself with talented individuals who share your passion and foster a positive work culture. Embrace innovation: Stay ahead by adopting new technologies and trends in your industry. Stay resilient: Learn from setbacks and keep pushing forward with determination.   

What is the best advice that you’ve been given?

Never look back and always look forward. 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t be scared to take risks, take the plunge and the rewards will follow.  

Sabina Savage

Founder of luxury illustrated scarves and clothing brand Sabina Savage

Can you share any top tips on running a business?

Focus on your product first. There is a lot of talk around marketing and ad spend, but in my experience, if longevity is what you’re looking for, make sure your product is perfect.    

What is the best advice that you’ve been given?

I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with the wonderful Vivienne Westwood a few years ago. Her advice was to never stop seeking inspiration, and to never stop looking at art. If the inspiration and passion is lost, as all falls apart.  

What advice would you give your younger self?

Trust your instincts! 

Oyuna Tserendorj

Co-founder of luxury sustainable cashmere brand Oyuna 

What are your top tips for running a business?

Know who the customer is that you are designing for and from that everything else will follow: the communication, the positioning, the pricing, what kind of stores to target and so on. There’s no point on knocking on the door of a store everyone wants to get into only because it’s a famous store but it isn’t right for your brand. It’s about knowing your brand’s personality and doing things according to what you know and love.   

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

My father was always a believer in being positive, even in the most difficult situations.    

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

To really understand how a fashion business works before getting into it and probably to get investment from the beginning. 

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024